Tangier Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Tangier Travel & Tourism, Free Tangier Travel Guide Online

Tangier Travel Guide: Discount & Cheap Tangier Travel & Tourism, Free Tangier Travel Guide Online

Morocco, a vast stretch of land situated at the extreme west of the Maghreb Desert, owes its uniqueness to its unusual geographical situation. The plains, the mountains, the deserts, and a coastline which borders both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean have fortunately been inhabited by people who have taken great pride in their particular region. The geographical diversity of the area attracted the great conquerors, and the country became a melting pot of civilizations. Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Andalusians and Africans all brought inestimable wealth to Morocco, both material and spiritual. Their legacy continues to contribute to the beauty and success of the region today.

Tangier is set between two worlds, belonging fully to neither, it can be compared to a doorway opening onto all dreams and possibilities.

This strategic location, however, has been coveted by European powers through the years. As a result, in 1923 Tangier became an international zone governed by a dozen diplomats along with a representative of the Sultan. Tangier prospered rapidly. Many adventurers, millionaires and artists settled there, as did modern "pirates" operating shadier enterprises.

Overlooking the Straits of Gibraltar with a view of Spain's southern coast, Tangier is set upon a spectacular bay and has been a magnet for travelers for centuries. Since independence, tourism has flourished. Attracted to the beauty of the setting and the mildness of the climate, wealthy Moroccans still chose Tangier as their holiday resort.

Today the city is primarily a shipping center. It is frequently on the itinerary of day-tripping tourists on package tours of Spain. Open-air markets throughout Morocco are piled high with rugs, woodwork, and jewelry. The country's main product is leather, which is said to be the softest in the world.

Tangier has been called the Gateway to Morocco and was designated as the country's summer capital by King Hassan II. In Tangier, a city of contrasts, the East comes together with the West in a colorful medley. Tangier is the ideal starting point for the traveler to Africa. An easy hop from Europe, it is a friendly, hectic and stimulating place to explore.

Tangier Attractions: Tangier Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Tangier Travel & Tourism, Free Tangier Travel Guide Online

The Grand Socco or Place du 9 avril 1947:
It was in this square, on April 9th 1947, that sultan Mohammed V made a speech in which he referred to independence for Morocco. The square links the medina (the old part of the city) to the new city and is by far its busiest quarter. It is especially animated on Thursdays and Sundays when the farmers, dressed in traditional costume, come to sell their fruit and vegetables. This vast marketplace is dominated on the southwest by the minaret of Sidi Abib mosque (1917), decorated with multi-colored ceramic tiles.

The Petit Socco:
From the Bab Fahs, the south gate of the old town, the Rue es Siaghin widens and opens onto the Petit Socco, a small square bordered by cafés and old residences. Located in the heart of the Medina, this little square is one of the most picturesque sites in Tangier. The noisy bustling crowd in multi-colored clothing contrasts with those who have time to idle away over a cup of mint tea at the terraces of the cafés. One of these is the "Tingis" Café where Jean Genet had his own table. In the center of the square is the Fuente Hotel where musician Camille Saint Saëns resided. The Petit Socco leads into the Rue de la Marine, the medina's busiest street. The shops lining the street are occupied by tailors and carpenters.

The Great Mosque:
Built by the sultan Moulay Ismail to commemorate the withdrawal of English forces at the end of the 17th century, the mosque stands in the next street beyond the Petit Socco. The site was once occupied by a Portuguese cathedral. Opposite the mosque is a 19th century Spanish church with a copy of the Spanish painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's Immaculate Conception in the choir.

The American Legation
8, rue d'Amérique
Mon., Wed., Thurs. 10-1 and 3-5.
This building, purchased in 1821, is the oldest American overseas legation. Morocco was the first nation to recognize US sovereignty in 1776. The museum houses documents which retrace the history of the relations between Morocco and the United States since that time. Other collections are also on display : furniture, ancient doors, maps (there is a separate room of superb maps by Mercator) and works of art. It was in the Legation that the Allied Forces prepared plans for part of the 1942 landings in North Africa.

The Dar el Makhzen (Sultan's Palace)
(entrance on the place de la Casbah)
Open every day except Tuesdays, 9 - 11:45;3-6.
This ancient palace of the sultan was built under the reign of Moulay Ismail,after the withdrawal of the English in the 17th century. It was added to during the 18th and 19th centuries. It contains beautiful apartments decorated with mosaics and sculpted plaster, and includes a patio bordered by marble columns.

Tangier's Museum of Moroccan Arts:
(Sultan's Palace)
Rooms containing displays include:
Carpets from Rabat
Jewelry
silks and ceramics from Fez.

