Discover Safi: Ceramics, the Medina and Atlantic Coast

Safi combines a long ceramic tradition with historic neighbourhoods and the Atlantic Ocean. As you plan your trip, you can decide which of these different interests to focus on: Would you like to stroll through the Medina, learn more about pottery, or explore the coast and surf spot? The city offers concrete ways to do so, from artisan quarters to coastal features.

The Medina and Crafts

Safi’s urban fabric includes a historic Medina, coastal fortifications and specialised artisan quarters. The layout of the narrow, labyrinthine lanes of the old Medina invites you to take a stroll. Merchants there sell carpets, leather goods, lighting and pottery, among other things; the Medina is therefore both a place of city life and of commerce.

In the pottery quarter, artisans make terracotta and clay objects, which can be seen in shop windows and at market stalls. The wares made by Safi’s potters include blue-glazed amphorae and flowerpots, as well as cups, bowls and plates. In the Medina, you can meet potters who work with the city’s clay and explain their craft. This lets you discover ceramics not only as finished products, but also through the material and the steps involved in making them.

Ceramic Tradition and the Present Day

On Potters Hill, traditional techniques of shaping, glazing and firing continue to be used alongside gradual technical adaptations. Safi’s pottery practices are passed down through families, cooperatives and training institutions. Taken together, these aspects show that the craft is shaped both by inherited knowledge and by changes in production.

Safi’s National Ceramics Museum is located in the City of Arts. Its work includes preservation, research and public outreach. It complements the view of workshops and products with an institutional perspective on ceramics. When planning your visit, you can explore these themes together without conflating them: the pottery quarter focuses on production and objects on display, while the museum focuses on its work in collection, research and outreach.

Historic Buildings and the Cityscape

Safi’s buildings also offer insight into different periods of the city’s history. Dar Sultane dates back to the 16th century. The Kechla of Safi is distinguished by high crenellated walls, ornate towers and old cannons overlooking the Atlantic. These striking architectural features provide a contrast with the Medina’s narrow lanes and artisan stalls.

Safi is also home to the remains of a Gothic cathedral that recall the city’s colonial period. The building is considered Africa’s first Gothic cathedral. Together with the coastal fortifications, the Medina and the specialised artisan quarters, these places represent different historical and urban themes that you can take into account when exploring Safi.

The Atlantic Coast and Surfing

Safi is considered an internationally renowned surf spot. The “Garden” wave near Safi forms a tube several hundred metres long, which particularly skilled surfers can ride for almost 15 seconds. These details describe a very specific surfing context and are especially interesting if you’re keen to explore the sport. Safi also has 150 kilometres of beaches.

At Lalla Fatna beach, high cliffs provide shelter from the wind. This coastal feature differs from the tube at “Garden”, where the wave’s shape and duration are the focus.

Putting the Surrounding Area into Context

The area around Safi also offers natural and historical points of interest. At Charkarkar, cave galleries extend more than 400 metres deep. Ghar Gorani cave contains traces of prehistoric settlement. Both places add aspects of the surrounding area to the picture of Safi: Charkarkar is notable for the depth of its cave galleries, while Ghar Gorani is known for traces of early settlement.

If you’re looking for hotels in Safi, first decide which of these themes you want your trip to focus on: ceramics and the Medina, historic buildings, or the Atlantic coast and surfing. Then you can compare offers for your travel dates based on your own plans. This way, your hotel choice stays aligned with the purpose of your trip, while Safi’s distinctive features help guide your decision.

For the broader travel overview: Doukkala-Abda.