Bab Mrisa, Rabat

Bab el-Mrissa, also known as Bab al-Mellah, is one of Morocco’s most significant medieval gates, standing as a testament to the Marinid dynasty’s architectural and military prowess. Located in Salé, near Rabat, this imposing structure was commissioned between 1270 and 1280 by Sultan Abu Yusuf Yaqub ibn Abd Al-Haqq after the Marinids reclaimed the city from the Kingdom of Castile following the Battle of Salé.

Originally, the site was a breach in the city’s western wall, providing access to a naval shipyard that once connected to the Bou Regreg River via a canal. The gate played a key role in the Marinid naval strategy, serving as the launch point for attacks on Algeciras in 1285 when a fleet of 36 warships set sail under the sultan’s command. The name "Mrissa" (meaning muddiness) reflects the sediment-laden waters of Bou Regreg, which left a murky imprint in front of the gate as ships docked.

Designed by the Andalusian architect Muhammad bin Ali al-Ashbili, Bab el-Mrissa features a grand horseshoe arch, soaring 9.60 meters high and 3.50 meters wide. Its fortified interior housed pathways for soldiers, reinforcing its function as both a defensive and strategic naval structure. Over time, the original harbor and canal disappeared due to urban expansion, but the gate remains a powerful symbol of Salé’s maritime history and Marinid engineering.