Dar Ech Chorfa (Museum of Antiquities):
Daily 9-11:45 and 3-6
Contains a collection of archeological treasures found on the site of Volubilis. The building is a former courthouse.

Forbes Museum of Military Miniatures: 30 min. on foot from Grand Socco
10-5, closed Tuesdays
Admission free
Millionaire and press tycoon Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990) purchased the ancient palace of the Mendoub in 1970. From 1978, Forbes decided to set in this palace his collection of military miniatures which he had started as a child. Today, the collection contains over 120 000 miniatures, arranged to feature famous battles of history, and was bequeathed to the city of Tangier. The garden offers an exceptional view of the Gibraltar Straits and Spanish coast.

The Café Hafa or Café des Tilleus:
Located nearby the Forbes Museum, this charming café offers a magnificent view of the Mediterranean. Several small terraces with flowers welcome the visitor for a few moments or hours of peace and tranquility. Paul Bowles, the expatriate American writer, used to come and drink mint tea in this café.

Boulevard Pasteur:
This is modern Tangier's main street. It starts at the palce de France, where the French consulate was built. At the entrance to the boulevard an esplanade overlooks the port, the medina, and the straits of Gibralter. On the boulevard are a number of residential blocks, some dating from the early 1900's. There are also banks and luxury shops. The Boulevard Pasteur runs into the Boulevard Mohammed V, which continues out of the center city into the western suburbs of Tangier where new apartments and condominiums are being built at a rapid rate.

El Minzah Hotel:
This hotel opened in 1933 and is located on the street linking the Place de France and the Place du Grand Socco. It was built by French architects and is the former residence of the 18th century British Prime Minister, Lord Bute. It features an Andulusian patio, a Moorish interior, and exquisite fountains and gardens. It serves the finest of Moroccan cuisine. Winston Churchill and Rita Hayworth were among its most illustrious guests. Several films directors have chosen the hotel for scenes in their productions.

Grottoes of Hercules:
(Cape Spartel)
6 1/2 miles south of Tangier
The caves are under water at high tide. According to Greek mythology, it is in these caves that Hercules found some rest after accomplishing his Twelve Labors. These caves, which are flooded at high tide, are partly natural: limestone has always been extracted from the cliffs in order to make millstones. A curiosity of this site is the shape of the opening on the Ocean, which draws a map of Africa!

Cap (Cape) Malabata:
By following the S704, the visitor may carry out an excursion to Cape Malabata. 6 miles east of Tangier is the strange castle of Malabata which, despite its medieval architecture, was built in the early 20th century. It is topped by a lighthouse and offers wide views across the town and bay of Tangier to the Gibraltar Straits.

Future Resort:
On the right, before reaching the lighthouse, is a striking medieval style castle which dates from the beginning of the 20th century. A major coastal resort is being designed and built with this castle as the centerpiece. Hotels, holiday villages, villas, apartments, a conference center, a casino, and a 600 slip marina will circle a 64 acre man made lake. The Moroccan government has invested in this enterprise to accommodate the anticipated increase in tourists once the tunnel is completed.

Shopping:

Parfumerie Madini
Essential oils. This perfumery is famous throughout the Muslim world.

Ensemble Artisanal (arts and crafts area)
Casbah and rue de Belgique
Leather goods, shoes, carpets, textiles.

Marché des Pauvres
(Paupers'Market)
Follow rue de la Liberté, and take the first stairs on the right. Very picturesque and colourful market : goods of all sorts.
On the first floor, Weavers' Souk.

Marché de Fès
Rue de Fès
Small covered market where you can find anything : chicken, spices, almonds...

Restaurants

Guitta's
110, rue Sidi-Bouabid 93.73.33
The decor is reminiscent of the colonial past.. Spanish specialities.

El Korsan
(El Minza Hotel)
85, rue de la Liberté 93.58.85 - Fax: 93.45.46
Closed on Mondays
Excellent Moroccan restaurant. Speciality : seafood-stuffed sea bream.

San Remo
15, rue Ahmed-Chaouki 93.84.51
Speciality : fresh pasta.

Negresco
20, rue du Mexique 93.80.97
Chic restaurant dedicated to French and Moroccan cuisine.

La Pagode
Rue El Boussouri 93.80.86
Very good restaurant serving specialities of Far-east cuisine.

Tangier Events: Tangier Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Tangier Travel & Tourism, Free Tangier Travel Guide Online

Ramadan, the Month of Fasting:
Ramadan is a special month of the year for over one billion Muslims throughout the world. It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control. Muslims think of it as a kind of tune-up for their spiritual lives. There are as many meanings of Ramadan as there are Muslims.

