The start of my journey to Morocco started with a visit to Rabat.

Rabat has been the capital city of Morocco since the French protectorate ended in the 1950's. Rabat is a modern coastal city, but the atmosphere is quite easy-going compared to Casablanca, a booming metropolis. The city's buildings and houses are painted white and are surrounded by beautiful gardens. Rabat has several wide boulevards and interesting historical sites and monuments.

So what did I see;

Royal Palace. Located at the end of the mechouar (a large parade ground), this palace dates from 1864 and is the principal residence of the royal family. The official name of this palace is El Mechouar Essaid Palace, which means the venue of Happiness Palace. The construction of the royal palace of Rabat began in the middle of the 19th century on the ruins of an ancient palace. Also called Dar El Makhzen, majestic and protective, the building is a fine example of Moroccan art. Surrounded by an enclosure, its main entrance overlooks a vast esplanade, the Mechouar, which is used for outdoor royal ceremonies. The Palace's large courtyard is locally known as "Al-Mahdid".

The Kasbah des Oudaias is a picturesque place with houses and streets that are of a different standard to the rest of the city. All the houses are white and look like they have just been painted with bright blue parapets. The Kasbah des Oudaias provides you with the most amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean and of Sale, Rabat's neighboring city. This part of the city is quiet and there are relatively few people walking around the maze of streets. The busiest parts of Kasbah des Oudaia are the beaches, where you can sit and watch the ocean waves as they come in and hit the Kasbah walls for hours.

Kasbah Mosque. The mosque was built in the mid-eleventh century and the beautiful gateway (Bab Oudaia) that leads you to the Kasbah was built in the twelfth century. The mosque was enlarged and renovated later in the eighteenth century.

The Mohamed V Mausoleum located in Yacoub Al Mansour Square is a perfectly preserved example of the Alaouite dynasty's architectural style and the final resting place of three significant members of the royal family. Here visitors and locals can pay their respect to these leaders and marvel at the detailed and beautifully designed mausoleum. It is both a tomb and a mosque and the Mohamed V Mausoleum is one of the few holy places that are open to the public. You must cover your arms and legs to enter.
King Hassan II commissioned the construction of the Mausoleum of Mohamed V for his late father, Mohamed V, in 1962. Construction of the Mohamed V Mausoleum was completed in 1971. Sultan Mohamed V ruled over Morocco for two terms. The first was from the year 1927 to 1953 and again from 1957 to the year 1961. He is remembered and noted for his efforts in the fight for Morocco's independence. Both his sons, King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah, were buried alongside him. It took the hard work of approximately four hundred men to build and complete the mausoleum that now stands as an architectural and historical masterpiece.
It is easily recognizable by its white walls and green-tiled roof. The interior has been finished in white marble and granite floors and walls and a beautiful granite block with a headstone indicates the final resting place of the great king. Spectacular chandeliers light up the room and the intricate zeilij tiling is amazing. Throughout the mausoleum, you see traditional artistic techniques combined with a touch of modern design; the design is as its Vietnamese architect and creator envisioned it.

Hassan Tower (Le Tour Hassan) was the work of ruler Yacoub al-Mansour and would have been the minaret for his grand vision of a massive mosque on this site that was planned to be one of the largest in the world. Upon his death in 1150, construction was abandoned, and this 45-meter-high tower is all that remains of his original ambitious plan. The tower features a square base with ornamental arches and columns, including the famous horseshoe arches, which are characteristic of the Almohad architecture. The intricate details of the carvings, geometrical patterns, and calligraphy found on the tower's surface reflect the craftsmanship of that era. As the site has cultural and religious significance, it is advisable to dress modestly and respectfully.

Andalusian wall of Rabat was built at the beginning of the 17th century. The wall is over 1.4 km long, and its height varies between 4.9 m and 5.5 m for an average thickness of 1.65 m3. A total of 26 towers are interspersed along the wall along with five gates- Bab Teben or Bab al-Tben ("Gate of Hay"); Bab Jdid ("New Gate"); Bab al-Bouiba ("the Small Gate"); Bab Chellah ("Gate of Chellah"). Near the river, is a bastion tower named Borj Sidi Makhlouf ("Tower of Sidi Makhlouf").

Medina of Rabat, which is in the older part of the city, and can be entered through Souika Street. The two best shopping streets are Souq es Sebbat and Rue Souka. The small medina was all there was before the French came in 1912 and expanded the city, creating new quarters. Rabat's Medina is a delight to walk around in as it is relatively hassle-free compared to other larger medinas in Morocco.