On the west side of Gibraltar - Tangier

At the point where Europe and Africa meet, we can start or end the adventure with the exotic. Tangier awaits us, the gateway to a hot continent, separated from Europe by the sea by 14 km.

During our trip around Morocco, we will drink a tea with mint cooling the body in many places. However, if we would like to drink very sweet and strong coffee, we should visit Tangier. The city is at the same time the gate through which we enter the country and the center where we say goodbye to it. Sitting at a table overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar, we can admire the contours of the Spanish coast outlined in the distance. We are only 14 km away from Europe by the sea.

With a view of Europe

The city seen from the coast makes the greatest impression. Onlookers can then see tall minarets and rows of white and blue houses interspersed with green palm trees. The exoticism and past of Tangier are intertwined with Europeanness flowing from the sea. The city is experiencing a rapid development, which can be seen at first glance, especially when we come to it by plane or by ship. A modern airport terminal and an equally modernized port are the big advantages of Tangier.

Once we set foot on African soil, it is worth going to the Gulf of Tangier to see the farthest point into the sea on the north-west coast of Africa, i.e. Cape Spartel. There is a nineteenth-century lighthouse on it, we can also find the famous Grotto of Hercules , a natural rock formation enlarged as a result of many years of rock mining. It overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the greatest attractions of the Tangier area. The shape of its mouth resembles a face for some, and the African continent for others.

A place where a tourist visiting Tangier should also go is the tomb of an Arab traveler and writer named Ibn Battuta (it reads entirely: Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Al Lawati Al Tanji Ibn Battuta). The pilgrim was born in the fourteenth century and traveled the world for over 30 years of his life, in a time when distances seemed much greater than today and people were limited by the lack of transport.

The next point of the trip is the Church of St. Andrew . In the building we can find beautiful colorful mosaics which are an effective combination of Moorish and English art. Behind the altar, on the wall, there is a prayer "Our Father" in Arabic, and there is a cemetery next to the church, with the graves of people distinguished for the city.

The bustle of the city

Tourists who went to Tangier during the weekend have the opportunity to get acquainted with the attractions of the local market. On Saturday mornings, he is visited by women from Mount Rif - dressed in colorful national costumes, selling fresh home-made products. It is worth remembering that they also come to the market on Thursdays.

Shopping enthusiasts will find themselves ideally suited to the numerous stalls in the Grand Socco square. They can walk for hours between them, looking at the souvenirs and trying to get rid of the touts just waiting for an opportunity to earn a few dirhams.

Grand Socco divides the city into the old and new parts. There are many cafes where you can sit down and relax. The center of the new part of Tangier is Place de France , and next to it is the famous, over 90-year-old Gran Cafe de Paris. Local artists used to visit it, and it was considered the most fashionable cafe in the city. Today, the spirit of the past still hovers in the air above the tables.

Not far from the square, there is the Mandubijja garden with a charming fountain and picturesque alleys. A gigantic ficus, several hundred years old, grows in it.

Medina of Tangier

Right behind Grand Socco there is the medina, the old part of the city. Heading north-east, we come to Rue Es-Siaghine, which connects the square with Petit Socco . In the past, it was notorious for its debauchery district, with casinos, brothels and other shady places. After all, the term Tanger-danger was coined for a reason. When the sale of alcohol was forbidden in Morocco, the local hams deteriorated, but even today this place is not very safe, especially at night.

Wandering further, we will go along Rue de Marine to the Burj al-Hajawi bastion . On the way, we will encounter the Great Mosque, which unfortunately cannot be visited. On the other hand, from the bastion there is a beautiful view of part of the port and two giant, weighing about 20 tons cannons.

At the very top of the old part of Tangier stands the kasbah, or Muslim fortress (citadel). It is adjacent to the Mosquee de Kasbah mosque and the Sidi Husni palace, while the greatest attraction and the most important point of the kasbah is the 17th-century sultan's palace, Dar al-Machzan . Currently, it is the seat of the Musee des Arts Marocains ed des Antiquites. The museum can be visited every day except Tuesday. From the kasbah there is a wonderful view of the city - it is the perfect place to take souvenir photos.

Where to stay in Tangier?

Tourists wishing to stay longer in the city and rest before visiting other attractions can find accommodation in a more expensive or cheaper hotel. Those who have decided to come to Tangier with their own vehicle should take into account the offer that Camping Miramonte has prepared for them. It is located in the suburbs, about 3 km from the center. Both an adult and a child's accommodation and a motorhome stand costs the same - 25 Dh. We will pay 30 Dh for access to electricity.

After the rest, we can move on to Africa or back to Europe. Tangier will say goodbye to us with the bustle and aromas of spices and perfumes floating above the medina.