• The charismatic charm of an old fishing port with plenty of history.
• The natural beauty of the unspoiled beaches and the wild Atlantic.
• The unique ambience of the ‘joint’ that could have features in a Humphrey Bogart movie.
The Whole Story
A historic eighteenth century mansion with a Casa Blanca (the film) ambience, inside the old city walls of a historic Portuguese port on a spectacular stretch of Atlantic coast.
Essaouira on Morocco’s Atlantic coast used to be known as a Mogador, a historic Portuguese colonial port, so well preserved that Orsen Wells chose it as the setting for his filmed version of Othello. It’s a town steeped in history at the time of ancient Rome it was the carefully guarded source of the colour purple. Not so long ago Essaouira was rediscovered by surfers and wind surfers, and with improvements to the road the seaside town became accessible for Marrakech.
The big broad beaches and the crashing Atlantic are quite a contrast o the exotic souks, palm trees and French Boulevards of Marrakech. Situated within the old city walls, Villa de L’O would once have been a nobleman’s town house. Unlike the fisherman, who still paint their craft in bright vivid colours, the interiors are a muted affair. It has the ambience and the patina and the style of a mansion that could have belonged to a retired officer of the British Merchant Navy.
The style of the rooms is a seductive mix of Oriental (in the old fashioned sense of the word, i.e. exotic) and colonial: a masculine, neutral palette that seems quite appropriate for a rugged stretch of Morocco’s coast. The look and style may be romantic and retro, but the experience is completely contemporary. Large, powerful showerheads, spacious open plan, contemporary bathrooms and all entertainment and communication technology are standard for all the rooms.
The Rooms
12 exceptional rooms and suites. The style is a seductive mix of Oriental (in the old fashioned sense of the word, i.e. exotic) and colonial: a masculine, neutral palette that seems quite appropriate for a rugged stretch of Morocco’s coast. The look and style may be romantic and retro, but the experience is completely contemporary. Large, powerful showerheads, spacious open plan, contemporary bathrooms and all entertainment and communication technology are standard for all the rooms.
Some of the rooms overlook the Bay of Essaouira, with a magnificent view over the island of Mogador, while others offer a more intimate setting, suggesting Romance and voyage.