{"id":366,"date":"2014-06-18T17:57:18","date_gmt":"2014-06-18T17:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/afrifacto.com\/morocco\/?page_id=366"},"modified":"2014-06-20T08:55:28","modified_gmt":"2014-06-20T08:55:28","slug":"rabat-city","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/afrifacto.com\/morocco\/rabat-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Rabat city"},"content":{"rendered":"

Location<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rabat is the capital city of Morocco, North Africa. It is the country’s second largest city. Rabat is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg. The city is situated in the northwest of Morocco.<\/p>\n

History of Rabat<\/strong><\/p>\n

The history of Rabat dates back to the 3rd century BC with a settlement called Chellah on the banks of the river Bou Regreg. The Romans conquered Chellah in 40 AD and transformed it into their colony of Sala Colonia. Due to its military significance, in 1170 Rabat was named \u2018Ribatu l-Fath,\u2019 meaning \u2018stronghold of triumph.\u2019<\/p>\n

Yaqub al-Mansur, an Almohad Caliph, moved the capital of his kingdom to Rabat where he constructed the city walls and the Kasbah of the Udayas (known as the world\u2019s biggest mosque). In 1912, the French occupied Morocco and established the territory and General Hubert, the French officer in charge moved the kingdom\u2019s capital from Fes to Rabat. Later in 1956, when Morocco attained independence, Mohammed V the then Emperor of Morocco decided to keep the capital in Rabat. Rabat was built on Challah ruins.<\/p>\n

Population<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rabat city is 117 km2 <\/sup>and it has a population of about 1.2 million people.<\/p>\n

Mayors of <\/strong>Rabat<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Fathallah Oualalou is the current mayor of Rabat.<\/em><\/p>\n

Attractions in<\/strong> Rabat<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n