The capital city of Morocco since 1912 and home to almost 600,000 people, Rabat sits in the country's north west on the coast of the Atlantic ocean. Just 114 kilometers from Casablanca, and with landmarks that tell the story of both it's Islamic and French-colonial heritage, this is a city not yet on many tourist lists, but perhaps should be.

 

The oldest part of the city is the Medina, and built in the 10th century this is a place where you can really feel the origins of this city. The iconic Hassan Tower remains from the 12th century and soars above the city and the ruins of a mosque, while the Kasbah of the Udayas highlights the best of the city's multi-cultural past, with a Berber-era royal fort surrounded by French-designed gardens overlooking the ocean. The Chellah is another impressive remnant of this city's interesting history. A medieval fortified Muslim necropolis, complete with Roman ruins and royal tombstones.

 

Not only a place for impressive, historical monuments however, Rabat is also home to some beautiful green spaces. The Jardin d'Essais Botaniques de Rabat is over 17 acres of botanical gardens created during the French proctectorate in 1914, and Rabat's "Central Park", the Foret Urbaine Ibn Sina "Hilton" is a forest of Eucalyptus trees right in the middle of the city.