ISAECT 2018 Social Program: Tourist Visit in RABAT November 24, 2018
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ISAECT 2018 Social program: Tourist Visit in RABAT November 24, 2018 Departure from Kenitra at 08h00 Arrival in Rabat at 8h30 National Zoological Park (09h00-10h40): The National Zoological Park in rabat, commonly known as the National Zoo, is holding a very large number of Atlas Lions and is updating its roster of animals, enriching and diversifying its African animal collection. Big ones, small ones, weird ones, and even legendary ones, the new animals at the zoo are making a buzz. Ruins of challah (11h00-12h00): The remnants of the 14th- century Merenid citadel-town of Chellah are an atmospheric place. The walled ruins are positioned on an older Roman town called Sala, which archaeologists uncovered evidence of in the 1930s. Chellah thrived as a Merenid citadel in the early 14th century. The excavated Roman part of the site includes a forum, bath, and temple. For a good overview of the entire Chellah ruins, an overlooking terrace provides excellent views across the site. Since 2005 this archaeological site has been hosting the Jazz festival every year, and since 2010,it has been a part of all the Rabat sites on Unesco’s world heritage list as a cultural heritage. Lunch in Restaurant Dar Naji, Rabat (12h15-13h30) Hassan Tower (14h00-14h30): Towering above the Bou Regreg estuary and surrounded by well-tended gardens, this 44m tower is Rabat’s most prominent landmark. It was originally part of an ambitious Almohad project to build the world's second-largest mosque (after Samarra in Iraq), but its patron Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour died before the building was complete. The mosque was destroyed by an earthquake in 1755, and today only this tower and a forest of shattered pillars testifies to the grandiosity of al-Mansour’s plans. The Mausoleum of Mohammed V (14h30-15h00): Inscribed on the Unesco’s word heritage list as a cultural property. It contains the tombs of the Moroccan king and his two sons, late King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah. The building is considered a masterpiece of modern Alaouite dynasty architecture, with its white silhouette, topped by a typical green tiled roof, green being the colour of Islam. A reader of the Koran is often present, having his assigned seat. Its construction was completed in 1971. The Medina of Rabat (15h00-17h00): The district of the medina is the old city of Rabat. It forms a compact cornerstone of the city, which is bounded by the sea and river on two sides and by high walls on the others. Within these boundaries, visitors' paths inevitably lead through the lively market streets, then to the quiet walks of the Andalusian gardens and storybook casbah. Kesbah of Oudayas, Andalusia gardens and Bouregreg Marina (17h15-18h30): Rabat's historic citadel occupies the site of the original "ribat" that gave the city its name. Predominately residential, its narrow streets are lined with whitewashed houses. The most dramatic entry to the kasbah is through the enormous Almohad gate of Bab Oudaia, built in 1195. Small fortified neighborhood, the Kasbah of Oudayas is included in the Unesco heritage, it reveals in the heart of its magnificent building, a museum, houses and a historic cafe "Maure" . Return to Kenitra: 18H30 .