The third "pillar" or religious obligation of Islam fasting has many special benefits. Among these, the most important is that it is a means of learning self-control. Due to the lack of preoccupation with the satisfaction of bodily appetites during the daylight hours of fasting, a measure of ascendancy is given to one's spiritual nature, which becomes a means of coming closer to God. Ramadan is also a time of intensive worship, reading of the Qur'an, giving charity, purifying one's behavior, and doing good deeds. For Muslims (Submitters), Ramadan is not merely a holiday, but an opportunity to gain by giving up, to prosper by going without and to grow stronger by enduring weakness.

As a secondary goal, fasting is a way of experiencing hunger and developing sympathy for the less fortunate, and learning to thankfulness and appreciation for all of God's bounties. Fasting is also beneficial to the health and provides a break in the cycle of rigid habits or overindulgence.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. While many Muslim sects insist on the physical sighting of the moon, there is no such requirement in the Quran, the Muslims's holy book. The much-anticipated start of the month can now be based on the very accurate astronomical calculations. The end of the month is marked by the celebration of 'Eid-ul-Fitr, a traditional practice not a religious one.

The daily period of fasting starts at the breaking of dawn and ends at the setting of the sun. In between -- that is, during the daylight hours -- Muslims totally abstain from food, drink, smoking, and sex. The usual practice is to have a pre-fast meal (suhoor) before dawn and a post-fast meal (iftar) after sunset.

The Islamic lunar calendar, being 11 to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, migrates throughout the seasons. Thus, if Ramadan begins on January 20 one year, next year it will begin on January 9. In this way, the length of the day, and thus the fasting period, varies in length from place to place over the years. Every Muslim, no matter where he or she lives, will see an average Ramadan day of the approximately 13.5 hours.

Muslims use many phrases in various languages to congratulate one another for the completion of the obligation of fasting and the 'Eid-ul-Fitr festival.

Tangier Facts: Tangier Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Tangier Travel & Tourism, Free Tangier Travel Guide Online

Population:
554,000 (est.)

Full country name:
Kingdom of Morocco

Capital city:
Rabat

People:
55% Arab, 44% Berber, 0.7% other

Languages:
Arabic (officially) with Berber dialects, as well as French, Spanish and English.

Religion:
98% Muslim, 1% Christian, 1% Jewish

Government:
Constitutional monarchy

King:
King Mohammed VI

Prime Minister:
Abderrahmane El Youssoufi

Major industries:
Agriculture, manufacturing, fishing, tourism

Major trading partners:
EU, US, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Brazil

Location:
On the southern side of the western approaches to the Strait of Gibraltar.

Port of Tangier:
Situated in the Bay of Tangier about 7 n mi (13 km) east of Cape Spartel on the northern coast of Morocco. The port is protected by surrounding topography from south, southwest, east and west winds while a breakwater/passenger ship quay 3,970 ft. long shelters the port from the major effects of northwesterly winds.

Time Zone:
Greenwich Mean Time is observed throughout the year: Time in Tangier is 5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in New York. (6 hours ahead of central time in Chicago, etc.) Daylight Saving time is not observed.

Tours:
Hiking in the desert, travel to seaside resorts, trekking, camel back rides, camping in the Sahara are some of the many tour offerings. Check with your hotel.

International Dialing Code:
The city code is 09. When calling Tangier from another country, dial the international dialing code of that country, plus 212 + 9 + 6 digit number.

Mobile "jawal" telephones:
can be purchased in Tangier from Moroc Télécom (prepaid with a rechargeable card containing 30 min. of outgoing and 30 min. of incoming calls.

Emergency:
Call 19 to reach the police.

Accessing email and the internet:
El Cafe de Internet Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 656 Tel.(+343) 4121915 / or 93 302 1154 Cyber Cafés and boutiques offering access to the internet are available in various parts of the city. Check with your hotel for addresses. Major hotels offer access also.

Currency:
The Moroccan currency is the dirham (DH). There are 200 DH, 100DH, 50DH, 20DH, and 10DH bills, and 10DH, and 5DH coins. Also there are smaller denominations of coins. The easiest method of securing cash at the best exchange rate is to make withdrawals using a US credit card from the ATM machines found at the major banks and stores. As in the U.S., some banks charge a fee and a transaction tax, so check with the banks to find the best value. Also check before inserting your card, as some machines accept only Moroccan credit cards.

Passport:
A full passport with at least 6 months validity is required. No visa is necessary for US citizens. Other travelers should check with the Moroccan consulate in their countries.

Water: Drink only bottled or mineral water, and CONSUME NO ICE.

