A short distance offshore from Essaouira is the Ile De Mogador, an island with an interesting history, being one of the places the Roman Empire made their Tyrian Purple dye (used, amongst other things, to colour Senatorial robes). More recently it’s served as a woman’s prison and a quarantine centre. Today it is uninhabited and it’s very difficult to secure permits to land there, as it’s a major breeding site for the Eleonora’s falcon. You can however arrange boat trips around the island, an interesting way to spend an afternoon.