Gate sights in Africa
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
Bab Agnaou
One of the 20 gates in Marrakesh, this 12th-century 'gate of the Gnaoua' (named for the sub-Saharan slaves who served the sultan) was one of the first stone monuments in Marrakesh and a triumph of Marrakshi artisanship. From afar the bas-relief appears much deeper than it actually is, due to a sophisticated trompe l'oeil effect. The bluish-gold-green colour of its Guéliz stone seems to change like a mood ring according to the time of the day, the heat and, perhaps, the city's disposition.
reviewed
-
Town Gates
There are six gates in total; two were added by the Emperor Menelik in 1889 to the four original ones (which date from the 16th century). An exploration of the old walled town (known locally as Jugal) begins at the main gate. This is known as the Harar Gate or Duke's Gate, after the first Duke of Harar, Ras Makonnen. The nearby Shoa Gate (also known as Asmae Diin Bari in Harari) is particularly well preserved and boasts superb mosaics.
reviewed
-
B
Bab el-Mansour
The focus of Place el-Hedim is the huge gate of Bab el-Mansour, the grandest of all imperial Moroccan gateways. The gate is well preserved with lavish (if faded) zellij and inscriptions across the top. It was completed by Moulay Ismail's son, Moulay Abdallah, in 1732. You can't walk through the bab itself - which is opened only on grand occasions - but instead have to make do with a side gate to the left.
reviewed
-
C
Arch 22
Designed by Senegalese architect Pierre Goudiaby, Arch 22 is a gateway built to celebrate the military coup of 22 July 1994. At 35m high, it's by far the tallest building in The Gambia, and its publicly accessible balcony grants excellent views over the city and coast. There's also a cosy café, a souvenir shop and a small museum that enlightens visitors about the coup d'état.
reviewed
-
D
Bab Guissa
This gate was built in the 12th century. A bird market is held here on Friday mornings, outside the walls. Just inside the gate is a square with a large fountain, the Bab Guissa mosque and the medersa which is still in use today. The air is scented with cedarwood from the large number of carpentry workshops in the area.
reviewed
-
E
Bab Fettouh
After the death of Prince Ibn Ateya Senhai in the 11th century, his two sons divided responsibility for ruling the city. Fettouh, the eldest, who ruled the Al-Andalous quarter, erected this handsome gate and named it after himself. It was rebuilt by the Alawites in the 18th century. Opposite the gate is the Bab Fettouh Cemetery
reviewed
-
F
Bab Semmarine
This 13th-century gateway was originally called Uyune Sanhaja (the Springs of Sanhaja) in honour of an important Moroccan Berber tribe. Built to house the storage silos of the Merenid city, it was modified in the 20th century to facilitate traffic and people movement. On its eastern side is one of the city's main produce souks.
reviewed
-
G
Bab Bou Jeloud
Everyone comes through this main gate at some point during their stay as it leads to a clutch of restaurants and the main shopping streets. Decorated with blue zellij on the outside and green on the inside, it's relatively young - only 200 years old. The Tourist Police Brigade has its headquarters here.
reviewed
-
H
Attarine Gates
There are massive wooden gates at the bottom of Talaa Kebira opposite the entrance to the Attarine Medersa. There used to be gates within the medina closing off every neighbourhood; these are the only intact ones left that are still closed at night, at around 22:30.
reviewed
-
I
King's Yard Gate
The ancestors of nearly all present-day Krios passed through King's Yard Gate. Now the site of Connaught Hospital, this is where the British brought rescued slaves to begin their new lives.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
J
Puerta de la Marina
The main entrance to the Melilla la Vieja fortress is Puerta de la Marina, fronted by a statue of Franco.
reviewed
-
Gate of Diocletian
On the northern tip of the island are the Temple of Augustus and the Gate of Diocletian.
reviewed