Shopping in Essaouira is a delightful experience for tourists, as the town is known for its artisanal offerings. One of the focal points for purchasing local crafts is the craft center located on Mohamed el Qory street in the medina. Surrounding this center, you’ll find Mohamed ben Abdala street, which hosts a variety of craft shops. These establishments evoke the memory of the wood workshops found along the Skala walls.
A visit to the craft center is highly recommended, as it offers the opportunity to witness artisans at work. Visitors can observe the various stages of craftsmanship, from inception to the final product, making it a truly immersive experience.
Shopping in Essaouira
Essaouira Crafts in Wood
Works with Tuya wood are a great specialty of this area since it is a species that abounds in its mountains, with dark redwood, golden veins, and an intense smell.
The small carpentry workshops on the walls give way to more industrial production. The cabinetmakers of this city are famous for marquetry. The technique consists of embedding thin sheets of bone wood or mother-of-pearl.
For the inlays, they use other woods such as yellow lemon or acacia treated to give it a black color, silver threads, and mother-of-pearl from seashells.
The most precious wood is the root of your “Arar” with highly appreciated irregularities.
The carvings are more successful when you use them to make everything from furniture (such as chairs and tables) to small things (such as ashtrays and balls).
The wood inlay works are the most precious of the Essaouira crafts.
Other Crafts of Essaouira
Jewels
Amazigh master goldsmiths make them from the Haha region. They create jewels in silver or gold plated, of great elegance and surprising finesse.
The jewels are essential to enhance the Amazighwoman’s beauty. The bangles and necklaces are heavy in the form of large attached chains. As in all of Islam, the artistic patterns are geometric and abstract. They are more angular forms than the Andalusian Arabic art.
Raffia
Or wicker, with which sometimes colored slippers and moccasins are made. They are located near the craft center.
Clothing and Fabrics
On traditional looms. Very colorful, with a production of classic women’s clothing.
Musical instruments
String instruments like the lute, the tamboril, the gumbri, or the hajhouj are made by skilled artisans in this city. Gnaouas musicians use these instruments to play their music.
rugs
from the Chichaoua region, 174 km away, on the Marrakech road. The Ouled Bou Sbaa, originally from this area, makes the typical Haus rugs. They have a bright red background and are adorned with mysterious drawings.
In this city, there are craft shipyards unique in the world.
other purchases
Argan oil
Typical of the region, highly demanded and expensive, so mixtures are frequent. It is produced in rural cooperatives on the Marrakech road, highlighting the Vitargan cooperative.
We can buy cosmetic products such as regular or black argan soap, natural oils, aromatic skin, and creams.
We can also find culinary argan oil for salads.
patisseries
We highlight the Women’s Patisserie Cooperative AFBK, near Bab Dukala, where they organize cooking classes.
Camel milk cheese, we can find it in some stores and restaurants.
Gnaoua music
Typical of the area, we can find CDs of the leading artists of this musical specialty.
Antiques
It’s in the area of the Skala.
artists
Creators of all kinds reside in this city; sculptors, painters, and designers are inspired by the region’s landscape and traditional arts. Highlighting the Naive Art modern tradition that we can find in numerous shops in the city was born as an imitation of the European painters who visited the city. It has developed its style influenced by the culture of the gnaoua.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Essaouira worth going to?
Everyone should go to Essaouira. This coastal town is very charming from its long past to its unique mix of Portuguese and Moroccan influences. The narrow streets, whitewashed buildings, and blue-painted doors in Essaouira’s medina (old town) make it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town also has a long beach, a busy fishing port, and lots of shops and restaurants. The Gnaoua World Music Festival is held every year in Essaouira and brings together singers and music lovers from all over the world.
Are there souks in Essaouira?
Essaouira’s souks are interesting places to visit. Aside from Marrakech and Fes, Essaouira doesn’t have as many souks. However, they sell many different things, such as pottery, fabrics, and jewelry. You can find the souks inside the medina, the old part of Essaouira. These markets are famous for having a relaxed vibe and friendly vendors. A few of the most well-known souks in Essaouira are the Leather Souk, the Jewelry Souk, and the Spice Souk.
How much time should I spend in Essaouira?
How long you should stay in Essaouira will depend on your trip plans and interests. It takes at least two to three days to fully enjoy the city and do many things, like walking around the medina, trying local food, seeing historical sites, and going to the beach.
In Essaouira, two days is enough time to see the most important parts of the city in one day. You can spend the day exploring the medina, going to the port and the beach, and having local food. How long you stay in Essaouira depends on your tastes and why you’re there.
