Safi, Morocco

11th-century geographer Muhammad al-Idrisi gave an explanation to the origin the name "Asafi" as he linked it to the Arabic word "Asaf" (regret); Asafi (my regret). He based this claim on a strange story about some sailors from al-Andalus who sailed to discover the other end of the Atlantic Ocean but got lost and landed on some island where the natives captured them and sent them back on their ships blindfolded. The ships eventually ended on the shores of "Safi" and locals helped the lost sailors and told them that they were two months away from their native land al-Andalus. Upon hearing this one of the sailors responded by saying: "Wa asafi" (Oh my regret). Al-Idrisi wrote that from that time the city carried the name "Asafi".^[3]

According to African Placenames by Adrian Room, it was initially settled by Phonicians under the Name Asfi.^[4] The city name is derived of the Berber Word for 'River'. ^[4][5]

According to historians Henri Basset and Robert Ricard, Safi was not a very ancient city.^[6] It was mentioned in the writings of al-Bakri in the 11th century and of al-Idrisi in the 12th century.^[6] According to Moroccan historian Mohammed al-Kanuni, Safi can be identified with the ancient Thymiaterium or Carcunticus that was founded by the Carthaginian admiral Hanno during his Periplus, as related by Pliny the Elder.^[7]

Al-Idrisi mentions Safi as a busy port in the 12th century.^[6] At this time it served as a port for Marrakesh, the capital of the Almoravids and the subsequent Almohads, replacing the port of Ribat Kuz (present-day Souira Kedima) that had served as the main port for Aghmat in the previous century.^[8]

The city was under Portuguese rule from 1488 to 1541; it is believed that they abandoned it to the Saadians (who were at war with them), since the city proved difficult to defend from land attacks. The Sea Castle and Kechla, two Portuguese fortresses built to protect the city, are still there today.

After 1541, the city played a major role in Morocco as one of the safest and biggest seaports in the country. Many ambassadors to the Saadian and Alaouite kings during the 16th–18th centuries came to Morocco via Safi; its proximity to Marrakesh, then capital of Morocco, helped expand the maritime trade in the city.

Louis De Chénier, consul of the French court in Morocco in 1767, reported that the city was the only usable seaport at the time.

A French Navy captive, Bidé de Maurville, who wrote the account of his stay in Morocco in his 1765 book Relations de l'affaire de Larache, reported the presence of an important number of foreign trading houses in the city: Dutch, Danish, British and French.

After the Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah built the city of Mogador (modern-day Essaouira), he banned foreign trade in all Moroccan ports except in his newly built city. Consequently, Safi stopped playing a leading role in the Moroccan trade.

Safi's patron saint is Abu Mohammed Salih.

In 1942 as part of Operation Torch, American forces attacked Safi in Operation Blackstone. During November 8-10, 1942 the Americans took control over Safi and its port and took relatively few casualties compared to the other operations at Casablanca and at Port Mehdia.

Safi has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh).

In the early 20th century, the Moroccan potter Boujemâa Lamali established a pottery school in Safi, supported by the colonial administration. Since then pottery has been a mainstay of Safi's economy. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic there were 2,000 registered artisans working in the city's 212 workshops, and thousands more unregistered artisans.^[14]

Football and rugby are popular sports in Safi. The local football team Olympic Safi have been competing in Morocco's premier football division, Botola, since 2004.
The Rugby Union team of the same name is one of Morocco's best, having won the "Coupe du Trône" several times. There also is a little Tennis Sport Club with a couple of fields (following the high road, beyond the Colline des Poitiers).

There is an abandoned European cemetery in Safi. Some of the marble decorations have been stolen from the richest tombs, including: Russian, Portuguese, Spanish (e.g. the Do Carmo family), Italian (e.g. the Bormioli family), French (e.g., the Chanel family), German and other European nationals. Some engravings identifying or memorializing the deceased have also been stolen. Although there are 19th century tombs present, most are of pre-independence (1956) 20th century origin.^{[citation needed]}

• Meir Ben-Shabbat, Israel's National Security Adviser and Chief of Staff for National Security^[15]
• Edmond Amran El Maleh, writer
• Mohamed Bajeddoub, Andalusian classical music singer
• Mohamed Benhima, politician, former Prime Minister of Morocco
• Brahim Boulami, athlete
• Khalid Boulami, athlete
• Driss Benhima, CEO of Royal Air Maroc and president of Hawd Assafi, Safi-based non-profit organization
• Samy Elmaghribi, Moroccan musician
• Shayfeen, hip-hop duo
• Michel Galabru, French actor
• Abderrahim Goumri, long-distance runner
• Zakaria El Masbahi, basketball player
• Haja Hamounia, traditional chanteuse of Bedouin song
• Mohamed Mjid, former longtime president of the Royal Moroccan Tennis Federation
• Aharon Nahmias, Israeli politician
• Abu Mohammed Salih, 12th century religious leader
• Mohamed Reggab, film director
• Uri Sebag, Israeli politician
• Abraham Ben Zmirro, 15th century rabbi
• Abderrazak Hamdallah, footballer
• Yahia Attiyat Allah, footballer

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  Sea Castle (Safi)
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  Tajine memorial