Portuguese Fortified city of Mazagan, El Jadida
Panoramic view of Manueline Cistern of the El Jadida (Mazagan) fortress, built by Francisco and Diogo de Arruda, 16th century, El Jadida, Morocco. El Jadida, previously known as Mazagan (Portuguese: Mazagao), was seized in 1502 by the Portuguese, and they controlled this city until 1769. The underground Cistern was originally designed to store munitions. It served as a fencing school before being used after completion of the town walls in 1541 as a tank to store water. The symmetrical construction has a vaulted roof supported by 25 circular and rectangular pillars, with just one central window in the ceiling, 3.5 m in diameter, producing a single shaft of light. The shallow sheet of water produces a shimmering reflection of the vaulted ceiling in the light. Picture by Manuel Cohen
