Connecting African Culture Through the Seas
The Amazing Journey of Bill Pinkney Imagine leaving your life and the familiar touch of soil beneath your feet to sail across treacherous seas around the globe with only a …
Often considered the gateway to Morocco due to its strategic position facing Spain on the Strait of Gibraltar, Tangier is a 2,500 year-old port city with a vivid history that mixes Roman, Moorish, Berber, Spanish, Ottoman, and Portuguese cultures into one unique melting pot. Between its ancient medina and Kasbah, forested parks, museums, beaches, and literary and artistic heritage, Tangier offers a little something for everyone.
Bustling and often chaotic, Tangier’s winding streets are lined with an array of shops, restaurants and hotels, and most lead to pristine viewpoints overlooking the sea. The medina, one of the best areas in the city, is where you can visit the Grand Socco, or the former houses of famous writers.
The crown jewel of Tangier is the ancient 17th century Kasbah. Located in the northern part of the medina, the palace was built by the sultan 400 years ago and subsequent rulers added additional parts. Another notable attraction is the Museum of Contemporary Art, which offers a dose of modern Moroccan and European visual and sculptural art, while the Galerie Delacroix exhibits photography and art by emerging Moroccan artists.
The souk is also certainly worth exploring. The souk begins along the Rue Es-Siaghin with vegetable and meat markets, then transitions into tourist stalls selling traditional leather slippers, carpets, brassware, brightly coloured scarves, jewelry, postcards, electronics and many other colorful artifacts for which you have to do some hard bargaining. The best time to go is Thursday or Sunday during the mornings to see the Rif mountain women in their vivid costumes selling their produce and dairy products all along the wall of the St. Andrew’s Church.
Being so close to Spain, Tangier’s cuisine has a Spanish flair, and the dizzying array of restaurants and cafes blends Iberian tastes with the usual Moroccan and French flavors. Hotels run the gamut between budget and luxury offerings, but some of the hotels have seen better days.
On the western fringe of the city is the beautiful and lush Parc Perdicaris, also known as Parc Rmillate. This green, forested and wooded area has trails that are perfect for a hike or jog. The beaches around Tangier are relatively wide and clean, and a great place for families to enjoy the surf, grab some seafood and play a game of football. And of course there’s the proximity of Spain, which can be reached via a quick ferry ride.
SAFETY: Tangier has had some issues with crime in recent years, but overall isn’t too bad compared to other cities in Africa. Tourists should definitely avoid walking alone at night and take a taxi where they need to go instead. Female travelers are advised to cover their shoulders and legs in public areas.
The Amazing Journey of Bill Pinkney Imagine leaving your life and the familiar touch of soil beneath your feet to sail across treacherous seas around the globe with only a …
Tangier is a city apart in Morocco. Often considered the gateway to Morocco due to its strategic position just across the Strait of Gibraltar, this city of nearly one million …