The main gate way of the in the Roman/Merenid Citadel of Chellah. located in capital city of Rabat(Morocco).

Currently I don't have many sources on Morocco other than my "rough guide" guide book and obviously... the internet! this is one of the reasons why information accompanying the pictures is sparse, I have ordered a few books but sadly it takes a lifetime for anything to arrive here

anyway here is some info about Chellah:

Originally called Sala Colonia by the Romans this was not the first settlement in the area, The Phoenicians and the Carthaginians established colonies there, but little has survived.

Chellah flourished up until 1154 when its inhabitants moved to another city (not far upriver) called Sala (ironically). later the Almohad dynasty used the abandoned citadel as a royal necropolis. In the mid-14th century, a Merinid sultan, Abu l-Hasan(1331-51), built several monuments including the main gate dated to 1339 (seen above).

*on a side note Chellah was on of the last cities to sever links with the Roman empire.

Later on Merinid additions included a mosque, a zawiya, and royal tombs, including that of Abu l-Hasan himself.