Tangier

If you are in the city of Tangier or you are interested in visiting this beautiful city, here are the best museums to visit in the city of Tangier.

The Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures

The Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures is an important heritage of the Mediterranean region.

This museum is one of the oldest cultural institutions that interprets and preserves the richness and diversity of the Mediterranean region. It is located in the heart of the historic Kasbah of Tangier.

The Kasbah Palace known as ”DAR AL Makhzen” Thanks to its strategic position, the site was used by the Carthaginians and the Romans.

During the first period of Muslim occupation, historical sources document a first governor who used the Kasbah as his residence in the 12th century.

Later, the palace became the residence of the Portuguese governors (Dorons prefecti) between 1471 and 1661, and then the palace became known as the largest upper castle which was the residence of the British governors from 1662 to 1684.

The Kasbah Palace was billed by Ahmed ben Ali Errifi, and it was turned into a museum in 1922.

About the architecture of the palace: the composition of the building, the Kasbah Palace can be placed in the category of ”Moroccan noble houses” because the palace contains : the open space inside the palace also a small fountain, the garden, and the distinction between private and public spaces, as well the style of decoration is typically Moroccan, zelij (pure Moroccan mosaic), wall architecture and wood architecture, the patio (open space in the side of the Kasbah palace) are made of white marble indicating the European origin because as I told you the palace was the residence of many governors (Portuguese, British governors)

THE ROOMS INSIDE THE MUSEUM:

1.  From the first hunters to the first farmers
2. The pre-Roman era
3. Romanization
4. Islamization
5. The great dynasties
6. The site of Qser Sghir
7. The Portuguese occupation and the liberation of the Alawites
8. Tangier, Palace of exchanges
9. Religion and funeral rites

Borj En-Naâm: the exhibition space of the memory of Ibn Battouta

“This exhibition space is dedicated to the memory of Ibn Battouta, this great traveler who crisscrossed the world, and through him we also tell the story of Morocco.

I am sure that everyone knows the Italian traveler Christopher Columbus who left to cross the Atlantic Ocean to reach Asia but he discovered a continent still unknown to Europeans which is in fact the American continent.

Before Christopher Columbus there was a traveler who crossed half the world, his name is Ibn Batouta was born in Tangier in 1304, he left his hometown Tangier in 1325 to make the pilgrimage to Mecca and returned only after 29 years of adventures in these 29 years he visited many places that correspond to 44 countries today, traveled more than 120,000 kilometers between 1325 and 1349, having crossed North Africa, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Medina and Mecca, Iraq and Persia, South Arabia, Yemen and East Africa, Asia Minor and Constantinople, South Russia and Central Asia, Muslim India, the Maldives and Ceylon, Sumatra and China

After a brief stay in Tangier (1346), he returned to Andalusia (Granada) and traveled to the kingdom of Morocco, the Sahara and West Africa.

In 1369, Ibn Batouta died in Tangier where his tomb still stands, leaving behind him the account of his great journey which is today in Borj En-Naâm: the exhibition space of the memory of Ibn Battouta, his book is called ”Rihlat” Ibn Batouta, which means the journey of Ibn Batouta.

The American Legation Museum

The American Legation Museum is housed in the former American Embassy, established in Tangier in 1777, when Morocco became the first country to recognize the United States of America as a sovereign nation.

It is the first American public property outside the United States and commemorates the historic cultural and diplomatic relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Morocco, which is very old as it dates back to the late 18th century.

It is now officially called the Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies and houses a cultural center, museum, and research library, focusing on Arabic language studies.

The museum also houses an art collection and beautifully restored rooms.

The Museum of Contemporary Art

the former prison of the Kasbah which is now a museum of contemporary art.

The museum of contemporary art is located in the old prison of the Kasbah, the Museum of the Kasbah, space of contemporary art is a living place of meetings, exchanges and sharing and will present a cultural program and exhibitions related to the northern region.

This exhibition reflects this cultural mix and offers a rereading of the artistic specificities of this region.

If you want to visit these muses and discover the city of Tangier I propose you a private guided tour. Contact us for more information!

My name is Achraf, I am a tour guide in Morocco, born in Tangier, a city in northern Morocco of Berber origin.

My parents are also official guides and they are one of the best tour guides in Morocco with more than 30 years of experience.

