The Four Royal Cities of Morocco

In addition to Meknes, Fes and Marrakesh, Morocco's capital city of Rabat is one of the country's historic four royal cities. Despite their differences, these cities share a common bond, as they each contain the cultural and architectural treasures of a fascinating epoch. Rabat has a rich and colorful history and was first settled in the 8th century BC, nearly 2000 years before the Hassan Tower was built. With its beautiful minaret, the 18th century Mosquee Es-Sounna is the most outstanding religious building in the centre of the city. The most architecturally impressive of the four royal cities is Meknes. In the 17th century, Moulay Ismail made this city into his own and thus created several new buildings. In addition to the largest gate in the Maghreb, the Bab Mansour, the city's former 20 kilometre long wall symbolizes a further important legacy and highlights the wealth and flamboyance of the Alaouite Dynasty. Although Meknes is one of the younger Moroccan royal cities, it contains more than 4000 years of history and its fertile land was even much prized by the Romans. Fes is the oldest and, at the same time, liveliest of all four royal cities. Beyond its historic walls lies the origin of the Moroccan monarchy as well as numerous outstanding treasuries of the Islamic Middle Ages. Fes Jdid, an earlier section of the old town centre, is dominated by an immense palace, the Royal Palace. Beyond its gilded bronze gates is a small, luxurious world. Numerous architectural ...

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Orignal From: The Four Royal Cities of Morocco