Meknes (Berber languages: ⴰⵎⴽⵏⴰⵙ) is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco, located in northern central Morocco. Bab Mansour or Bab Mansur al-'Alj (Arabic: باب المنصور لعلج) is a monumental gate in Meknes, today it has become one of the most famous and admired landmarks in the city.
Bab Mansour is located on the south side of Place el-Hedim in Meknes, it was originally the main ceremonial entrance to the Kasbah of Sultan Moulay Isma'il ( مولاي إسماعيل بن الشريف).
The construction of Bab Mansour began in the later years of Moulay Isma'il's reign (late 17th centuries), and the gate was finished in 1732 by his son.
Bab Mansour's purpose was more ceremonial than defensive, aiming to impress visitors. The gate is filled with arabesque-painted tiles, colorful and exquisite.
The name of Bab Mansour comes from the architect and designer of the gate, Mansour al-'Alj, literally means ‘victorious apostate’, a former Christian slave who converted to Islam.
