“Hay Al Massira, or Hay Hassani as it’s also known,” you might hear someone say, “is a vibrant tapestry of different neighborhoods in Marrakesh.” Standing here, you can see the grand vision of the city planners of the 1980s. They wanted to create a new Marrakesh, extending west with wide avenues and a mix of housing for all. The name Hay Al Massira, meaning “The March”, is a tribute to a pivotal event in Moroccan history: the Green March. This peaceful demonstration in 1975 saw thousands of Moroccans marching into Western Sahara, reclaiming the territory from Spanish control. Look around at the street names – they whisper stories of the nationalist struggle. You can almost hear the echoes of a nation’s fight for independence and unity. Even the architecture here tells a story. The wide avenues and diverse housing were designed to encourage a mix of people and professions, a vision of social harmony woven into the very fabric of Massira.
Nice view on the Atlas mountains from the Food Court Terasse
Was that a hint of snow? From this distance, under the Moroccan sun, it’s hard to be sure. But those