Differences between day and night temperatures can be extreme, even in summer. It is advisable to take warm clothing. Be sure to take sunscreen for use during the day.

National Holidays:
Jan. 1 New Year's Day
January 11 Declaration of Independence or National Day
May 1 Labor Day
May 23 National Day
July 30 Feast of the Throne
August 14 Oath of Allegiance of Oued ed-Dahab
August 20 Festival of the Revolution, the King and the People
August 21 Youth Day
November 6 Green march Day
November The month of Ramadan will last from November 16- December 14 of the year 2001 (varies from year to year according to Muslim calendar).
December 6 Constitution Day
November 18 Independence Day
Note: During the month of Ramadan most bars and restaurants are closed during the day.

Electricity: 110-V and 220-V plugs exist side by side in Tangier. Check with your hotel.

How to get around:

Bus
Buses that operate in the city do not have air conditioning. City owned buses are often over crowded. There is no network map. There are bus signs in Arabic here and there. (It is best to use buses only if you already know the city).

CTM
(Compaigne des Transportes du Moroc) CTM, headquartered in Casablanca, owns a newer fleet of buses which are air conditioned and carry up to 56 passengers. They cover most of Morocco. tel. 02-45 80 00.

Cars
Morocco has one of the best road networks in Africa. There are also gas stations and repair shops conveniently located. Avoid driving at night. A car can often be included in one's airfare price. Be sure the price includes insurance and government tax. Road signs are in French and in Arabic.

Ferries
Boats or hovercraft cross from France (Sète) and Spain (Algeciras and Almeria) and Gibralter.

Taxis
Grand Taxis are collective, interurban "big" vehicles. Negotiate the fare before boarding. They usually wait until they are full before departing. Petits taxis are individual small taxis that can be found in every town. They are cheap and have a meter. Be sure the driver starts it as you start your journey, and that is set to the base rate.

Air
Royal Air Maroc is the national air carrier and provides domestic and international service. Many other foreign airlines serve Morocco, including Air France, British Airways and Saudia. Scheduled flights from all major cities in the Middle East, Europe and North America (New York and Montreal) serve Morocco

Rail
The country has an excellent railway system with 1,893km (1,176mi) of track and a fine intercity passenger service utilizing 669,637 passenger cars. Overnight train services running throughout Europe can connect with Morocco.

Tangier Kids Activities: Tangier Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Tangier Travel & Tourism, Free Tangier Travel Guide Online

The Grand Socco or Place du 9 avril 1947:
It was in this square, on April 9th 1947, that sultan Mohammed V made a speech in which he referred to independence for Morocco. The square links the medina (the old part of the city) to the new city and is by far its busiest quarter. It is especially animated on Thursdays and Sundays when the farmers, dressed in traditional costume, come to sell their fruit and vegetables. This vast marketplace is dominated on the southwest by the minaret of Sidi Abib mosque (1917), decorated with multi-colored ceramic tiles.

The Petit Socco:
From the Bab Fahs, the south gate of the old town, the Rue es Siaghin widens and opens onto the Petit Socco, a small square bordered by cafés and old residences. Located in the heart of the Medina, this little square is one of the most picturesque sites in Tangier. The noisy bustling crowd in multi-colored clothing contrasts with those who have time to idle away over a cup of mint tea at the terraces of the cafés. One of these is the "Tingis" Café where Jean Genet had his own table. In the center of the square is the Fuente Hotel where musician Camille Saint Saëns resided. The Petit Socco leads into the Rue de la Marine, the medina's busiest street. The shops lining the street are occupied by tailors and carpenters.

The Great Mosque:
Built by the sultan Moulay Ismail to commemorate the withdrawal of English forces at the end of the 17th century, the mosque stands in the next street beyond the Petit Socco. The site was once occupied by a Portuguese cathedral. Opposite the mosque is a 19th century Spanish church with a copy of the Spanish painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's Immaculate Conception in the choir.

The American Legation
8, rue d'Amérique
Mon., Wed., Thurs. 10-1 and 3-5.
This building, purchased in 1821, is the oldest American overseas legation. Morocco was the first nation to recognize US sovereignty in 1776. The museum houses documents which retrace the history of the relations between Morocco and the United States since that time. Other collections are also on display : furniture, ancient doors, maps (there is a separate room of superb maps by Mercator) and works of art. It was in the Legation that the Allied Forces prepared plans for part of the 1942 landings in North Africa.

The Dar el Makhzen (Sultan's Palace)
(entrance on the place de la Casbah)
Open every day except Tuesdays, 9 - 11:45;3-6.
This ancient palace of the sultan was built under the reign of Moulay Ismail,after the withdrawal of the English in the 17th century. It was added to during the 18th and 19th centuries. It contains beautiful apartments decorated with mosaics and sculpted plaster, and includes a patio bordered by marble columns.

