Place to see: Old Souq, Ruins, Rabat, Morocco

About this place:

The ruin gardens of Chellah rest upon the edge of the Rou Bergreg River in Rabat, Morocco. Chellah is an ancient citadel of royal burial grounds used for historical leaders such as Abu El Hassan. This sanctuary was founded first by an Phoenician settlement, Carthaginians and then eventually taken over by the Romans in 40 A.D. The Arabs occupied this area later to built a fortified Kasbah named (Ribat) as a base for the fight against taking over Southern Spain. This was how Rabat acquired its name. The Almohad dynasty were responsible for the Arabesque calligraphy inscribed on the doors of Chellah. It was abandoned in 1154 A.D.

It is now a Sanctuary Garden that is open freely to the public where they can roam and explore the royal tombs, the old mosque, and observe white storks build their nests in tree high above the ground.