Formerly known as Mogador by the Portuguese, Essaouira is situated on the Atlantic coast. It is 173 km north of Agadir, 174 km west of Marrakech and 406 km south-west of Casablanca. The port of Essaouira is a very important 18th-century traditional fishing port and one of the city’s must-see sites, along with its fortified Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.