Tetouan
Tétouan (arabic : تطوان, (Tetwan) ; Amazigh (berber) : ⵜⵉⵟⵟⴰⵡⵉⵏ( pronounced "Tiṭṭawin" which means the eyes) is a Moroccan city located in the northern part of the country, in the Western Rif region, also called the land of Jbala. Tetouan is nicknamed the "white dove" because of its white wall and also because it is one of the cleanest cities in the country.The town is located at about 60km (40 mi) south east of Tangier. It is along the "Martil Valley" and it is also one of the two major ports of Morocco on the Mediterranean Sea part, only a few miles south of the Strait of Gibraltar.
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| White dove symbol of Tetouan |
You may watch this quick tour video below of Tetouan on our Youtube channel:
History:
Tetouan has very deep old history of more than 2,000 years. It was first inhabited by the Mauretanian Berbers that date back to the 3rd century BC. Followed by the Phoenicians that used the town for trading one century later. Before it became a Roman colony under Emperor Augustus.
The Marinids then started by building a casbah and mosque in what has become the old city nowadays in the late 13th century. Some time after that, exactly in 1305, the scale of the settlement was expanded by sultan Abu Thabit Amir, he fortified the town. But the early 15th century, the Castilians destroyed the settlement in retaliation for piracy.
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| Thick walls around old town |
Tétouan is famous for its beautiful craftsmanship and musical delicacy and has been part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the area of Crafts and Folk Art since 2017.Its cultural heritage is the product of the interaction between different cultural and religious influences throughout centuries. It is mainly characterized by its Andalusian style and way of living, but Berber,Arabs, Jewish, and colonial Spanish influences are present too.
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| Tetouan Church |
Architecture
Many of the houses in Tetouan belong to the "aristocratic" families, descendants of those expelled from Al-Andalus by the Spanish Reconquista, possess marble fountains and have groves planted with orange trees, same as the "Riads" in Marrakech and Fes and other imperial cities. Within the houses and riads the ceilings are often exquisitely carved and painted in Moresque designs, such as are found in the Alhambra of Granada, and the tilework for which Tétouan is known may be seen on floors, pillars, and dados. The city has seven gates which were closed at sunset when life was not safe, and there used to be war between the different tribes.. up until the early 20th century. Many Sufi Zawiyas are scattered inside the walled old city.
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| Spanish colonialism |
Nice places to see in Tetouan
- The medina (old town) of Tétouan is on UNESCO's World Heritage List. With many white houses, people performing their craftsmanship, like weavers, jewellers, leather workers. Street sellers often try to sell carpets to tourists as well.
- The Archaeological Museum is located in the city center a hundred meters away from the Royal Palace. The museum exhibits artifacts from different periods belonging to indigenous, Phoenician, Roman, Jewish, and Arab cultures.
- The Museum of Modern Art is located in front of Riad Al Ochak garden.
- The Mechouar of the Royal Palace is situated just outside and by one of the entrances to the old medina.
- Riad Al Ochak (Lovers' Garden), a.k.a Moulay Rachid Garden, is a public garden designed in the moorish style.
- The kasbah at the top of Mount Dersa, with the ruins of the former barracks of the Regulares.
- Tétouan enjoys a large coastline that spans from the border with Ceuta to the road to Al Hoceima. It is usually very busy in the summer time and hosts many international clubs, hotels, golf resorts, and marinas.
- The nearest beach is the popular city of Martil. Other villages include Cabo Negro, Oued Lao, El Jebha.
- Tétouan is surrounded by two mounts -Dersa and Ghorghiz. Several natural spots are available and hiking activities are popular.
