Rissani

31°17′09″N 4°16′30″W / 31.285948°N 4.275093°W / 31.285948; -4.275093

Rissani الريصاني
Western city gate of Rissani
Rissani Location in Morocco
Coordinates: 31°17′9″N 4°16′30″W / 31.28583°N 4.27500°W / 31.28583; -4.27500
Country	Morocco
Region	Drâa-Tafilalet
Province	Errachidia
Elevation	2,490 ft (760 m)
Population  (2004)
• Total	20,469
Time zone	UTC+0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (WEST)

Rissani (Arabic: الريصاني) is a town in Errachidia Province in eastern Morocco, located near Erfoud. It is the closest town of significant size to the Erg Chebbi, the largest sand desert in Morocco. Its population in 2004 was 20,469.

The mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif, third great-grandfather of Moulay Cherif, founder of the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco, is located on the southern edge of town.

History

Rissani is the ancient capital of Tafilalet. Its location as a crossroads between north and south gave the city a certain importance in previous times.

A former major caravan center,^[1] Rissani remains a major commercial center in the region, with a large souk, particularly lively on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. It is noted for its leather and goat skin trading.

• 
  A Rissani city gate at dusk, 1990s.
• 
  A castle at Rissani, 1990s.
• 
  The mausoleum of Moulay Ali Sherif built in 1666. Photograph 2020.
• 
  Souk in Rissani, 2019.

References

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Rissani.