Anfa

Anfa أنفا
—  District of Casablanca  —
Anfa Location in Greater Casablanca
Coordinates: 33°35′18″N 7°38′31″W / 33.58833°N 7.64194°W / 33.58833; -7.64194Coordinates: 33°35′18″N 7°38′31″W / 33.58833°N 7.64194°W / 33.58833; -7.64194
Country	Morocco
Region	Grand Casablanca
Area
• Total	37.5 km2 (14.5 sq mi)
Population (2004)
• Total	492,787
Time zone	WET (UTC+0)
• Summer (DST)	WEST (UTC+1)

Anfa (Arabic: أنفا‎) is a district of Casablanca, in the Grand Casablanca region of Morocco and oldest part of the city. The district covers an area of 37.5 square kilometres (14.5 square miles) and as of 2004 had 492,787 inhabitants.^[1]

History

Originally built by the Phoenicians, it was later settled by the Berbers in the 7th century. The area, which they named Anfa, became a small, independent kingdom, which rejected the Muslim rule that surrounded it until it was conquered by the Almoravids in 1068.

From the 14th century, under the Marinids, Anfa rose in importance as a port. In the early 15th century, the town became an independent state once again. It also became a safe harbour for pirates, which lead to it being targeted by the Portuguese, who destroyed the town in 1468. It was used by the Portuguese, who called it Anafé, as a military fortress since 1515.

Anfa is today to the west of central Casablanca, and of one of the city's two main airports (although neither is the site of ancient Anfa). The region around Casablanca is named Casa-Anfa. The neighborhood of Anfa is known to be the most upper class and westernized in the city.

Subdivisions

The district is divided into three arrondissements:

• Anfa (أنفا)
• Maârif (المعاريف)
• Sidi Belyout (سيدي بليوط)

See also

• Casablanca

References

External links

• A 1572 map of Anfa, after an unidentified Portuguese original.