Essaouria, known as the windy city, has much more of a laid back feel in its market's compared to the Medina in Marrakech. The cooler ocean air makes this the perfect place to wind down from the bustling, dusty inland cities.
The medina is home to many small arts and crafts businesses, notably cabinet making and 'thuya' wood-carving (using roots of the Tetraclinis tree), both of which have been practised in Essaouira for centuries.