General information about Tanger. Touristic interest

It is the Moroccan capital of the Strait, a large city in North Africa and gateway to the continent, which is rapidly changing into a modern metropolis. It is located on the coast of the Strait of Gibraltar, at the western end of the bay of its name.

Tangier is the second economic center of Morocco after Casablanca. It has the great port of Tangier Med, and its industrial activity is diversified. Textile, chemical, mechanical, metallurgical automotive and naval mainly. The city currently has four industrial parks, of which two have the status of free zone: the free zone of Tangier and the zone of free port.

In the current project Tanger METROPOLIS an industrial area in Beni Makada south of the city and a high - speed line Casablanca- Tangier was created. It will build the Palace of Arts and cultures and a grand Theater to reconcile the city with its glorious cultural past.

They held large   events and festivals , highlighting the Tangier Tourism Expo, the largest tourism fair in Africa.
The Festival of Moroccan Cinema in February, growing in importance every year and music Tanjazz,the Jazz Festival in September,  Tanja Latina Festival in November, held in the palace of Moulay Hafid, and Book Fair July.
Add in summer the  Cultural Festival twiza, Berber music and Sardine Festival , held near the port city.
Festival Pan African International Womaaf Tangier  African music.
It is typical of northern music "The Aita Jebali" a style of music and dance that originated in the mountains of northern Morocco, in the eighteenth century. Related to the customs of the Moors of Al Andalus. Art that stands out for the cante, the touch and the dance, a heritage in danger of disappearing.
A festival of lovers is organized Andalusian music with participation of musicians from other regions of Morocco.

The city has been the scene of some films famous movie, like The Sheltering Sky, The Bourne Ultimatum, High voltage 007, The Wind and the Lion, Loin, etc, having visiting the city actors such as Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, Gina Lollobrigida, Omar Sharif and the writers Jean Genet, Truman Capote,

It has started the city with sport, in facilities of 60 hectares with Olympic -size pool, a large complex of courts, 6 football fields, other fields, basketball and volleyball and petanque. It will include a hotel, a sports clinic and a leisure area, with a shopping center exclusively for sporting goods.

It is eminently a tourist town , although population pressure and tourism is an expensive city compared to other Moroccan cities and has lost some of the charm of yesteryear.

The city and its region with an approximate population of more than one million inhabitants is divided in the Tanger-Tetuan Region, divided into two prefectures .

The prefecture of Tanger

Tanger Medina center, with neighborhoods like Medina and Marshan, in the upper area. It includes the area of the promenade, the beach, the park of the Corniche and the modern districts of Offshore and Malabata.

Charf - Moghogha , on a hill south of the beach, extending inland, east of the city, on the road of Tetuan. Currently in transformation. In this area is the district of Tanja Balia, Here is located the new bus station and a train station, it is an industrial and popular neighborhood.

Charf - Suani,  residential type, spans the mountain route towards Cape Spartel, the old airport road and Rabat. It includes the districts of California, a luxury zone, with the Golf Club, shopping centers and luxury hotels, the residential of Val Fleuri and Castile and the most popular of Mshalla, Casasbaratas and Mesnana among others, where new neighborhoods are being built , Like Branes, in the is the great stadium Inb Batuta.
It includes the natural areas of the forest of Rmilat to the north and the park Alrahrah to the south.

Beni Makada, popular and disorderly growth, without greenery, facing east and south to the road of Rabat. It includes the district of Mers and some industrial zones.

Municipality of Gzenaya,   industrial area near the airport.

City included Arcila- Asilah  and towns or rural communities of the Atlantic Coast (Rabat road):  Boukhalef, Aquass Brief, by the sea, in the first the airport is situated, a free zone and industrial.
Inland,   El Had the Gharbia, Sahel Shamali, Lkoulaoa and Tenin of Sidi Yamani,  agricultural areas, the latter the southernmost.

