Rabat Medina

Walled old city with souks and a relaxed pace — no hard sell

Rabat's medina is one of the most pleasant in Morocco. It was built in the 17th century by Andalusian refugees expelled from Spain — hence the straight-ish streets and a layout less labyrinthine than Fez or Marrakech. The main souk streets run between Bab Chellah and the kasbah: spices, fabrics, leather goods, and a carpet quarter. Shopowners here are notably less aggressive than in the tourist-heavy imperial cities. The medina is small enough to cover in two hours, leaving time to get lost in the back lanes around the Grand Mosque.

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