Qasr al-Bahr (Sea Palace) in the city of Safi is one of the most prominent historical landmarks that embody the Portuguese era in Morocco and its maritime influences, especially since the city of Safi is located on the Atlantic coast and has been an important strategic station since ancient times due to its distinctive geographical location. It is considered a witness to the historical interactions between Morocco and European powers, led by Portugal, which occupied the city at the beginning of the sixteenth century.
The history of building Qasr al-Bahr dates back to the year 1508 AD, when the Portuguese occupied the city of Safi, as in that period Europe was living an era of maritime expansion and geographical explorations, and European powers were competing to control strategic ports along the African coasts.
According to historical accounts, the Portuguese, who were among the first pioneers of maritime exploration, targeted the coasts of Morocco for several reasons, most notably securing maritime trade routes with sub-Saharan Africa and searching for new resources.
The Portuguese built Qasr al-Bahr in a strategic location overlooking the Atlantic Ocean directly, and the main goal of its construction was to provide protection for the city, which had become an important port for Portuguese trade. In this regard, Abdel Samad El Mesfioui, one of those interested in the history of the city of Safi, said that the port was a major transit point for trade exchanges between Europe and Africa, where goods such as gold, spices, slaves, and local Moroccan resources such as metals and leather were shipped.
El Mesfioui added, in a statement to Hespress, that the Portuguese were seeking through building the palace to strengthen their military influence in the region, by establishing a strong fortress that would protect them from the attacks of rival powers as well as from the resistance of the local population.
The palace was designed to be an impregnable fortress, as it is characterised by its thick walls and defensive towers overlooking the sea, which made it an important military base, according to El Mesfioui, who confirmed that this design enabled the Portuguese to monitor any maritime movements that might threaten their presence or interests in the city, highlighting that the palace also provided them with protection from any potential attacks coming from land, and thus it formed an essential part of the Portuguese defence strategy in Morocco.
As for the name "Qasr al-Bahr", a number of those interested in the history of this city agreed that this name goes back to the strategic location of the palace overlooking the sea directly, where it seemed as if it were part of the sea, which made the local population call it this name, confirming that this maritime location gave the palace a special character, as it represented the city's maritime facade and reflected the importance of the sea for the Portuguese who relied on it significantly in expanding their influence and trade.
In his comment on the subject, Bennasser El Hachimi, a professor and researcher in the history of the city of Safi, mentioned that Qasr al-Bahr is not just a military fortress, but is a symbol of the history of Safi and its interaction with European powers in that period, adding that the palace represents one of the living witnesses to the Portuguese era in Morocco, as it was part of the network of fortresses and ports established by the Portuguese along the African coast, highlighting that Qasr al-Bahr, despite being a military facility originally, has become today a cultural and tourist symbol that reflects the ancient history of the city.
Professor Bennasser El Hachimi added, in a statement to Hespress, that Qasr al-Bahr today represents part of the cultural identity of the city of Safi, as it tells a historical story about Morocco's interaction with foreign powers, and the palace, which has stood for many centuries, reflects the strength of the Portuguese architectural design, as well as the challenges the city faced during that period. Although the Portuguese eventually left the city, Qasr al-Bahr remained a witness to that historical era.
For his part, Ali Karam, a civil society actor in the city of Safi, revealed that despite the great historical importance of Qasr al-Bahr, it faces many challenges today related to its preservation and maintenance, pointing out that climatic factors, such as humidity and salinity, pose a constant threat to the structure of the palace, which needs huge restoration efforts to preserve it.
Karam said, in a statement to Hespress, that despite some efforts made by the local authorities and all partners, there is an urgent need for concerted efforts at the national and international levels to protect this historical landmark, pointing out that preserving Qasr al-Bahr is not limited to the heritage aspect only, but can contribute to enhancing cultural tourism in the city, which helps in its economic development.
In order to restore consideration to this historical landmark, a framework agreement was signed between a group of public institutions, led by the province of Safi and the Ministry of Culture, with a financial envelope of approximately 139 million dirhams.
This agreement aims to fortify and strengthen the maritime facade of Qasr al-Bahr, restore and equip it, and transform it into a centre for national maritime heritage, which are works that have started and reached advanced stages.
The project consists of restoring and renovating the northeastern part of the Qasr al-Bahr landmark in the city of Safi, and includes restoring the maritime facade of the palace, including building a protective pier 257 metres long, and fortifying and strengthening the cliff surrounding the palace.
The project also aims to rebuild the collapsed parts of the maritime side of the palace, which will contribute to preserving this important landmark and restoring consideration to it. In addition, Qasr al-Bahr will be transformed into a centre for Moroccan national maritime heritage, which enhances its role as a cultural centre that reflects Morocco's rich maritime history, and forms an important tourist destination that enhances the cultural and economic value of the city.
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