One of newly independent Morocco's greatest
challenges must surely have been the reconstruction of a city totally destroyed
by the earthquake of February 1960. The will and determination of a young King,
Hassan II, on the throne for scarcely a year, gave reality to the hopes of an
entire nation in seeing Agadir reborn form the ashes.
These days it is a fine modern city with a host of
excellent hotels, wide avenues, gardens in bright bloom, a magnificent port and
a first-rate airport-and, above all, a splendid beach stretching for six
kilometres, the air scented by pine, eucalyptus and tamarisk.
Agadir's reputation as a beach resort has spread
worldwide. From a cliff-road flanking the hill, the Old Kasbah, dating from the
16th century, overlooks the azure spread of the ocean, the verdant valleys of
the Great Souss and the majestic slopes of the Anti-Atlas. Agadir is not only
the kingdom's main fishing-port, it is also its first holiday haven, and the
city is very much organized around seeing to the comfort of its visitors.

Bathed in sunshine the whole year round, the city
offers facilities for sailing, wind surfing, horse-riding, tennis, golf and a
host of other sports activities. Those in search of the quiet life may simply
lounge in the shade of a eucalyptus, sipping a fresh fruit cocktail.
Perched between the mountainous regions of the
Anti-Atlas and the western extreme of the High Atlas, Agadir is a departure
point for a variety of marvellous excursions.