Tangier, Tanger, town and temporarily international Zone in Morocco, attracting many artists like Gertrude Stein,Paul Bowles, Jane Bowles, Matisse....

"Tangier. When charm fades..."

At the crossroads of civilisation, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean, Tangier flaunts its magnificent bay below lush green hills. From the "Place de la Kasbah", the highest point in the medina, you can visit the sultan's palace where every aspect of moroccan art can be seen in the rooms round the courtyard. Or you can stroll down alleyways of the medina to the terrace overlooking the straits of Gibraltar. Close by, various excursions can be made including Cape Spartel, the extreme north-westerly point of Africa, close to the famous Caves of Hercules and Cape Malabata.

Port of Tangier

Its strategic position making it a crossroads of t civilisations, Tangier, gateway to the African continent, looks across at Europe from the shores of Atlantic and Mediterranean alike. As a meeting-point of routes to so many different destination, Tangier has inevitably been marked by the of History-Phoenicians, Berbers, Portuguese and Spaniards had all left their indelible mark on the city before it passed into Moroccan hands.

As do most of the Kingdoms towns, Tangier,the White City, possesses its Medina, the old Arab town containing a pair of picturesque markets : the Grand Socco and the Petit Socco (the Spanish word for "souk").

Tingis, now Tangier, is an ancient Phoenician town. Ancient coins call it Tenga, Tinga, and Titga, the Greek and Latin authors giving numerous variations of the name. According to Berber mythology, Tangier was built by the son of Tinjis, named Sufax. Tinjis was the wife of the Berber hero Antaios. There are other versions of Tangiers founding; Greek legend ascribes its foundation to the giant Antaeus, whose tomb and skeleton are pointed out in the vicinity, or to Sophax, son of Hercules by the widow of Antaeus. The cave or grotto of Hercules is only a few miles from the city. This cave is a major tourist attraction because of its association with Greek mythology. It is believed that Hercules slept there before attempting one of his 12 labours.

Tangier was an important city for the Berbers, and still is inhabited by Berbers and Arabs, and the city's name may be derived from the Berber goddess Tinjis (or Tinga). Founded by Carthaginian colonists in the early 5th century BC. The commercial town of Tingis came under Roman rule first, a free city and then, under Augustus, a colony (Colonia Julia, under Claudius), capital of Mauritania Tingitana of Hispania.