Tangier worth visiting
Is Tangier worth visiting?
This article will explain why Tangier is worth visiting. It will also highlight its top attractions.
Tangier is a mix of everything. It has Middle Eastern temples, Byzantine streets, and Greek homes, among other influences. Also, it’s the perfect entry point into Morocco. Ferries from Spain go to Tangier. Many people go through Tangier on the way to the rest of the must-see destinations in Morocco. Tangier itself offers much to the average tourist, which serves as a great bonus.
Tangier is worth visiting for its varied history. Tangier has strong international influence from Spanish, French, and British colonization. Tangier was once an international zone. So, it has a unique mix of culture and architecture.
If you love modern architecture, the Terrasse des Paresseux is a paradise in the heart of Tangier. The Terrasse, in Ville Noveaux, has inspired many artists and writers. It offers a view of the crystalline ocean. The buildings and landmarks are a mix of French and Portuguese styles. Giant palm trees shoot up like a mini Tower of Babel. They dwarf some modern buildings in the Grand Socco, the main square.
Terrasse des Paresseux
From the Grand Socco, you can enter the Medina or Old City. It transports you from the 21st century back to the 18th century, or even earlier. Sandy-colored buildings tower over the narrow streets and alleys of the hillside town. Bright colors, especially red, blue, and yellow, splash across the canvas. They are vibrant to a great degree. Golden, tufted rugs and carpets hang from balcony ledges above. Tourists and locals wade through the bazaars. They sell everything from rugs to fresh dragon fruit and figs.
Grand Socco in Tangier
The Petit Socco (the Little Square) is the heart of this lively medina. It is a small version, both in size and spirit, of the Grand Socco. At all hours, people gather to see different cultures at the street-side cafés. People consume coffee and food almost nonstop there. Three structures around the Petit Socco embody Tangier’s rich history. In the east, the Grand Mosque commands a large area. Its tower overlooks the Petit Socco and Tangier, with only the sky behind it. It is not possible to remove the adverb. Yet, to the west of the Petit Socco, the Spanish built an 18th-century church. It is the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
Tangier is a large city. The city spreads out its main sights. The Hercules Cave and Cap Spartel are 20 minutes outside the city. So, we recommend hiring a Chefchaouen taxi for a comfortable trip.
Church (left of the picture) on Rue Siaghine.
It’s not as big as the Grand Mosque. But, the Church of Immaculate Conception has a high ceiling and stained glass. These are common in Catholic churches. Across Petit Socco, the Old American Legation shows America’s foothold in Morocco. Today, it is more of a museum. It even shows a letter from George Washington to the Sultan of Morocco, Moulay Abdallah.
The Grand Mosque and the Church of the Immaculate Conception share a small area. This coexistence is no accident. It shows Tangier’s acceptance of different beliefs and respect for its history.
Tangier’s melting pot culture is in its cuisine and top restaurants. Popular ones are Art et Gourmet, Populaire Saveur de Poisson (a seafood place), La Fabrique, and more. Restaurants like el-Korsan and Le Nabab serve authentic Moroccan food. They take pride in it and welcome both tourists and locals.
After a while, a goalless stroll through the Medina may tire them. If so, they can visit the Kasbah. It is a historic landmark where the Sultan once lived. It is also a museum with Stone Age exhibits. Inside the Kasbah is Café Detroit. It is famous for hosting 1960s writers at their peak.
Tangier’s streets inspired mid-19th-century counterculture giants like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. The nightlife of 1920s Paris inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway.
Like Paris, Tangier has a charm that is hard to explain. It sweeps people off their feet and inspires art and stories about their time there. The African murals and the Roman and Greek god art show Tangier’s former conquerors. Visitors feel surrounded by history.
History lovers can journey from Tangier to Asilah along the Mediterranean coast. It overlooks the rocky shores of Morocco from cliffs claimed by the Romans centuries ago. It’s a top spot for tourists, especially for fresh Atlantic seafood.
One of northern Morocco’s main attractions is Chefchaouen. It’s a mountain town famous for its blue buildings and streets. You can take one of our transfers from Tangier to Chefchaouen.
Tangier is worth visiting.