Casablanca, Morocco

The name Casablanca can’t help but conjure romance, and you’ll be glad to learn that this reputation is rightly earned. Stroll among the locals in expansive Mohammed V Square, which is ringed by regal buildings melding French colonial, Moorish and art deco influences, all anchored by an exuberant fountain. The French influence is also felt in the 1930s Habous District, a delightful jumble of streets peppered with bustling souks, handsome mosques and ornate archways. Gaze in awe at the Hassan II Mosque, whose soaring minaret is said to be the world’s tallest.

A bit further south lies the Portuguese City of Mazagan, a UNESCO World Heritage site recognized for its beautifully preserved Renaissance military construction. Walk along the ramparts for terrific views of the sea and then descend into the colonnaded cisterns, where shafts of light shining from above contribute to the immensely atmospheric experience. Heading north, the glorious Andalusian Gardens of Rabat astound with gorgeous grounds landscaped in a quintessentially Moorish style. Don’t leave Casablanca without sampling a contemporary twist on a classic tagine in the hip Gauthier Quarter, a perfect embodiment of the city’s ardent love affair with both past and future.