Bab Mansour gate

Bab Mansour gate is named after the architect, El-Mansour, a Christian renegade who converted to Islam. It was completed five years after Moulay Ismail's death, in 1732. The design of the gate plays with Almohad patterns. It has zellij mosaics of excellent quality. The marble columns were taken from the Roman ruins of Volubilis. When the structure was finished completed, Moulay Ismail inspected the gate, asking El-Mansur if he could do better. El-Mansur felt complied to answer yes, making the sultan so furious he had him executed. Still, according to historical records, the gate was finished after Moulay Ismail's death. The gate itself is now used as an arts and crafts gallery; entry is by a side gate.



More to do and see in Meknes
» Volubilis
» Dar El Makhzen palace

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