Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
21st century that was about to be completed at the time of research: a new tramway, new
bridge and a new development with apartments and shopping malls.
The centre of Salé feels more like a typical Moroccan village with its narrow alleys, old
medina houses and beautiful monuments, but beyond it lies a sprawling town with charac-
terless apartment buildings, mostly home to Rabat commuters. People are noticeably more
conservative here, and the dress code is a lot tighter.
People began to settle in Salé in the 10th century and the town grew in importance as
inhabitants of the older settlement at Sala Colonia began to move across the river to the
new town. Warring among local tribes was still rampant at this stage and it was the Almo-
hads who took control of the area in the 12th century, establishing neighbouring Rabat as
a base for expeditions to Spain.
Spanish freebooters attacked in 1260; in response the Merenids fortified the town,
building defensive walls and a canal to Bab Mrisa to allow safe access for shipping. The
town began to flourish and established valuable trade links with Venice, Genoa, London
and the Netherlands.
As trade thrived so too did piracy, and by the 16th century the twin towns prospered
from the activities of the infamous Sallee Rovers pirates. It was here that Robinson Cru-
soe was brought into the town in Daniel Defoe's novel.
By the 19th century the pirates had been brought under control, Rabat had been made
capital and Salé sank into obscurity.
