Rabat (Morocco)
According to ALLPUBLICLIBRARIES, Rabat is the capital of Morocco. The city was founded in the 12th century on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Bou Regreg river. First, for defense purposes, Rabat was surrounded by a clay wall, in which there are 5 gates. In the 17th century, it was divided into two parts by another wall – the old (Medina) and the new. The main attraction of the Medina is the Kasbah of Oudaya, which is completely built of sandstone.
The main attraction of Rabat is the unfinished minaret of the Hassan Mosque – “Hassan’s Tower”. Construction began in 1195 AD. and its height had to reach 86 meters to become the tallest minaret in the world. But construction was interrupted in 1199 due to the death of Sultan Yakub al-Mansur and the minaret reached a height of only 44 meters. Next to the mosque and minaret is the mausoleum of Mohammed V, where the remains of this ruler are kept, as well as the ashes of his son Hassan II. The mausoleum is one of the few Muslim holy places in the world that non-Muslims are allowed to enter.
Interesting Andalusian gardens, which give the impression of being very ancient, although they belong to the 20th century. On their territory is the Museum of Moroccan Art. Now a huge number of museums are open to visitors in the city, among which are the Museum of Antiquity, the Museum of Archeology, the Ethnographic Museum and the Museum of Natural History. Rabat has long been assigned the title of cultural capital of Morocco. The Mohammed V State University and various scientific associations are located here. The port of the city has not been functioning for a long time, so local residents and tourists are happy to swim here, sunbathe on the shore and go in for water sports.
The international airport “Aeroport de Rabat-Sale” is located 12 km north of Rabat. In the city center there is a railway station, from which it is very convenient to get to Casablanca by train.
Tangier (Morocco)
Tangier – one of the oldest cities in Morocco, located on the shore of the bay at the foot of the hills, in the place where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea. Tangier connects Europe and Africa, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, so Moroccan, European and African cultures are mixed here. This port has been mentioned since 500 BC. According to Greek mythology, its name comes from the name of Antey’s wife – Tinga. From Tangier you can take a ferry to the coast of Spain.
Tangier is full of architectural sights. In the Old City (Medina), traditional white houses line the narrow streets. Sokko Square in the center of Tangier. From the Spanish “sokko” is translated as “shop”, but this place has long ceased to be a trading area. There are numerous cafes and restaurants where you can sit on the verandas and admire the city. There are souvenir shops on Sokko, but they overestimate the real price of souvenirs by 2 or even 5 times. A pedestrian street begins from the square, which passes through the main attractions of the city and ends at the Kasbah of Tangier. The Kasbah was erected on the highest point of the Medina and is quite well preserved to this day. Here it is interesting to see the Palace of the Sultans, which was built under Sultan Mula Ismail in the 17th century. The palace has snow-white walls, and inside, in the chambers of the Sultan, you can see ceiling frescoes, arabesques and carpets from Rabat. Now the Palace houses the Museum of Ancient History with the famous Roman mosaic “Journey of Venus” and the Museum of Moroccan Art with ancient manuscripts, ancient weapons and other exhibits. Not far from the Palace of the Sultans are the Grand Mosque and the Mendoubiya Gardens, where trees grow that are over 800 years old.
In the modern part of Tangier is the Place de France , where it is customary to meet friends and sit in cafes, especially in Tangier ‘s most famous cafe, Paris. There are buildings made in the European style, as well as the prestigious La Montagne area with beautiful houses.
In addition to its historical attractions, Tangier is known for its beach holidays. In the city itself, the beaches are not very clean, children are constantly scurrying around and begging. If you want to sunbathe and swim in comfort, then you should go west of Tangier, where wide sandy beaches stretch right at the foot of the hills. There are several interesting places in the vicinity of Tangier. Cape Spartel is located 18 km west of the city along the coast. It is famous for the Caves of Hercules located here. These caves were formed by sea water over many hundreds of years, and later by people who quarried stone for millstones here. According to Greek mythology, this is where Hercules lived after he discovered Tangier created the Strait of Gibraltar. At high tide, the caves fill with water, and at low tide they open up. Not far from the caves on the coast are the ruins of the ancient Roman settlements of Cotta. Here, archaeologists have unearthed the remains of walls that date back to the 2nd-3rd centuries, salt baths and oil factories.
To the east of Tangier is Cape Malabata, on which stands a lighthouse, it offers a beautiful view of the Strait of Gibraltar. From Tangier you can also make a trip through the Rif mountains and get to the village of Kalaa, where you will get acquainted with the traditions of the local people.
