The Chellah in Rabat

T, Terry, and Sarah outside the entrance

Our trip to Rabat earlier this week was mostly a repeat of previous visits to the city (plus a visit to a Moroccan dentist that was much more comfortable and successful than my last visit to one). However, we did have time for one new sight –  the Chellah. According to my near-constant companion The Rough Guide to Morocco, the Chellah is "the most beautiful of Moroccan ruins." It is an ancient walled necropolis, or burial ground, containing Roman ruins, Islamic ruins, and koubbas (tombs of marabouts, or saints). It was abandoned by inhabitants back in 1154 and is now visited by tourists from other countries and Muslim Moroccans alike.

It was a gloriously beautiful day, warm and sunny, and inside the walls of the Chellah, it was quiet, peaceful, and surprisingly beautiful. Much of the space that is not taken up by ruins or tombs hosts lush, well-maintained gardens.

Map of the layout of the walled space that constitutes the Chellah.

The Chellah provides a comfortable and safe home for birds and other animals, especially storks.

Here's a close-up of the storks that decided to nest on top of the ruins of the minaret.

Roman ruins with a view of the Chellah wall, the surrounding countryside, the River Bou Regreg, and the nearby city of Salé

Terry, Sarah, and me enjoying the garden

T being contemplative inside the Sanctuary

Walking through the Sanctuary

This is a terrible picture of it, but I want to include some words about this spring pool, which, interestingly, houses several (surprisingly large) eels. If you visit the Chellah, you will also notice bits of hard-boiled eggs in the water. The Rough Guide says the eggs are brought to the eels by women seeking "assistance in fertility and childbirth."

After spending two days in the often hectic city of Rabat, we welcomed the natural beauty and tranquility of the Chellah, and it was a good reminder that there are still sights for us to see and enjoy in Morocco.