Purple Isles Essaouira

The Ile de Mogador, situated in the south-west direction not far from the coast, consists of two islands and various islets historically known as the Iles Purpurarie or the Purple Isles, Essaouira. No, they are not purple, but were named so because of the oysters once farmed there for the purple dye they produce - a luxury in demand for the upper classes of Italy who used it to dye their robes.

During the 1st century AD, Juba II manufactured a highly valued dye in Essaouira. It was this red dye, made from the purple snail that gave Purple Isles in Essaouira their name. Once here, you can see a ruined Portuguese Fort that was later used as a prison and further along you can witness the remnants of an old mosque. Today the islands are home to a bird sanctuary and the endangered species Eleanor's falcon.

You can also see the Purple Isles in Essaouira from the old sea bastion at Essaouira, which offers mesmerizing views of the isles over the bay.

To visit the Purple Isles in Essaouira, you would have to convince a fisherman to take you, as there are no official tours. You will also need to obtain permission from the commissariat to visit these exotic isles.