Founded in 1150 by the Almohad caliph,
Rabat, modern political and administrative capital of
Morocco, is one of the
four imperial cities we visited on
our train trip around the country.
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| Rabat, view from the Kasbah |
Halfway between a cosmopolitan city and an ancient stronghold, Rabat has a lot of charm with its mix of tradition and modernity that go hand in hand.
The palm-lined avenues of the ville nouvelle are clean, well-maintained and lightly trafficked, while the suggestive
kasbah and the enchanting fortified
medina, which is much less touristy than those of the other cities, keep their traditional atmosphere. There is also a central beach where you can practice surfing.
All in all, Rabat is a great choice for a short stay.
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| Rabat |
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| Rabat |
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| Rabat, graffiti |
Here are our suggestions on what to visit while in Rabat.
TOWER OF HASSAN
Started by order of Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour, the Hassan Tower is the minaret of a mosque that has remained incomplete. It was supposed to be the largest tower in the world, but the construction was stopped at 44 mt (about halfway of the planned 80 mt height) when the Sultan died in 1199.
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| Rabat, Hassan tower |
The rest of the mosque was also left incomplete, with only the first part of the numerous walls and 200 columns that needed to be erected. The red brick tower and the remains of the mosque together with the modern mausoleum of Mohammed V form one of the most important historical and tourist complexes in Rabat.
The mausoleum of Mohammed V, located in front of the tower, contains the royal tomb of Mohammad V and his sons Moulay Abdellah and Hassan II. It was built between 1961 and 1971, by the Vietnamese Eric Vo Toan, and refers to the classical Arab-Andalusian style according to traditional
Moroccan art. Unlike other mausoleums the entrance is free and unrestricted, but it is recommended to wear appropriate clothes.
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| Rabat, mausoleum of Mohammed V |
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| Rabat |
KASBAH OF THE UDAYAS
Built largely in the 12th century by the Almohads, the soldier monks that went to war in Spain, the kasbah of Rabat is a quiet place to wander around without a specific destination.
The enclosure of the kasbah is 2.5mt thick and it's 8 to 10mt high, with a covered pathway. The most spectacular door is the Bab Oudaia; it displays elaborate decorations on a series of carved arches. Once you have crossed this access door, you enter via the main street, Rue Jamaa, directly into the kasbah. It will seem like entering another city, with quiet alleys and whitewashed houses characterized by deep blue details.
The kasbah occupies the oldest part of the city, where the ribat (fortress-monastery) originally stood. From its dominant position at the top of the cliff, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the river and the ocean.
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| Rabat, Bab Oudaia (Almohad gate) |
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| Rabat, Kasbah of the Udayas |
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| Rabat, Kasbah of the Udayas |
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| Rabat, Kasbah of the Udayas |
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| Rabat, Kasbah of the Udayas |
MEDINA
Like all Moroccan medinas, this too is located within the city walls. It was built in the 17th century following the pattern of an orderly spider web and although it probably does not have the same fascinating atmosphere as other older
medina, it is still a fantastic place to explore, also because the traders in the area are not too persistent, the spaces are a little wider and it is a more enjoyable area for those that don't like crowded and noisy places.
CHELLAH
A few kilometers away from the city center, following the course of the Bou Regreg river, there is the necropolis of
Chellah, an important archaeological site used in the Muslim era as a burial place. The center is obviously much older and dates back to the Phoenicians, the Romans called it Sala Colonia and organized it with their typical urban planning. In the mid 12th century the site was abandoned and the inhabitants moved to nearby Salè, the hill was covered with vegetation and became a safe haven for numerous storks.
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| Rabat, Chellah |
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| Rabat, Chellah |
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| Rabat, Chellah |
Beyond the imposing walls of the necropolis stands the stone minaret, the ruins of the ancient Roman city but also the medieval tombs, including the royal tomb of Abu l-Hasan 'Ali ibn' Uthman , a merinid sultan of the 14th century.
Our tips:
1. We suggest you to stay a couple of days in Rabat, in order to have enough time to explore the most interesting sightseeing and to enjoy some relaxing time. We had booked only one day there and we felt we could have stayed longer.
2. Rabat is easily accessible by
train both from Casablanca and Marrakesh or Meknès and
Fez, or by plane.
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