Rabat has been the capital city of Morocco since the French protectorate ended in the 1950’s. Rabat is a modern coastal city, but the atmosphere is quite easy-going in comparison to Casablanca which is a booming metropolis. The city’s buildings and houses are painted white and are surrounded with beautiful gardens. Rabat has a number of wide boulevards and is full of interesting historical sites and monuments. Some of these sites originate as far back as the seventh century and are definitely worth visiting. One of the must-see attractions is the Medina of Rabat, which is in the older part of the city and can be entered through Souika Street.