List of Moroccan Cities by Population

Best Travel Guide to tangier morocco

The history of Tangier begins before the 5th century BC with native Amazigh  tribes and Phonecian traders making landfall to trade. It has gone, and continues to travel by many names; Tanja, Tingi, Tingis, Tanger, and Tangiers. Tingis is claimed to be derived from Tingis, the daughter of Atlas in Greek mythology. It’s more acceptable however the word comes from the Semitic word tigisis, or harbor. Sometimes the town is mentioned as Boughaz, “the bride of the north” by the Moroccans or “the door of Africa” for its strategic position.

Berber tribes have lived in the area for centuries but the Carthaginians were the first outsiders to settle and colonize the area. The Romans and Byzantinians later controlled the world for various periods of your time. It wasn’t until the year 702 that Tangier came under the rule of the Muslims. During the fervor of European expansion and colonization, the town fell to the Portuguese and was ruled from 1471-1662 by them. For a quick window, it also was held by the British having been given as a present to the king in exchange for his daughters’ hand in marriage.

After us gained independence  Morocco was the primary country to acknowledge their independence  they built the primary US consulate in Tangier. In 1821, the Legation Building in Tangier became the primary piece of property acquired abroad by the new country. It was a gift from Sultan Moulay Suliman.

At the start of the 20th century, Tangier was already quite a multicultural city. An estimated 40,000 people lived within the city; 20,000 Muslims, 10,000 Jews, and 9,000 (mostly Spanish) Europeans. While much of the country was partitioned beginning in 1912 between the French and Spanish, Tangier was a touch of a special story. In 1923 it became a world zone governed by the French, Spanish and British.

World War Two was a really interesting time in Tangier. Due to its international status and therefore the varied positions of the occupying countries. Spies, businessmen, writers, artists, intellectuals and everyone kind of people showed abreast of the shores of Tangier for its mixture of opportunity and live and let live policy found in few other places at the time. Tangier still has this allure however in 1956 it just like the remainder of Morocco became an independent nation. Rumor is spies still used it as an outpost during the conflict.

What to See in Tangier

Tangier doesn't have quite the offbeat charm it did within the 1940s and 1950s once you could rub shoulders with the likes of Truman Capote, Paul Bowles, and Williams. But if you provide it a while, and ignore the tourist touts, it'll grow on you. Tangier is a stimulating, cosmopolitan mixture of African and European influences. As with many cities in Morocco, there's an old town (Medina) and a replacement town (Ville Nouvelle).

The Medina: Tangier's Medina (old walled city) may be a lively place, its alleyways are crammed with shops, teahouses, and brothels (it's a port city after all). Tourist trinkets are plentiful here, if this is often your only stop in Morocco, buy away. But if you propose to continue traveling in Morocco, you will find better deals elsewhere.

The American Legation: Morocco was the primary nation to acknowledge American independence, and therefore the USA established a deputation in Tangier in 1821. Now a museum, the American Legation is found within the southwest corner of the medina and price a glance. The museum houses some fascinating art including an area dedicated to Paul Bowles and works by Delacroix, Yves Saint Laurent, and James McBeay.

Place de France: the guts of Ville nouvelle and therefore the social focus for the center classes in Tangier. A good place to sip some tea and luxuriate in the ocean view is that the highly recommended Terrasse des Paresseux just east of the Place.

The Kasbah: The Kasbah is found high on a hill in Tangier with some good views of the ocean. The old Sultan's palace (built within the 17th century) lies within the Kasbah's walls. It is referred to as Dar El Makhzen and is now a museum that houses fine samples of Moroccan art.

Grand Socco: an outsized square at the most entrance of the medina may be a busy transport hub and an honest place to observe the chaos of traffic, carts, and other people go about their daily routines.

Beaches: The beaches nearest to town are rather dirty, as is that the water. Find better beaches about 10 km west, out of town.

Easy Access to Tangier in Morocco by Ferry

For those looking to enter Morocco from Europe, Tangiers is an excellent option. Only 8 miles across the Strait of Gibraltar, Tangiers is a quick ferry ride. It is a city that is located in northern Morocco and has a population of about 700,000 people. However, as more and more people see what a lovely area this is, more and more people come to live here. It's located at the point where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean, which is just off Cape Spartel. Whenever you see this area, you are going to notice not only the killer beaches and quiet places to rest, but its amazing hotels, good food, and nice people. It's important to go to places that have nice people, and this just so happens to be one of those places. They are going to treat you like one of their own, and they know how to make everyone feel welcome.

One reason why people come here is because of all the festivals they have. One of their annual international festivals is Tanjazz. This is, of course, an international Jazz festival that brings in people from all over the world. Another big event they have there is the Festival National du Film, which is an annual Moroccan film festival. So as you can see, these are people that live to celebrate good times. However, I would be crazy not to talk about another one of their great festivals, which is the Le Festival International de Theatre Amateur. This is a festival where people come from around the world to see amateur theater plays.

One reason why you know this area is so pretty is because of all the great movies that have been filmed here as well. The movie The Bourne Ultimatum, with Matt Damon, had a city chase scene that took place here. Another well-known movie that was filmed here was, The Wins and the Lion, that starred Sean Connery. This was filmed back in 1904 and took place largely in Tangier. Funny enough, the Tangier cities were created in the Spanish cities of Seville and Almeria for the movie. That just goes to show you just how much Spanish influence can be found in this area.

People love coming to Morocco, but it seems like people always go to the same place over and over again. It's time for people to check out other cool places in Morocco, and this is the perfect place to start. So when you are looking for a great place to visit, this is the place that you should check out first. Your family is going to love it, and that makes it the perfect travel spot.

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