Asilah, also known as Arzila, is one of the most picturesque and historic attractions in Morocco. It is located approximately fifty kilometers outside the city of Tangier and has been dated back to 1500 B.C. The city was constructed by the Phoenicians as a trade post, but was later conquered by the Portuguese in the fifteenth century. By 1549, John III had abandoned Asilah in the midst of an economic crisis and it was taken by Moulay Ismail in the year 1692. Asilah became a part of Spanish Morocco during the years 1912 to 1956. With it having changed hands so many times and later even being used as a haven for pirates, it is hard to believe that the gates and ramparts of the city have remained perfectly preserved.