Bab Ksiba - Izeria

Bab Ksiba (Arabic: باب القصيبة, Bāb al-Quṣayyabah) is a gate in Marrakesh, Morocco. Bab Ksiba and another more famous gate further north, Bab Agnaou, served as entrances to the Kasbah (citadel) district in the southern part of the medina of Marrakesh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

1. Historical background

The name Ksiba, (pronounced Lak- siba), in Berber refers to the Kasbah district of the Medina, where this gateway is located. Kasbah means "fortress" and ksiba (or qusayba) means literally "Little-Fort". The Kasbah of Marrakesh, built by the Almohad sultan Yaqub al-Mansur, is the site of the Kasbah Mosque, the El Badi Palace and the Saadian Tombs. Bab Ksiba was the entrance to another small kasbah (ksiba or qusayba) which was adjoined to the southwestern corner of the main kasbah in order to protect the western side of the Grand Mechouar (a vast open square, still present today, at the entrance of the royal palace) and the Derb Chtouka neighbourhood. The date of its construction is unclear; it existed at the beginning of the 19th century and may have been built under Muhammad ibn Abdallah in the 18th century, but was almost certainly not part of the original Almohad kasbah.

1. See also

Walls of Marrakesh

1. Citations

Nearby Places View Menu

Kasbah of Marrakesh

The Kasbah of Marrakesh is a large walled district in the southern part of the medina of Marrakesh, Morocco, which historically served as the citadel (kasbah) and royal palace complex of the city. A large part of the district is still occupied by the official royal palace, the Dar al-Makhzen, which serves as the residence of the King of Morocco when he visits the city. The rest of the district consists of various neighbourhoods and monuments. It was founded by the Almohads in the late 12th century, with most of the construction carried out by Caliph Ya'qub al-Mansur (r. 1184–1199). Two of its most important surviving structures today, the Kasbah Mosque and the main gate of Bab Agnaou, date from al-Mansur's reign. The palace complex was neglected after the fall of the Almohads, but the Kasbah was restored and rebuilt by the Saadian dynasty in the 16th century, during the time of sultans Abdallah al-Ghalib and Ahmad al-Mansur, who created new palaces and extensive gardens. The Saadian Tombs and the ruins of the El Badi Palace date from this period. Abdallah al-Ghalib was also responsible for the creation of a Jewish quarter, the Mellah, adjoined to the Kasbah's eastern flank. Following another period of neglect and pillage, the palaces were rebuilt and redeveloped by the 'Alawi sultan Muhammad ibn Abdallah who gave the Royal Palace (Dar al-Makhzen) and its surroundings much of their present form. Today the kasbah is no longer a restricted district, apart from the royal palace, and is a popular tourist attraction in the city.

Government Historic Site

Bab er Robb

Bab er Robb (Arabic: باب الرب) is a southern city gate in the historic medina of Marrakesh, Morocco.

Landmark

Saadian Tombs

The Saadian Tombs are a historic royal necropolis in Marrakesh, Morocco, located on the south side of the Kasbah Mosque, inside the royal kasbah (citadel) district of the city. They date to the time of the Saadian dynasty and in particular to the reign of Ahmad al-Mansur (1578–1603), though members of Morocco's monarchy continued to be buried here for a time afterwards. The complex is regarded by many art historians as the high point of Moroccan architecture in the Saadian period due to its luxurious decoration and careful interior design. Today the site is a major tourist attraction in Marrakesh.

Historic Site Landmark

Kasbah Mosque, Marrakesh

The Kasbah Mosque (Arabic: مسجد القصبة), also known as the Moulay al-Yazid Mosque, is a historic mosque in Marrakesh, Morocco. It was originally built by the Almohad ruler Yaqub al-Mansur in 1185–1190 CE. It is located in the Kasbah district, the city's former citadel, near the site of its historic royal palaces. Along with the Kutubiyya Mosque, it is one of the most important historic mosques in Marrakesh.

Historic Site Landmark