Rabat. The vintage jewel of the Kingdom of Morocco
- Rabat and its History
- The most beautiful places
- How to get there
- Rbati Crafts
- Culture
- Activities
Rabat and its origin
Capital of the Moroccan Kingdom and a prestigious stop where calm and discretion agree with refinement and art of living. Rabat is a modern city that knew how to preserve its authenticity: combines its historic center and its modern part with elegance. At the mouth of the Buregreg river, it offers a sports harbor coloring with the cries of the seagulls and the walls of ocher color.
Beautiful and proud of its heritage, Rabat breathes between wide boulevards and green parks. It is the political and administrative center of the country and where the Royal Palace, government agencies and embassies are located.
On the right bank of the river, his twin sister, Salé, keeps alive the memory of old corsairs. Lose yourself in the labyrinth of the medina to discover her mysterious past.
The most beautiful places
Rabat was able to grow and develop harmoniously, taking care of its architectural wealth visible in any of its wide boulevards, bordered by trees and flowers, buildings that do not exceed five floors and neighborhoods immersed in a peace and tranquility rarely found in the capitals of the countries.
Its origins are born from the Roman era in the third century BC. with the well-known CHELLAH on the bank of the Bu-Regreg, in the year 40 d. C. became a Roman settlement, until the year 250 d. C that Rome abandoned it to the Berber rulers where it emphasized its great importance during the Muslim Spain era. CHELLAH is one of the most attractive places of the city is two kilometers from the center and includes the necropolis and the ancient city of Sala. The set of these ruins, with thousands of birds, storks and wild vegetation make this place an oasis of tranquility, a peaceful and flowery garden.
The KASBAH OF THE UDAYA
Rabat was baptized as “Ribat al-Fath” or “Fortress of Victory” by the Sultan al Mohade Abd El Mumen in 1146. In 1195 his grandson Yacoub-El-Manssour began the construction of a large city project of more than 400 hectares surrounded by a wall that covers the old town with five monumental stone doors that can be accessed: Bab El Alu, Bab El Had, Bab Esufara, Bab Er-Ruah and Bab Zaërs. The biggest door of the Almohade doors is Bab Er-Ruah. It unfolds between two outgoing towers its monumental facade built in carved stone.
200 meters from this door is the one of the Ambassadors, Bab Esufara, which gives access to the Mechuar, the square where the Royal Palace is located and where the main festivities in honor of the King are held.
The Kasbah of “Udayas” breathes peace and tranquility that give the streets full of flowers, his Andalusian garden and Moorish café. The door of “The Udayas” is built in stone and is considered one of the jewels of Almohad art. In Kasbah we find the oldest mosque in Rabat.
The Medina is passing the wall of the Andalusians. Its streets such as Suiga and Souk Es Sebat are full of traditional craft shops. Calle de los Cónsules is the most active street in the medina and is bordered by countless artisans, vendors of carpets and fabrics. On Thursday mornings you can witness a curious auction of rbatis carpets.
The Hassan Tower was one of the greatest sanctuaries of the Muslim world built by Yacoub el Mansur in 1195 and was to be a great mosque of 400 columns and the tower with 20mtrs more than its current 44 meters to overcome its twin Giralda de Sevilla and the Koutubia of Marrakech, but after his death the works were stopped, but even so it is a great work of art that deserves to be visited. It has a large patio built on top of a deep restored cisterns extending at the foot of the minaret, and a immense hypostyle hall whose 312 columns and 42 marble pillars were ordered to form nineteen naves, not counting the lateral porticos. Here, the Mausoleum of Mohamed V was built, in homage to the liberator of the Nation.
Mausoleum Mohamed V surprises with its design and decoration. This masterpiece of traditional Moroccan art incorporates all the knowledge and technical knowledge of Moroccan master craftsmen (painted wood, plaster, carved marble, engraved bronze…). In the center of the lower level of the building is the tomb of Mohamed V.
Often very narrow passages open on squares that are specialized in leather work, hardware and weaving.
How to get to Rabat?
Rabat offers a wide range of possibilities to get to the city. Depending on the time available or the place from which we come, it is better to choose one option or another, although all offer a comfortable and safe transport.
Plane: The airport is located in Salé, only 10 km away and offers several transport services to get you closer and move around the city.
Car or coach: These are the two options we have if we want to travel by road. Although the bus network is safe and well connected, the schedules are not very strict so if you are in a hurry, it is not a good option. The taxi is the mean of transport used by tourists par excellence. It is a very comfortable and economical.
Train: the train station is in the middle of Mohamed V Avenue so it is a very requested transport by visitors and inhabitants of Rabat.
Rbati Crafts:
The craftsmanship is recognized by the finesse inherited from the Andalusian tradition. In several aspects, Rabat continues to be a national reference. The medina is still a place of exchanges where in the workshops you will not only find a gift, but a real human contact with the artisan. This place is well known for its carpets, gold jewelry and leather goods.
The traditional carpet of Rabat is fine, its wool is short, often red and the center has a diamond strewn with floral motifs. They are woven by women to the stitch point.
The rbati embroidery is reserved for women who work with traditional cotton, linen and silk fabrics. This embroidery is adorned with floral motifs at the flat point.
The Salé pottery is considered the second handcrafted sector after the carpet. It is one of the oldest activities in the region. Tajines, miniatures, vases, lamps are worked in the workshops of more than sixty potters of “El Ulja”.
Culture:
Committed to artistic and cultural life, Rabat has a dozen international cultural institutes, several museums (archaeological, pottery, the “Udayas”, Barid Al Maghrib museum, coin museum, Belghazi Ethnographic Museum) and the legendary National Theater Mohamed V.
In Rabat there are festivals and artistic meetings of great prestige worldwide such as the “Mawazine Rhythms of the World” Festival. The Fusion Jazz Festival attracts artists from all over Europe to take place in this event.
Andalusian music perpetuates in the culture of Rabat as a legacy of the Arab-Andalusian legacy. Another peculiar music of great repercussion in this city is the music “Al Malhun” known today under the name of “Quassida del Ghazal“, a truly poetic creation.
What activities does Rabat offer?
Athletes and adventurers find in Rabat a perfect city to meet their challenges. One of the activities that is most in demand is golf, with El Golf Real Dar Es Salam being a legend for fans.
You can also practice sports on its beaches such as surfing, windsurfing, jet skiing, kayaking or pedalo.
Rabat is also a destination for well-being of high quality. The city has several traditional or modern Hammam which attracts visitors and inhabitants to disconnect and relax.
If you want to know the most remarkable places of this Imperial City in just one day, take advantage of the offer of this tour. Available from Fez or Casablanca.