It also includes this prefecture rural communes located south and east in the interior, which is accessed by road from Tetuan, as  Laouama, Sebt Azzinat, Al Manzla,  the new city of Cherafa, to house workers automotive industry and the far  Dar Chaoui   on the road Tetouan Larache.

What to see in Tanger. Medina, New Town

The Medina of Tangier has not lost its original charm despite having been altered by the strong European influence over the past 140 years, including the construction of housing for large European diplomats and staff. It has the charm of the Arabian medinas and some zones of walls with circular towers of Portuguese origin.

These are the main parts:

Large Soup

Old rural market, today called 9 de Abril square and nerve center of the city. It is a square surrounded by markets and souks, recently renovated.
In her they emphasize:

- The  Mosque of Sidi Bu Abid  with ceramic minaret 1917.
- The P ALACIO the Menddub and  La Medubia , with its gardens where there are ancient dragon trees and remains of cannons of the XVII - XVIII. Behind her the Muslim cemetery.
- In front of her, the door  Bab Fahs,  where the medina starts with the interesting market  and street Siagín.

Soup Boy

Entering the street Siagin is the Old Catholic Church of the Immaculate, today social center of the Daughters of Charity in Calcutta. Next to it, we give Niaba, first residence of the ambassador of Sultan Mendub in Tangier in the nineteenth century.
In this street to visit the Fondak of Shiaguin, classic accommodation before colonization.

The small souk is a little square surrounded by cafes and old inns, located at the end of Siagin Street.
It highlights the Tingis cafes and Central, hangouts of artists of international era of the city. Next to the coffee starts Tingis the street from the Mouahidines, main craft sales area (see shopping at Tanger ).

Near it, towards the port, is the largest Mosque , located at the site of the ancient Roman Capitol and Cathedral in Portuguese era was under the invocation of the Holy Spirit. It emphasizes its entrance door.

The walls

The walls of Tangier have thirteen access doors and they have seven batteries of defense. It is a square bastion, polygonal and semicircular towers, occasional watchtower and a path to make the round.

Following the lively  Marina street , which leads to the port, we passed through the gates of   Bab el Borj et Mars or Bab Dar Dbagh , next to the ancient  Portuguese walls.  These gates were rebuilt and consolidated between 1661 and 1684 by the English and were later restored by the Alaulite sultans, who built more fortifications, which can be seen in the port area.

Next to Bab Marsa is the Borj el Hajoui , surrounded by houses, exhibition center and concerts. At the northern end we will see the  Tour Dar el Baroud,  gunship for the defense of the city, facing her new mosque Port.

Opposite the harbor we will find the legendary  Hotel Continental,  about the building of theformer customs house ,  where they lived artists and politicians of the international season. It is a great place to enjoy Moroccan tea and watch the ferries coming and going at the port. Inside, it is worthwhile to approach the breakfast room to discover the original mosaic walls and painted ceilings.

The Alcazaba

The Alcazaba or Kasbah, is the upper part of the medina, surrounded by ramparts, with beautiful views of Tangier Bay and the port.
It is accessed from the Chico Souk, up the typical alleyways of the Medina, or on the outside, Avenue of Italy.
In the Citadel is the old governor 's palace,  Dar el Markhzen with beautiful patios and gardens.Today it houses the Museum of Moroccan Arts and Deputy palace,  Dar Shorfa , it houses the archaeological museum.

Rounding out the attractions in the area The Bit El-Mal Mosque  with its octagonal minaret,  Dar esh-Shera , a former court and the  Plaza de la Kasbah  from where you can admire a beautiful view of the bay, in the Kasbah we can visit the Museum of Mediterranean Cultures. To the north is Bab Kasba  and  tower Ben Amar , for which you enter the neighborhood Marshan.

In the vicinity you can visit the  tombs of Ibn Batouta, Ibn Khaldun and cc legendary explorer eminent sociologist and economist of the Middle Ages respectively, of great mythological historical interest.

Excursions from Tanger. Surroundings charming