Tangier's Museum of Moroccan Arts:
(Sultan's Palace)
Rooms containing displays include:
Carpets from Rabat
Jewelry
silks and ceramics from Fez.

Dar Ech Chorfa (Museum of Antiquities):
Daily 9-11:45 and 3-6
Contains a collection of archeological treasures found on the site of Volubilis. The building is a former courthouse.

Forbes Museum of Military Miniatures: 30 min. on foot from Grand Socco
10-5, closed Tuesdays
Admission free
Millionaire and press tycoon Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990) purchased the ancient palace of the Mendoub in 1970. From 1978, Forbes decided to set in this palace his collection of military miniatures which he had started as a child. Today, the collection contains over 120 000 miniatures, arranged to feature famous battles of history, and was bequeathed to the city of Tangier. The garden offers an exceptional view of the Gibraltar Straits and Spanish coast.

The Café Hafa or Café des Tilleus:
Located nearby the Forbes Museum, this charming café offers a magnificent view of the Mediterranean. Several small terraces with flowers welcome the visitor for a few moments or hours of peace and tranquility. Paul Bowles, the expatriate American writer, used to come and drink mint tea in this café.

Boulevard Pasteur:
This is modern Tangier's main street. It starts at the palce de France, where the French consulate was built. At the entrance to the boulevard an esplanade overlooks the port, the medina, and the straits of Gibralter. On the boulevard are a number of residential blocks, some dating from the early 1900's. There are also banks and luxury shops. The Boulevard Pasteur runs into the Boulevard Mohammed V, which continues out of the center city into the western suburbs of Tangier where new apartments and condominiums are being built at a rapid rate.

El Minzah Hotel:
This hotel opened in 1933 and is located on the street linking the Place de France and the Place du Grand Socco. It was built by French architects and is the former residence of the 18th century British Prime Minister, Lord Bute. It features an Andulusian patio, a Moorish interior, and exquisite fountains and gardens. It serves the finest of Moroccan cuisine. Winston Churchill and Rita Hayworth were among its most illustrious guests. Several films directors have chosen the hotel for scenes in their productions.

Grottoes of Hercules:
(Cape Spartel)
6 1/2 miles south of Tangier
The caves are under water at high tide. According to Greek mythology, it is in these caves that Hercules found some rest after accomplishing his Twelve Labors. These caves, which are flooded at high tide, are partly natural: limestone has always been extracted from the cliffs in order to make millstones. A curiosity of this site is the shape of the opening on the Ocean, which draws a map of Africa!

Cap (Cape) Malabata:
By following the S704, the visitor may carry out an excursion to Cape Malabata. 6 miles east of Tangier is the strange castle of Malabata which, despite its medieval architecture, was built in the early 20th century. It is topped by a lighthouse and offers wide views across the town and bay of Tangier to the Gibraltar Straits.

Future Resort:
On the right, before reaching the lighthouse, is a striking medieval style castle which dates from the beginning of the 20th century. A major coastal resort is being designed and built with this castle as the centerpiece. Hotels, holiday villages, villas, apartments, a conference center, a casino, and a 600 slip marina will circle a 64 acre man made lake. The Moroccan government has invested in this enterprise to accommodate the anticipated increase in tourists once the tunnel is completed.

Shopping:

Parfumerie Madini
Essential oils. This perfumery is famous throughout the Muslim world.

Ensemble Artisanal (arts and crafts area)
Casbah and rue de Belgique
Leather goods, shoes, carpets, textiles.

Marché des Pauvres
(Paupers'Market)
Follow rue de la Liberté, and take the first stairs on the right. Very picturesque and colourful market : goods of all sorts.
On the first floor, Weavers' Souk.

Marché de Fès
Rue de Fès
Small covered market where you can find anything : chicken, spices, almonds...

Restaurants

Guitta's
110, rue Sidi-Bouabid 93.73.33
The decor is reminiscent of the colonial past.. Spanish specialities.

El Korsan
(El Minza Hotel)
85, rue de la Liberté 93.58.85 - Fax: 93.45.46
Closed on Mondays
Excellent Moroccan restaurant. Speciality : seafood-stuffed sea bream.

San Remo
15, rue Ahmed-Chaouki 93.84.51
Speciality : fresh pasta.

Negresco
20, rue du Mexique 93.80.97
Chic restaurant dedicated to French and Moroccan cuisine.

La Pagode
Rue El Boussouri 93.80.86
Very good restaurant serving specialities of Far-east cuisine.

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