The Rabat Jewelry Museum is an unbeatable place to learn about the aesthetic tastes of the country’s people throughout history, especially those of women from different Moroccan regions, but not only. In this post, we’ll tell you where it is, what’s on display in its rooms, and more practical information you should know if you’re planning to visit this place, which is a jewel in itself, in terms of heritage.
Where is the Rabat Jewelry Museum
The Rabat Jewelry Museum is located in a symbolic and strategic place in the Moroccan capital: in the Kasbah of the Oudayas, one of its most spectacular monuments. More specifically, it occupies a pavilion commissioned by Moulay Ismail at the end of the 17th century, which this all-powerful sultan used as a palace residence when staying in the city. At its feet is the Andalusian Garden, one of the most elegant and beloved green spaces by the people of Rabat.
The museum is managed by the National Museum Foundation, a state institution that also oversees other important exhibition centers in the country, such as the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern Art or the Museum of History and Civilizations, both in Rabat.
What is exhibited in the museum
The building that is now the Rabat Jewelry Museum has been, for over a century, an ethnographic museum dedicated to exhibiting a wide variety of artistic and artisanal items: from Qurans to musical instruments, ceramics, and much more. However, since 2023 it has a new function: to tell the story of Moroccan jewelry since the dawn of mankind.
In fact, the oldest pieces on display date back more than 140,000 years: rudimentary perforated shells and beads that the hominids of that time already used to decorate their bodies. Continuing the chronological narrative, other jewels from prehistoric, pre-Roman, and Roman times are exhibited, leading up to the Islamic period of the country, which is the most and best represented.
Special mention should be made of Amazigh or Berber jewelry, which shows a humble mastery in the combination of materials such as silver, coral, or amber. As for the decorative motifs designed in many of these jewelry and goldsmithing pieces (earrings, bracelets, medals, etc.), the ‘hands of Fatima’ or khamssa stand out, an amulet deeply rooted in local popular culture.
For many, the most spectacular and imposing pieces are those related to Moroccan weddings, where jewelry is displayed in combination with gala attire, such as caftans and other truly luxurious garments. Additionally, male garments and jewelry used by Moroccan men are included, demonstrating the importance given to aesthetics on special occasions throughout the national geography.
The collection was also recently enriched thanks to the contribution of King Mohammed VI himself, who made Berber jewelry from his property available to the museum, including brooches and amulets. The rooms, five in total, are arranged around a beautiful central courtyard, with explanatory displays and carefully studied lighting that highlights the beauty of each piece.
Practical information for visiting the museum
If you’re planning to visit the National Jewelry Museum of Rabat, take note of this useful information:
- Address: Kasbah des Oudayas, Rabat
- Official website: link
- Phone: + 212 (0) 5 30 67 60 81
- Opening hours: Wednesday to Monday, from 10:00 to 18:00. Closed on Tuesdays
- Prices (as of January 2025):
- Foreigners: 60 dh
- Moroccan adults: 30 dh
- Moroccans under 18: 15 dh
