Tangier(Destination)

The White City

Portray of the Destination

Tangier is located on the western entrance of the Strait of Gibraltar and on the Northern African coast. It is where East meets West and can be seen from the sea as “The White City” due to its traditional white buildings. With its many souks and traditional cuisine it has to be said that its diverse in flavour and in culture!

Tangier was once a major destination hotspot in the Mediterranean as this international city had its own laws and administrative system but when the Moroccan independence was attained in 1955, the business that had made the city what it was moved to Switzerland and Spain. But from its fall, Tangier boulevards have now a new stylish café society which has started to rebuild it to its former glorious state. One of the most breathtaking view that has to be seen is the sight of the Spanish coast from across the Strait of Gibraltar.

We would like thank the Moroccan National Tourist Office for the photographs provided. Visit: www.morocco.com

Useful phone numbers

• Police :
• Ambulance :
• Fire Brigade :
• Tourist health care services :

Tangier(Touristic Zone)

The White City

Description

Tangier is located on the western entrance of the Strait of Gibraltar on the Northern African coast. With its many souks and traditional cuisine it has to be said that its diverse in flavour and in culture! This can be seen in all the different types of highlights that emphasises the city. One of the most breathtaking view that has to be seen is the sight of the Spanish coast from across the straits of Gibraltar. As it has been highly influenced by two cultures it is amazing to see how they have merged together to create something completely different and unique.

Highlights

The Old Medina
The Medina itself is large in size and have many narrow winding streets that are lined with all kinds of styled houses, but due to all of the different styles it shows that there are a number of different financial backgrounds that both worked and lived here. Some of the houses are still traditionally decorated by having brightly coloured doors and gates which are surrounded by rosebushes. When you go through the gate into the Medina from the Grand Socco you will be flooded with all of the aromas from the spices. A buyer's tip when it comes to shopping, is to make sure that you can haggle the product's price as you might be able to get it for a bargain price. If you can speak French it will be much easier and the shop keeper will have more respect for you.

The Grand Socco
This is a square that is now no longer a market place but more like a crossroads which have cafes on the front. This is where the sultan Mohammed V in 1947 made his famous speech about the independence of Morocco. This is the heart of Tangier, where the old town meets the new city. Years ago a street within this area would be filled of musicians, snake charmers and story tellers but now it is mainly for taxis, as a transportation junction. The Grand Socco is extremely colourful in the sense of culture that is to be seen in this particular area.

The Caves of Hercules

When the Atlantic high tides flood the caves, the water gushes up through these massive holes in the ground and hillside. This is apparently where the mythical figure Hercules went to rest after he finished his twelve labours.

It is unsure how the caves were exactly formed as they are partially natural and partially manmade. It has been rumored that an ancient civilization for some reason used to carve millstone out of the solid rock that made giant caves over the years which have all baffled experts as to how they could have done it with such simple and crude tools that they had.

The colours within the caves at low tide are breathtaking, but it is advised that if your not a strong swimmer do not to venture into the ocean as the currents offshore can be very strong and quite dangerous. It has also been said that the caves of St Michaels were once joined and that it would have been possible for the Barbary Apes to cross over.

Souks in Tangiers
Due to the increase in tourism there are many different tourist traps in which they will sell you low quality goods, that is why if you are willing to go off the beaten track there are several different goods available. Tangier is known to have good bargains with leather, carpets and copper. If you do not have much time to really explore the city, it is advised to go shopping as it can be a very entertaining experience and can be very intense as you will be constantly be offered mint tea and good prices.

The ancient seaport of Cotta
This historical site is only a five-minute walk south from the caves of Hercules. It is a small area of ruins which are located above the beach and have been dated back to the 2nd and 3rd century. There are also a number of walls which lay out a Roman town. It can be described that the area is a mixture between a villa and a Roman industrial compound. There are also Roman Baths, shrines, oil presses and temples.

Kasbah of Tangier
This was built at the highest point and has excellent views of mainland Spain. You go through some gates in which there is a huge open courtyard which can be followed to reach the Sultan, Dar el Makhzen’s palace which was built in the 17th century and now serves as a museum. There is another museum within it.

El Minzah Hotel(Hotel)

Five stars

Address, Telephone and fax number

Address:El Minzah Hotel 85, Rue de la Liberté 90 000 Tangiers Morocco
Telephone: +212 (39) 93.58.85 / +212 (39) 93.78.44
Free call : 0.8000.37.44 (Morocco only)
Fax : +212 (39) 93.45.46

A few words

No doubt, this is one of the most elegant and sumptuous hotel of its class in Tangier. Situated on the Strait of Gibraltar where Africa almost touches Europe, this hotel has stunning views which can be enjoyed in the comfort of this Hispano-Moorish style hotel.

Rooms

There has been an additional floor that has been built in the same architectural style as the original building  and has 140 newly furnished air-conditioned en-suite bedrooms which also includes 15 suites. All of the rooms have a satellite television, hairdryers, mini bars and all the facilities that you would expect a luxury hotel to have.

A large majority of the rooms are sun facing, south-easterly which allows the views of the garden and the Bay of Tangiers uninterrupted. When designing and decorating the El Minzah Hotel the owners wanted to ensure that it reflected the magnificence and purity of the Andalusian good taste in which restraint and richness were considered of equal importance in producing harmonious interiors.

Activities offered by the hotel or close by

The hotel has its own Wellness Center which is locacted not far outside the hotel in the city center. The center offers 20 cabins for individual treatment where there are health checks by a professional physiotherapist and physician. There are also facilities to do body building, aerobics and gymnastics. Afte which you can relax in the  Turkish bath or sauna and steam bath.

Outside the hotel there are activities such as Golf, Tennis and Horse riding.

Room

Designed in a Hispano-Moorish style to help keep the hotel true to its surroundings. Every room has a hairdryer, satellite television, mini bar and several other facilities that you would expect a five star hotel would have. The types of rooms that are avalible are Single and Double Room, Superior Single and Double Room, Junior Suite, Senior Suite, EL Minzah Suite and a Royal Suite.

• Air-Conditioning
• Mini bar
• Satellite TV
• Shower and Bathtub
• Safe
• Direct telephone