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A gate to the city
The Bab el Mrissa is one of the main entry gates to the medina, the historic part of the city of Salé. It is very high and well-decorated, with writings from the Qu'ran and decorative sculptures. The door has a square tower on each side, for surveillance: historically, bandits came frequently to this commercially important city. This is the oldest Merinid monument; this dynasty ruled over Morocco in the fourteenth century. The gate was built by Abou Youssef Yacoub, Sultan in 1260. it stands overlooking a canal leading to the river Bou Regreg.
