Rabat

Rabat is a teeming metropolis and the capital of Morocco, located on the Atlantic coast where the lucent waters of Bou Regreg river flow into the ocean. Like most Moroccan cities, Rabat has one foot in the past in the old medina. However, its modern downtown is an administrative center with heavy French architectural influences. The white and mustard cityscape creates a stunning contrast with the blue waters that surround the city from two sides. Bolstered by the Atlantic, Rabat is the epitome of aesthetic beauty.

On the bank of the river, Hassan Tower welcomes visitors into the old city of Rabat. The Moroccan-style minaret soars 44 meters above a colonnaded space. It is a conspicuous historic site with the mausoleum of Mohammad V to its side, and together they embellish Rabat’s skyline. Further west at the old medina, you will find a denser crowd of cultural sites bearing witness to the city’s Merinid history. The Great Mosque and Kasbah des Oudaias are the highlight attractions of the medina, showcasing the city’s diverse background with Spanish-Muslim and Berber influences. The iconic Moroccan markets and shops offer a variety of choices for shopping, where you will experience life much in the same way it was centuries ago. 

A site that has even older remnants of history is the hill where The Chellah lies with an evocative image. It is a Merinid necropolis built in the 14th century and home to classic Islamic sites as well as the tomb of a sultan. The presence of majestic civilizations in Rabat dates back to the Phonecians who lived on this hill. And, the city grew with the imperial grandeur of the Roman, Berber, and French empires throughout the ages.