We have noticed that many clients ask us for recommendations on the most touristic historical places of the city.

That’s why I decided to quote you the TOP 10 of the most touristic places in Tangier.

And if you need more information, don’t hesitate to contact me, by sending me an email on: Benamar.achraf@gmail.com 

I’m at your disposal to help you. 

10. The park of Perdicaris:

The attractiveness of the site of Perdicaris is characterised by a mixture of sea, mountain and forest.

Stretching over an area of about 70 ha, this forest is considered a natural and historical heritage. It belonged to a Greek-born American diplomat who was retired. It was more specifically Ion Perdicaris who decided in 1872 to move to Tangier. He bought this property and constructed a villa where he lived for a long time with his English wife. “This former diplomat was a great lover of nature and imported into his property several species of exotic plants that he brought back from other countries. And he managed to transform it into a beautiful area where he organized big parties and where he invited Moroccan and international diplomats”.

The villa where the Perdicaris family lived is still on the site. It takes the form of a small castle with a wonderful view of the sea. But it is known to Dar El Glaoui because he lived for some time and under the protectorate. This building will became a public area after independence. A water source dating from the second part of the 19th century is located near this house. This site, which in the past was charming for the great Moroccan and international diplomats, is still characterized by its luxuriant greenery and a multitude of exotic plants.

9. Cape Spartel:

 Lighthouse Built by Sultan Mohammed III in 1864, this lighthouse was maintained by Great Britain, France, Spain and Italy until Morocco’s independence from France in 1956. From the top of a cliff in the far north of the African continent, the area around the lighthouse offers a breathtaking view of the Strait of Gibraltar. On a clear day, it is possible to look at the horizon and see the meeting point of the dark blue Atlantic and the turquoise Mediterranean. The terrace of the Cape Spartel Café & Restaurant in front of the lighthouse is a good place to admire the magnificent sunsets.

8. The Hercules Cave :

The cave has two openings, one to the sea and one to the land. The opening to the sea is known as “The Map of Africa”. It is believed that the Phoenicians created the opening to the sea which has the shape of Africa when viewed from the sea. There are also marks on the walls in the shape of eyes, which are believed to have been made by the Phoenicians, and which form a map of the region. The artificial part was used by the Berbers to carve stone millstones into the walls, to make millstones, which allowed the cave to be enlarged considerably.

7. The Kasbah :

It is an ancient military fortification, founded by the Portuguese in the 15th century.

The Kasbah of Tangier is one of the greatest attractions of Tangier. The Kasbah was founded on the highest parts of the city of Tangier, overlooking the medina.

Historical and tourist site, the Kasbah of Tangier has the characteristic of having preserved its unique and original architecture, marking a rich period in the history of Morocco. It should also be noted that the city of Tangier was first established from the Kasbah, before gradually expanding westward and along the sea .

The Kasbah of Tangier, which divides the medina by its ramparts, has ancient palaces, the most important of which, Dar el Makhzen, was the palace of the various Moroccan sultans at the time of their arrival in Tangier. Situated in the eastern part of the kasbah of Tangier and dating from the 17th century.

Outside the kasbah, in the medina of Tangier, you will have the opportunity to enter the many craft shops and traditional cafes present in this part of the city.

From the kasbah of Tangier, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the port of Tangier, the Spanish coast and the Strait of Gibraltar, the strait that separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean Sea. 

6. The medina : 

Is the old city of Tangier,the medina is Tangier’s main attraction, is a maze of alleyways, both commercial and residential. It is contained by the walls of a 15th-century Portuguese fortress, although most of the buildings are actually relatively recent for a Moroccan medina.

Like most cities in the Kingdom, Tangier has its own Medina, containing two picturesque markets: the Grand Socco and Petit Socco.

The majority of the Medina of Tangier (ancient city) is still in great condition. The narrow, winding roads are lined with houses of all kinds of styles, which indicates that people from diverse financial backgrounds have been living and working in the city. In Tangier, the Medina itself is quite large. There are also several shopping areas, especially for tourists. It can be pretty difficult to identify areas where real handicrafts are produced.

Other parts of the Medina are dedicated to accommodation only. There are very beautiful houses with typical colourful doors and decorated portals, which are surrounded by colourful rose plants.

