North Africa - Essaouira

This charming seaside town is just over 100 miles west of Marrakech. Originally a fortified emplacement created by the Portuguese in the 15th Century, it is now a delightfully unspoilt town with a reassuring lack of modern bars and clubs - little has changed since Orson Welles directed his film Othello here in 1952.The wide, sandy beaches are just five minutes’ walk from the town walls and for much of the year the cooling sea breeze helps to ensure that the climate is relatively mild.The port is still a working harbour with repairs and construction being undertaken by traditional craftsmen and there are a number of excellent fish restaurants.The local town council has recently banned motor vehicles from the Medina from midday and it has one of the last authentic markets frequented by relatively few tourists.