Medina of Essaouira in Essaouira, Morocco

Atlas Obscura reports that Essaouira's medina stands apart from Morocco's other ancient cities. Built in the eighteenth century to a deliberate plan by French architect Théodore Cornut, this old town features a geometric grid on a rocky peninsula—blending Moroccan and European military design with practical features like wider avenues for ventilation and hygiene. The result is a rare navigable medina, complete with dramatic coastal bastions topped with antique cannons. The harbor, established as a major trading port in seventeen seventy under Sultan Mohammed ben Abdellah, became the anchor for what is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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