Museums and galleries in Essaouira

Museum of Essaouira

This museum in the heart of the medina is located in a beautiful 19th century mansion. The history of the region, its customs and traditions are represented on the ground floor.

The shop windows recall the history of Essaouira and its region through some archaeological pieces, some of which date back to Phoenician and Roman times:

7th century BC Phoenician dish, wine amphora, bronze coins from Roman times (3rd century AD). Alawnite silver Dirhams struck in Essaouira around 1760, as well as utensils of daily life.

On the first floor, the musical heritage is evoked with a collection of instruments related to the different religious brotherhoods and traditional musical practices.

Local and regional craftsmanship is represented by jewellery, weapons, marquetry techniques, Berber and Jewish costumes, urban or peasant, carpets of the region complete this representation of the heritage where Arab, Jewish and Berber influences intersect.

Laâlouj Street. Open every day except Tuesday from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm

Rates: Adult/Child: 10/3 Dh. School groups 2 Dh / pers. Tel: +212 (0)5 24 47 53 00.

Art galleries in Essaouira

Essaouira has inspired a large number of artists from various backgrounds, some of whom have finally left their bags in the city.

For art lovers, Essaouira has been a city-museum since Frederic Damgaard, a Danish enthusiast of Islamic art, met local artists and opened the first gallery there in 1988. Since then, this initiative has aroused many imitations throughout the city.

Frédéric Damgaard Art Gallery

Discoverer of talents for more than 30 years, the Frédéric Damgaard gallery exposes the painters and sculptors of the region and beyond.

Gallery: Avenue Oqba ibn Nafiaâ. Workshop: under the arches overlooking Place Chefchaouen.

Every day from 9 am to 1 pm – 3 pm to 7 pm. Tel: +212 (0)5 24 78 44 46.

Othello Space

The Espace Othello is one of the most important and diversified galleries in Essaouira. Naïve or contemporary paintings, calligraphy and sculptures are presented. It gathers among others the formation “Free Artists of Essaouira”.

9 rue Mohammed Layachi Tel: +212 (0)5 24 47 50 95.

Tilal Association

For the development of plastic arts in Essaouira.
About 50 artists from Essaouira are part of the association under the direction of Hamid Bouhali, former director of satirical publications such as Satirix and Akhbar Souk.

His character “Chaouch Bouchnak” whose adventures appeared in the newspaper Al Kawaliss, humorously presented the daily life of a young Moroccan. Works of very high quality are presented.

2 Cairo Street. Every day from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:30 pm to 7 pm. Tel: +212 (0)5 24 47 54 24.