Necropolis Daylight
A daylight portrait follows the ruined gate path into the walled gardens.
Chellah
A visit worth keeping.
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A walled Merinid necropolis wraps Roman Sala Colonia in flowering gardens where storks nest on the ruins.
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Photo guide
Photographing Chellah: light, spots and crowds.
Checked October 14, 2026 against the sources listed here. Hours, access and rules change, so recheck the official source before you go.
- Best light
- Late afternoon suits the main Merinid gate. The map puts its carved outer face on the southwest side of the walls, so it takes direct sun from late morning and the warmest light late in the day. The site closes before sunset for most of the year and last entry is one hour before closing, so plan around closing time rather than sunset.
- Crowds
- The site also hosts private events in spaces such as the Forum near the main entrance, so check the official site before your visit.
- Entry
- Ticketed; buy online through the official Chellah site or at the on-site ticket office. Hours follow a winter and a summer timetable and are shorter during Ramadan, and last entry is one hour before closing; check the official practical information page before you go.
Where to stand
- Outside the main gate
The gate completed in 1339, with two flanking towers, carved arch spandrels and a Kufic inscription frame, is the strongest single frame here. Step back on the approach outside the walls to fit both towers.
- The paved path inside the gate
A long paved path lined with trees and flowers leads you into the site; use it as a leading line toward the ruins below.
- Within sight of the madrasa minaret
The roughly 15-meter tiled minaret at the old madrasa is visible from most of the site, and storks nest on it and in the trees. A longer lens lets you frame the nests while staying on the paths.
- Ciconia terraces
The site's café-restaurant has two terraces looking over the Bou Regreg valley and the ruins. You need to buy food or drinks to sit there.
Photo rules
- Personal, non-professional photos and video are allowed (site rules).
- Professional shoots, film recording and broadcast work need prior consent from site management (site rules).
- No running, sliding or climbing on the site, so stay off the ruins and walls for your angles (site rules).
- Site rules bar excessively heavy or bulky objects; check at the entrance before bringing a tripod.
Sources
Frame Chellah from a permitted visitor viewpoint.
Use the gate path, ruin walks and garden circuits from permitted positions; study the tombs from the paths.
The site is a ticketed heritage garden; opening follows published hours and observed holidays.
Check the Landmark map and confirm your unlock while nearby. A distant view does not establish arrival at this point.
Three ways to remember Chellah.
Choose a curated Experience after you unlock this Landmark. The previews show creative directions, not customer results. Memories are generated interpretations, not documentary photographs of the scene.
Roman Columns
A closer portrait studies Sala Colonia’s ruined columns among the greenery.
Chellah on Film
A monochrome portrait studies walls, ruins and stork nests.
Be there first.
Create when you’re ready.
Unlocked checks your current location when you choose Unlock. It does not need to track your route in the background. Your reference photos and Memories stay private.
How your photos and location are handledVisit Chellah.
Open the Landmark in the app while you are in its supported area.
Collect your badge.
Allow the location check and confirm the Landmark is unlocked before leaving. Your badge and visit date join your free Passport permanently.
Choose your Experience.
Add your reference photos and create a Memory now or later. Your first GPS-verified Landmark unlock grants one welcome credit for your first Memory.
Before you choose.
How do I unlock Chellah?
Visit the supported arrival area and choose Unlock. The server checks a current location sample; a confirmed visit earns a permanent badge for free. Follow local access rules and confirm the unlock before leaving.
Does an Experience include admission or a photo session?
No. Venue admission, transport, visitor access and physical photo sessions are separate. An Experience creates an optional private generated Memory after your verified visit.
Do I need the light shown in the preview?
No. These are illustrative generated previews of creative photographic treatments. A location check establishes nearby presence, not the pictured light or visitor conditions.
Your next badge starts here.
Check app availability before your trip, then complete your Landmark unlock while you are there.