Once you have crossed the door of the Medina as you leave the Grand Socco, you will be immediately taken into a labyrinth of narrow, winding streets and will be submerged by the powerful aromas escaping from the spice stalls. 

5. The Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures: 

The Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Culture is an important heritage of the Mediterranean region, it is one of the oldest cultural institutions interpreting and preserving the richness and diversity of the Mediterranean region, the museum is located in the heart of the historic kasbah of Tangier. 

4. The Museum of the American Legation

The American Legation Museum is housed in the former American Embassy, established in Tangier in 1777, when Morocco became the first power to recognize the United States of America as a sovereign nation. The museum houses an art collection and beautifully restored rooms. It is located in the Medina.

3. Grand socco and Petit socco (Small and largest socco) :

Today, the Grand and Petit socco are more dilapidated town squares than markets. However, there are many stalls and shops clustered around the Soccos, with a wide range of Moroccan goods for sale. The Grand Socco is located just outside the Medina The square of 9 April 1947 is one of the largest in Tangier. It symbolizes the place of King Mohamed V and his speech in the city, then under international domination.Mohammed unambiguously declared the will of the Moroccan people to regain their independence and take control of their destiny over the whole of their territory. The question of territorial ethics was at the centre of this speech, the Petit Socco is the centre of the old city where people who leave the medina to drink Moroccan tea in the local café must go. 

2. Café Hafa :

is a café in Tangier, Morocco, located at the top of a cliff overlooking the bay of Tangier. Opened in 1921, the café has retained its 1920s decor and has been visited over the years by many writers and singers, from Paul Bowles and William S. Burroughs to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

1. Café Baba: 

In the Moroccan café where the Rolling Stones came to enjoy the local café atmosphere.

At Café Baba, in Tangier, people drink tea, almost forgetting that the place has long been the Mecca of “enlightened hippies”.

At Café Baba, no one recognized them. The Moroccan who brought them back was carrying a gold hash pipe. Their clothes and smoking habits resembled those of other western hippies. And as is fitting in this kind of crossroads of cultures and fashions, no one was asking too many questions.

Years later, a photo appeared showing Keith Richards lighting his pipe, slumped over one of the tables at Café Baba. These “hippies” were the Rolling Stones.

Café Baba has overlooked the medina of Tangier for 76 years. During this time, the Stones were far from being the only stars to have visited the café. The kings of Spain and Sweden have been there, as well as the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Kofi Annan, the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Patti Smith, numerous actors and directors such as Daniel Auteuil and Jim Jarmusch, and dozens of other aristos from the second half of the 20th century.

At the time, Moroccan youth did not frequent cafés much. And women never went. But in the summer of 1946, a young woman landed among the fishermen – and not just any woman: Barbara Hutton, a wealthy heiress and American socialite.

In the daytime, Barbara sips her tea on the balcony of Café Baba. In the evening, she organizes some decadent parties in her Tangier villa. The “Queen of the Medina”, as it became her nickname, spent every summer there until 1974. She advised more than one visitor to Café Baba to have a cup of tea. And that is how the reputation of the place was made in the international community. Café Baba began to attract artists and rock stars of the stature of the Stones. 

My name is Ashraf, I am a tour guide in Morocco, born in Tangier, a city in northern Morocco of Berber origin.

My parents are also official guides and they are one of the best tour guides in Morocco with more than 30 years of experience.

We have noticed that many clients ask us how to get to Africa, Morocco from Europe, Spain, so in this article I will explain in detail the procedure to come to Morocco from Spain.

First of all, you should know that Morocco is located in western North Africa, with coasts on the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. An hour’s ferry ride from Spain, the country has a unique blend of Arab, Berber, African and European cultural influences.

We always recommend our clients to come to Tangier from Tarifa as it is the closest point from Spain to Morocco only 14km, and ferry will take you to the port of Tangier city which is located in the center of Tangier city but if you choose to come by Algeciras to Tangier you will arrive at the big port med which is the biggest port in Africa and is dedicated to business but the port of Tangier city is dedicated to tourists (ferries, cruises …).

If you need more information, don’t hesitate to contact me, by sending me an email on: Benamar.achraf@gmail.com 

I’m at your disposal to help you 🤗