The visit of the Casbah, the most ancient part of Algiers, the soul of this city, classified by UNESCO among the world heritage, is a must.

 

This historical site, now being restored, dates back to the Phenician period, when its name was “ Gulls’Island”—later Latinized under the Romans as “Icosium”—as testified to by ancient coins and by a still existing marble slab at Bab Azzoun.It owes its current name , El Djazair, to the Arabic expression “The Islands”,  owing to its  earlier geographic aspect.

 

This   city enjoyed autonomy as part of   Mauretania, and in 25 was part of Juba II’s kingdom. It   came under Roman rule in 40; and under Roman law in 75. Few remains and artifacts of this period remain, however. Following the fall of the Roman empire, the former Algiers was besieged by the Vandals (429-534).

 

There is evidence that for some time  it was the seat of  a bishopric.In the 7th century,  and following the advent of Islam in Algeria, the Beni Mezghenna tribe left its stamp on this city, developing  agriculture and  building commercial relations with the  northern Meditarranean shore and even  linking the name  of the city to their own name.

 

It is in 952 ( 340AH ) that  the city came under the dominance of  the Bologhine tribe, whose leader., Bologhine Ibn Ziri Ibn Manad after fortifying  and  extending the city, conferred upon it  the name “Al Djazair”, inspired by the four islands off its shoreline.

 

Henceforth, the city’s history became one with  that of the Central Maghreb and became coveted and dominated  by the claimants to authority over this region:  Zirids, Hammadits, Almoravids, Almohads, Hafsids.....Between the 10th and 15th, it came under the rule of the Hafsids. One  of the   most worthy men of this dynasty was Abou Zeid Abderahmane Ben Mekhlouf At-Thaâlibi  of the Thaaliba tribe, who introduced many improvements to the city   and became its  patron saint.

 

That he is still  revered today is shown  by the visits paid to the  uniquely  styled black-domed  shrine  bearing his name and overlooking the Mediterranean.No less important is the  aftermath  of the Spanish attempts at conquering the city  and of their  Reconquista which also affected  other parts of the Maghreb. This event brought  about an increase in the ,population of Algiers as a result of the influx of refugees from Andalusia , introducing a variety of  arts and crafts and developing its trade.One of  the  Spanish attempts at  subjecting the city translated in their building the  Penon fortress in 1510, but these crusade-like efforts turned  to no avail as the Ottoman Barbarossa brothers, called to the rescue, opposed a strong resistance to the invaders.

 

On 17 May, 1529, Kheireddine, who had succeeded his brother Aroudj in 1518, destroyed the Penon and built the  jetty that was to bond the islands to the terra firma. . This event ushered in a period  of strong government , powerful commercial exchanges, and the  growth of a naval force that was respected throughout the Mediterranean. The city was fortified, and was accessed by  five gates, under constant watch; the city deserved its name “El Mahroussa” (the Well Guarded). The word “Casbah ” reached its full meaning – The Citadel.

 

The government headquarters under Ottoman rule  were located successively in the Lower  City and then in the heart of the Casbah,  up until 1830, the year of the French conquest.

The heart of the city business was in the area extending today between Bab El Oued and Bab Azzoun.

During  this period, the Jenina Palace, the Ketchaoua  and other mosques, as well as most charming mansions and palaces were built in the Casbah; They are today open to  visitors.  . The drab walls  in fact hide  little jewels  reflecting a most sophisticated  housing genius: not only  very elegant indoors, but the inevitable patio meant  to ensure  coolness in the summer, and the thick walls that protected against  the cold. In visiting the heights of Algiers and having a glimpse at the Moorish  villas there,  try and imagine that it this area used to be the countryside, a countryside  made  attractive by  parks, orchards,  and summer houses enjoyed by  the Casbah population in their leisure time. Do not miss either, the  testimonies of :

1) traditional  Algiers through the narrow streets of the Casbah, through  such museums as  the Musée des

 Arts  Populaires and the  Bardo,  as well as Bastion 13, the old mosques and shrines, in particulat

the Great Mosque, the Ketchaoua Mosque , Sidi Abderrahmane, the Palace of the Two Princesses, Dar Hassan Pacha, Dar Aziza, Dar Mustapha  Pacha, among others.

2) contemporary Algeria,  with  the historical Museum and the Museum of the Revolution at Riadh El Fath.

Do not fail to visit Riadh el Fath from which  you have a beautiful view of the Bay of Algiers.