Chellah

Chellah is an archaeological complex and historic necropolis on the south bank of the Bou Regreg estuary in Rabat. The site preserves layered remains from Roman and medieval Islamic periods and is a protected heritage park.

The location was occupied in antiquity as the Roman town known as Sala Colonia and later reoccupied and developed by Marinid rulers in the medieval period, who established a royal necropolis and built a mosque. The complex fell into ruin in later centuries and was subject to archaeological excavations and conservation in the 20th century.

The ruins sit within Rabat, immediately inland from the Bou Regreg estuary and close to the city’s historic medina and ramparts. The site is accessible from Rabat’s central districts and is managed as an urban archaeological park.

• Visit duration: Entry is typically via a single park entrance near Rabat's historic district; the site is compact enough to explore in 1-2 hours.
• Wildlife highlights: Storks and other birds commonly nest among the ruins, making early morning or late afternoon good times for wildlife photography.

What to See #

• Marinid necropolis and mosque: Contains an extensive Marinid royal necropolis with tombs and a ruined mosque, distinguished by carved stonework and an adjacent minaret from the medieval Islamic period.
• Roman remains (Sala Colonia): Roman and pre-Roman remains including foundations, city walls and street layouts from the site known in antiquity as Sala Colonia.
• Gardens and river marsh: Landscaped gardens, riverine marshland and nesting sites for birds that occupy the ruined structures and open areas.