Kechla Fortress

The Kechla Fortress — also known as Dar Sultan — sits at the top of the old city on a ridge above the medina. Built in stages from the 12th century onward, it served as the seat of regional governors and a prison for high-status captives. The walls are massive and intact; the interior has been partially restored and contains a small local museum.

The views from the Kechla's towers are among the best in Safi, looking out over the white and blue rooftops of the medina toward the Atlantic. The climb up through the medina to reach it is an attraction in itself, passing through lanes of pottery sellers and local workshops.

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A story
The Kechla held the governors of Safi for centuries, but its most famous prisoner was the pirate-hunter and corsair Ahmad ibn al-Qadi, who was imprisoned here in the 17th century after falling out of favour with the Alaouite sultan. Parts of the medieval walls date from the 12th century, making them older than the Portuguese fortifications at the waterfront.