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Rabat, the capital of Morocco, is home to over 1 million people, although walking around the Medina, the Kasbah and the Modern Town you don’t get this impression at all. There is a calm air about this capital city where you don’t get harassed and the shopkeepers are always friendly.
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Rabat is located on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg. The city was founded in the 12th Century by Abd al-Mu’min, a ruler of the Almohad dynasty. The original purpose of Rabat was to house troops for his holy war against Spain. In the early 1600’s the communities of Rabat and Salé integrated and became home to vast numbers of Andalusian Moors who had been driven from Spain. Today Rabat and Salé form an administrative state that has grown at a rate of more than 5% annually since the 1960’s and today has a population of around 1.3 million. This region is now a centre of the textile industry and well-known for its carpets, blankets and leather goods.
Rabat is an excellent initial base to explore Morocco. Leisurely stroll around the capital at your own pace and watch the changing of the Royal Guard, this takes place on a Friday morning, walk the streets of the Kasbah des Oudaya and visit the 12th Century Tour Hassan.
There are many other interesting sights to be seen in Rabat. There is the fascinating Boukandal and its wonderful gardens and then there is Chellah which has charming museums along with a 17th Century castle and Roman ruins. Another must visit is Salé, Rabat’s sister city, with the Grand Mosque, city gates, wonderful markets, intimate side streets and a harbour brimming with life.
Rabat also has a nice beach area which is well worth a visit although if you have time you might want to visit the beaches south of the city as they are even better.
The cuisine in Rabat is more International than many other parts of Morocco with Chinese and European restaurants not uncommon. Rabat is slightly more expensive than Casablanca but don’t let that put you off as there is a varied choice and you will find a good restaurant in all price ranges. The nightlife in Rabat is quite good too with many areas having a good choice of nightclubs and bars where both locals and tourists can mingle together.
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