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Rabat – As Morocco has become one of the most popular destinations for Moroccans living overseas and international tourists, the North African country has fascinated another Hollywood magazine with its tangible and intangible assets.
For the Los Angeles-based magazine, the Hollywood Reporter, Morocco is “the Most Lovely Spot in the Whole World.”
The author of the “Hollywood Insider’s Guide to Morocco,” Kathryn Romeyn takes her readers on a journey to the most-visited destinations in Morocco: Essaouira, Marrakech, and the Atlas Mountains.
The publication borrows a few quotes from Walton Goggins, whose visit to Morocco gave him inspiration and unforgettable memories in Marrakech, the High Atlas Mountains, and the Sahara desert.
Goggins had “one goal in mind: to wake up deep in the Sahara, to feel connected without words.”
“That’s what Morocco gave me, the sense of place I was looking for, and it’s stayed with me ever since,” she said.
Romeyn then gave a list of destinations where several Hollywood stars spent magical moments in the four-season land.
Starting with the High Atlas Mountains, the author recalled the magnificent Kasbah Tamadot resort owned by British self-made billionaire Richard Branson.
The Hollywood Reporter’s next stop was the city of winds: Essaouira. The author then named Morocco’s shooting destinations, including Ouarzazate, Tangier, Essaouira, and the dunes of Merzouga.
Quoting producer Khadija Alami, the Hollywood Reporter described the coastal city of Essaouira, saying that it is the destination “where a rough Atlantic Ocean meets the chill and laid-back atmosphere of the hippie era; Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones were once there.”
Marrakech is one of the lovely spots for Hollywood stars.
Romeyn said that several stars, including John Legend and Chrissy Teigen visited the red city recently, “while Katy Perry (with Ellie Goulding and Diplo) and David Beckham (with Eva Longoria, Tom Cruise and his wife, Victoria in tow) looked to Marrakech’s Amanjena — the secluded, ultra-private property 15 minutes from the bustling medina — to celebrate milestone birthdays.”
The author then recalled hotels where some movies scenes were filmed, including The Selman, Royal Mansour, and Mamounia.
Morocco’s Hollywood, or “Ouallywood” as described by the Hollywood Reporter, is also among the list of the best destinations to visit in Morocco.
Morocco-based producer James H E Cutting was quoted as saying the “only luxury hotel is le Berbere Palace.”
“When we were filming Babel, Brad Pitt stayed in one of the private villas normally used for dignitaries and royalty, and used the rear service entrance so as not to be seen by paparazzi,” said the producer.
Ouarzazate has been the home for several movies and series, including The Mummy, Gladiator, and Lawrence of Arabia. The award-winning hit series Game of Thrones also includes scenes shot on the sprawling grounds.
