This amazing World Heritage Site in Morocco was first named after a Muslim Saint by the name of Sidi Mogdoul. Transcribed into Portuguese, the name Mogador was established. In the 1500’s the fortress, Castelo Real de Mogador, was constructed here by the King of Portugal. Despite this, the port remained a popular harbor for pirates and for sugar molasses exports until the eighteenth century. At about that time a number of major changes were made to the Medina of Essaouira under the instruction of Mohammed III who envisioned greater things for this small harbor town.