Rabat the capital city of the kingdom of MOROCCO dating back to the PUNICA era,city very rich in Berber and Arab inhabitant.1150 can be considered as the year of the reconstruction of the present city by the famous and powerful sultan ABD AL-MUMIN founder of the al moaheden empire,with the passage of time and after the year 1253, Rabat begins a period of crisis with the assignment of the capital of Morocco to the city FES.after the rise to power of the MARINIDE dynasty that ruled later after the collapse of the ALMOAHEDEN empire. In 1912 Rabat was declared by French Marshal HUBERT LYAUTEY the capital of the protectorate of Morocco and the seat of the colonial resident. In 1956, with Morocco's independence, it became the official capital.

What to see in Rabat?

THE MEDINA

The city of Rabat, fairly simple and easy to navigate, is like most of Morocco's imperial cities. The essence of Rabat concentrated in the old city full of narrow and twisted alleys full of life, where we find the famous SUQ es-sebat with its reed roof where handicraft stores offer their products made of Leather, Wool, Wrought Iron, Kaftan, Djellaba and Carpets items.In this center we see the usual life de other imperial cities of Morocco where tourists perforce are put in close contact with the local people walking around and doing their shopping. Throughout this local environment you can see merchants trying to sell items placed on the sidewalk and haulers using animals that are still used as customary in transporting goods.

THE KASBAH OF THE OUDAYA

The KASBAH of the Oudaya in Rabat is a veritable city within a city, built in the 12th century by Caliph ABD AL-MU'MIN almoravids ,Set on a rocky outcrop and consisting of a MOSQUE and a military residence. This kasbah was built to combat the rebellious activities of the Berbers and also used to gather the horsemen who want to go to fight under the command of the sultan in the south of spain,once you enter inside the KASBAH through BAB ALWUDAYYA we immediately notice the influence of Andalusian art,from here you can take the road that leads AL-JAMMA ATTIQ 'ancient mosque' another wonder of the kasbah and the oldest religious building in Rabat. From inside the kasbah you can drink hot tea while admiring a beautiful view of the ocean.

THE HASSAN TOWER

A few passe from the famous kasbah and after vente minute de walk a pierde we see the HASSAN TOWER, a MOSQUE with its minaret that was later never completed. Added to UNESCO's provisional list of World Heritage Sites on July 1, 1995. Years later it became an OFFICIAL UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.The construction of this structure began in 1195 at the behest of the Almohadi sultan YACOUB AL-MANSOUR for the celebration of his army in the Battle of ALARCOS against the SPANISH Christians. The first plans for the mosque was the tower was to reach the height of 86 meters like that of the mosque de marrakech AL KOUTOUBIA,but The work however stopped four years later,in 1195 when sultan YACOUB AL-MANSOUR died. The tower stops at 44 meters high with only the first part of the many walls and 200 columns that were to be raised after once the finished works of this mosque.

THE MAUSOLEUM OF MOHAMMED V

In rabat there A tourist attraction not to be missed, a royal tomb containing the remains of the body of KING MOHAMMED V with his two children ABDULLAH AND with HASSAN II,The father of the present king. On the same esplanade where the Hassan Tower stands you can admire the MAUSOLEUM OF MOHAMMED V,a masterpiece designed by the Vitameta architect ERIC VO TOAN,a 1500-square-meter structure you will particularly appreciate the architecture that blends the ARAB-ANDALUSian style with elements of traditional Moroccan craftsmanship.Its construction,in which 400 craftsmen participated,took a full 10 years from 1961 to 1971.

NECROPOLIS OF CHELLAH

CHELLAH or SHALLA, about 3km from the center, lies outside the city walls and occupies the site of the ROMAN SALA anciently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2012. Before the wonder of this city, this site is evidence of the earliest human presence in the river delta. The first peoples to settle on the grassy slopes above the BOU REGREG River that flows very close to rabat were the Phoenicians, but the city of Shalla began to expand when the Romans took control. Excavations done at the site revealed the presence of an important agglomeration, and in fact, SHALLA preserves the vestiges of a ROMAN city, with remnants of a FORUM, A FOUNTAIN, AND AN ARCH OF TRIUMPH.