Rabat, Morocco

Rabat, the official capital of the Kingdom of Morocco, is located on a shore of the Atlantic Ocean and together with the city Sale forms the prefecture Rabat-Sale. The population of the capital is about 1,3 million people. The city has been based in XII century by Almohads as a military post. In 1912 Rabat has become an administrative centre of the French region of protectorate, and in 1956 – the capital of an independent state of Morocco.

The distance between Casablanca (the largest city of country) and Rabat is about 100 kms. However, as soon as you get to Rabat it seems that the Europeanized Casablanca has remained somewhere very far. Rabat is rather eastern city, one of the large centers of the Arabian culture and education. In the Museum of Muslim art in Rabat the richest collections of east jewelry, gobelen tapestries, and wooden sculptures, tissues from silk, wool and gold brocade are stored. Rabat is rich in historical places of interest. Here one of remarkable ancient monuments - a tower of the unfinished mosque Tours Hasan (height 69 м) is located. The Museum of antiquities and strong hold Udaya (XII-XVII centuries) are interesting as well.
An old part of the city - Medina has a centuries-old history, covered with legends; it lives the traditions, customs, and crafts. Here laces manually knit, weave carpets, coverlets, circular east poofs, copper and silver utensils are produced. The Moroccan carpets are famous in the whole world. Exceptionally Muslim population lives at Medina: handicraftsmen, tinmen, potters makers, shoemakers, messengers of potherb, etc. Streets in Medina are similar to the tracks coiling among stunted houses, shops, mosques. Old and new parts of the city are divided by a wall constructed yet in the XIIth century. One more interesting object in Medina is strong hold Кazba constructed also in the XIIth century. Nearby there is a residence of king. Every Friday king leaves the palace, being directed to mosque Jamaal Аhel Fez to make there a pray. Ceremony of departure is arranged very magnificently and solemnly.

Rabat is rather well developed in the industrial sense. In the city there are enterprises of alimentary, light, chemical, metal-cutting, wood-manufacturing, textile industries, those of producing of building materials and the craft goods, tourist business, the production of carpets is developed. Here an international airport is located. 
Rabat is a large intellectual and cultural center. Among educational institutions of the city the Mohammed's University, the National Conservatory of Musical, Dancing and Drama art, Agricultural, Economic and Political high schools are situated.