Built between 1260 and 1270 by the Merinid sultan Abu Yusuf Yaqub ibn Abd al-Haqq, Bab el-Mrissa is one of the most imposing and iconic gates in the medina of Salé. Designed by Andalusian architect Mohamed ben Ali, this fortified gate in the Merinid style is distinguished by its monumental horseshoe arch, flanked by two watchtowers. Originally, Bab el-Mrissa served as a maritime gate giving access to an arsenal connected to the Bouregreg River via a canal. Ships entered the basin by passing under the arch of the gate, which played a strategic role in naval expeditions, particularly during the campaigns against Algeciras in 1285. Today, although the canal has disappeared, Bab el-Mrissa remains a powerful symbol of Salé’s maritime and military history, bearing witness to the city’s rich past.