Chellah

Chellah stands on the site of Sala Colonia, one of the oldest settlements at the mouth of the Bouregreg, founded in Roman times. In the 14th century, the Merinid sultan Abu Yusuf Yaqub chose this history-laden site to establish a royal necropolis amid the ancient ruins — a mosque, a medersa, a zawiya, and mausoleums, including that of Sultan Abu al-Hassan himself.

Destroyed by the 1755 earthquake and later plundered, the site lay abandoned until it was recognized as a historic monument in 1913. Today visitors can explore the remains of the Roman forum, the minaret adorned with green zellige tiles where storks nest year-round, and the mysterious eel pool, the subject of local legends for centuries. Shaded gardens of olive trees, orange trees, and jasmine wind through the ruins, offering a peaceful atmosphere often described as the most romantic site in Morocco.

Chellah has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2012, as part of 'Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City.'