Rabat, Maroc

2 April 2025 

We depart Casablanca for the 54-mile drive northeast to the city of Rabat. It is sunny and warm; the ocean is a brilliant blue and I relax. We are a group of 16 in a comfortable 32-person bus. Our Moroccan driver is Hassan. I go along for the ride.

The Imperial City of Rabat

Rabat, Morocco’s capital and seventh-largest city, has a metropolitan population of over 1.2 million. Strategically located on the Ocean at the Bou Regreg River, the Almohads founded the city in the 12th century. These people represented a Berber Muslim dynasty who ruled over North Africa and Al-Andalus (Andalusia) from the 12th to the 13th century. In 1170, the Almohads established a naval base in Rabat, meaning “stronghold of victory.”

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Morocco

Moroccan musician

Casablanca is about the size of Malta and is located in western Morocco on the Atlantic. With a population of over 5,500,000, Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city as well as one of the largest artificial ports in the world. Casablanca is considered the economic and business center of Morocco, while the political capital is Rabat.

Berbers settled Casablanca by at least the 7th century. In the early 15th century, the town was a safe harbor for pirates. (more…)