Official Language:
Arabic
Secondary Language:
French
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Currency:
Dirham
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Population:
Approximately 160,000 people call Tangier home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Tangier Morocco: The temperatures in Tangier Morocco range between 62-81°F (17-27°C) with some days that may reach into the 90°F/32°C's. The climate is hot and dry. Although the average summer temperature in Marrakesh and Fez can be around
100°F/38°C the coastal cities (Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier) remain comfortable (low 80s °F/27-29°C), if somewhat humid. South of the Atlas Mountains, temperatures increase greatly. Take along at least a sweater year round for evenings in higher elevations and the desert, Tangier in January and February can be cool and rainy and take along warm and waterproof clothes December-March.
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Tangier overlooks a vast sweeping bay and is the gateway to Morocco. Only 15 miles across the Straits of Gibraltar from Europe, this is a cosmopolitan city at the threshold of Africa. A world of minarets and domes, ancient casbahs and animated souks express the rich part-Arab, part-African heritage of this city. Tangier was originally settled by the ancient Greeks and Phoenicians, who used it as a trading port. In 1471 Tangier was taken from the Arabs by the Portuguese and given to Charles II of England as part of the dowry of Catherine of Braganza. The English abandoned the city in 1684 to the Moors after it became the haunt of pirates. In 1912, Tangier was declared an international city , however in 1929 Spain gained effective control until 1956.
The name 'Tangier" comes from the Legend of Hercules. Hercules killed Anteus, the giant who protected the Garden of the Hesperides. He then married his widow, Tingis, in which they had a son. As a gift to his son, Hercules separated the Rock of Gibraltar, and with it the rest of Spain, from Africa. This cleared the space for a city by the sea. The boy then named the town Tingis, after his mother. Tingis then became Tangier over the years.
Northern Morocco has a tremendous geographical location, though it has been part of constant wars that have erupted over control of this important strategic point. Located at the tip of Africa, and less than ten miles from the southern tip of Spain, Tangier lis at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, which is the entryway to the Mediterranean Sea via the Strait of Gibraltar. Since the Phoenicians settled the area around 1200 BC, Tangier has seen the Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Turkish, and Muslims gain rule over the years. Tangier became a hostage to European imperialism for most of the past millennium. In 1956 Morocco gained its independence from Spain and France. Thus leaving the evidence of this occupation everywhere. French is as widely spoken as Arabic, and the sights and sounds of Andalusia have drifted south, covering the area with the combination of three distinct cultures.
The down side of Tangier is that once the sun has set the city can be unsafe, which is different to the rest of Morocco. Handicrafts in Tangier are far more expensive than elsewhere in Morocco. The town beach of Tangier is dirty, while other main beaches in Morocco have beaches that are cleaned on a regular basis. Children can be found begging for money on every corner. Despite these few bad things, there is a lot to see. The city is lively, and if you jump into a taxi there are plenty of clean beaches that are only 10 minutes away. Tangier still carries the aura of being a a celebrities' magnet, and dont forget, Tangier is the real model for the famous American film "Casablanca" with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
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Attractions |
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Kasbah:
The palace and administrative center of the city since Roman times. The Dar El Makhzen (Sultan's Palace), which is now converted into a museum of Moroccan crafts and antiquities. This surrounds a patio decorated with enameled faience ( a pottery with colored glaze). Inside the building is the prince's residence with painted wooden ceilings, sculpted plaster, and exquisite mosaics that decorate the interior.
American Legation Museum:
A fascinating reminder that Morocco was the first country to recognise American Independence.
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More Information |
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Web: http://www.africaguide.com/country/morocco/
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