When Henry Kissinger visited Rabat in 1973, the treaty of friendship signed by Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdullah and George Washington on June 28, 1786 was printed in the Moroccan press. The aim of that agreement had been to formalize trade relations between the two countries at a time when Moroccan corsairs were attacking and sinking foreign vessels.
Founded in the 12TH century and chosen to be the 3RD Capital of the Kingdom as Ribat El Fath (Camp of Victory). After its restoration by Muslim refugees from Andalusia, it has become as KASBAH of the OUDAYAS.
CHELLAH NECROPOLIS, when for several centuries ago was a prosperous Roman town as Sala Colonia. It was built by the Almohades dynasty in the 12TH century, and was transformed into a large cemetery by the Merinids dynasty during the 14TH century.
HASSAN TOWER, a minaret known as the Hassan Tower is all that remains of the Mosque begun in 1196, and was supposed to be the second largest Mosque in the Muslim world after the Mosque of Samarra in Iraq, but has never been finished. It was here that Mohammed V presided over the first Friday prayer meeting on his return from exile after the declaration of Independence in 1956.
MOHAMMED V MAUSOLEUM: Opposite the Hassan Tower the Mohammed V Mausoleum commemorates the Sultan who enabled Morocco to achieve Independence. It was built between 1961 and 1969 by the Vietnamese architect Vo Toan along the lines of traditional royal Necropolises.
Although Rabat remained the Administrative and Commercial Capital of Morocco, it was never the country's Economic Capital. Today, it is the second largest city in Morocco after Casablanca and main residence for King Mohammed VI.