Historical Overview of Salé (Sla)
📌 Dr. Mohamed Smar, historian and archaeologist, specializes in the historical city of Rabat-Al-Fath or Salé, focusing here on the historical and maritime gates.
🏛️ Salé is discussed in terms of its two banks, emphasizing that the true historical city encompasses both banks, although the program focuses on the left (northern) bank, known today as Salé city.
🏰 The first nucleus of the right bank (the current Salé city) dates back to the Banu Ifran or Banu Ashira tribes at the end of the 10th and beginning of the 11th centuries.

Architectural and Defensive History
🛡️ Major defensive walls were built during the Almohad period (12th century AD) under Caliph Abd al-Mu'min, stretching from the Great Tower to the Octagonal Tower.
🧱 Later Marinid walls completed the protection of the old city, especially the northern and riverfront facades, following the severe Castilian attack in 1260.
🕌 The Great Mosque of Salé expanded significantly during the Almohad era, including the current minaret and prayer hall, with the Marinid Madrasa built adjacent to it during the subsequent era.

Cultural and Religious Significance
🌟 Salé is known for its saints (Awliya' Salihin) and glorious history spanning from early struggles to the national movement.
🕌 The city boasts numerous important tombs and shrines, earning it the title "City of Shrines," comparable to Fes, including the shrines of Sidi bin Ashir and Abdullah bin Hassoun.
🏡 Residential buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries exhibit fine Andalusian and Moroccan architectural styles, representing significant urban and engineering value.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ The true historical Salé encompasses both banks, forming a single, unified entity—the twin of Rabat—which historically represented the capital of the Moroccan Kingdom.
➡️ The original name of the area is Shalla (Sala), the ancient Roman city, which served as the continuation upon which the first nucleus of the right bank was built.
➡️ The city's architectural evolution showcases distinct periods: Banu Ifran/Ashira, Almoravid, Almohad, and Marinid, each leaving significant markers like the walls and the expansion of the Great Mosque.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Nov 11, 2025, 14:38 UTC