Tetouan or the 'White Dove', is one of the ancient Moroccan cities characterized by a unique Andalusian history and is considered a distinctive destination for tourists who want to travel through time to discover a city that still reflects much of the history of Andalusia after 5 centuries.
Although Tetouan was a place for the passage of many races and nations, its true history begins with the late fifteenth century AD, coinciding with the fall of Granada in the hands of the Castilian Catholics in the year 1492 and the beginning of the migration of the Muslim Granadans to Morocco in search of a new land after they lost their “paradise” in the Iberian Peninsula.
The history of the city of Tetouan is closely related to the Granada military leader, Sidi Ali El Mandri, who is considered the city's founder. This military leader crossed the Strait of Gibraltar after the fall of the Kingdom of Granada, accompanied by a large number of Granadians, and then proceeded directly to the construction of the city of Tetouan, which overlooks the coast of Spain, believing that his choice of the city's location would help him return home to Andalusia one day.
The Granadans, under the leadership of El Mandri, built the city of Tetouan on the geometric shape of which Granada was built. That is why historians call it “Granada’s twin”, as it is very similar in its architecture, paths, houses, and doors to Granada, and that is why when a tourist visits the old city of Tetouan, he goes back centuries, in a smooth progression towards an authentic historical depth.
Tetouan witnessed a steady growth in population at the beginning of the sixteenth century, with the increase in the migrations of Muslims from Andalusia towards Morocco, to become with the passage of time one of the important cities in the Kingdom of Morocco, before being subject to Spanish protection during the colonial period at the beginning of the twentieth century, when it knew an expansion with the construction of the modern city by the Spaniards, and making Tetouan one of the Moroccan cities that have the old city and the modern city.
To reach Tetouan
Tetouan is one of the few Moroccan cities that a tourist can reach by land, sea, and air. It is located close to the cities of Ceuta and Tangiers, which have special ports for the transit of passengers, and it has an air airport that links it to a number of international airports, in addition to the possibility of reaching it by land by bus or car.
Thus, foreign tourists, especially those who come from Europe, can cross into Morocco by sea to the port of Ceuta or to the port of Tangier Med. The port of the first has maritime links with southern Spain. As for the Tangier Med port, it has maritime links with the Spanish port of Algeciras, the port of Sete in France, and the port of Genoa in Italy. Then, upon arrival, there are means of transportation, which are taxis that lead the tourist directly to the city of Tetouan. At a distance of no more than kilometers.
Transportation in Tetouan
Tetouan is not one of the large cities in Morocco, and therefore it is one of the cities in which it is easy for tourists to move within it easily and visit its tourist sites and places without much trouble, whether by walking or choosing the appropriate means of transportation.
Tetouan has a network of public buses that roam the various neighborhoods and neighboring small towns, at very low prices, most of which do not exceed 10 dirhams. The farthest point connected by buses is the one that runs from Tetouan to the city of Oued Lou, which is located on the Mediterranean coast, 41 kilometers to the east, at a price not exceeding 7 dirhams.
These buses connect the most important neighborhoods of the city of Tetouan, in addition to the beautiful small coastal cities nearby, such as the city of Martil, which is only 10 km from the city center, and the city of M'diq, which is only 17 km away, and the city of Fnideq, which is 32 km away, passing through many tourist resorts and Marinas.
Taxis
The city of Tetouan has small taxis in yellow, and these taxis play an important role in bringing the distance and getting tourists to the destination they want, as these taxi drivers know all the tourist areas of the city.
The tourist can find these taxis near the road station, near the airport, in addition to their presence on most roads, where the hand signal can be raised to stop them to take you to the destination you want at prices not exceeding 20 dirhams as the maximum price for long distances.
Given the geographical location of the city of Tetouan, the presence of taxis of a large type to transport the city's residents and tourists to the suburbs is essential, as this means of transport operates at a station called "Al-Shallal" and connects Tetouan with Martil, M'diq, and Fnideq.
There are also other separate stations, linking Tetouan to the city of Oued Lew, which is located in the farthest region of Tetouan, in addition to other taxis linking Tetouan with the neighboring villages and valleys, such as the village of Benqreish and others.
There is also a taxi station adjacent to the road station for buses, and these taxis link the city of Tetouan with the large neighboring cities, such as Tangier, Chefchaouen, and Al Hoceima.
Where do you spend your night?
The city of Tetouan offers multiple options for the tourist regarding accommodation, where there are classified and unclassified hotels, in addition to guest houses and furnished apartments.
As for hotels, Tetouan and its neighboring areas have luxury hotels, especially those located on the beach strip that extends from Martil to Fnideq, while there are many suitable hotels in the city center.
As for guest houses, Tetouan has the best guest houses in Morocco, and most of them are located in the old city, with its Andalusian architecture inside most of them there are water fountains.
Furnished apartments are one of the options available in and around Tetouan, and there are even villas for rent to tourists.
Regarding prices, they vary based on the features and luxury offered by the accommodation, but in general, Tetouan remains one of the Moroccan tourist cities where prices are suitable for tourists.
Sites to visit in Tetouan
There are many places in the city of Tetouan worth visiting by tourists, with a unique features of the city, and it is possible to visit a number of these places in one day.
1- The old city
The old city of Tetouan is an Andalusian city of Granada style. It was built by the Granadas after their arrival in its location in the late fifteenth century, and its neighborhoods, paths and many of its buildings still date back to that historical period, and therefore touring the old city of Tetouan is a journey that takes you back to centuries ago.
There are many archaeological sites that can be visited in the old city, such as the Kasbah, which was the first building that was built by the Granada commander Sidi Ali El Mandri.
The city also has 7 historical gates and a wall surrounding it and separating it from the modern city, in addition to palaces and residences belonging to many historical figures who passed through this city.
There are banners attached to the historical buildings inside the city that make it easy for the tourist to know its history and information about it.
2 - The modern city
The modern city of Tetouan, in turn, has an important history dating back to the Spanish colonial era at the beginning of the twentieth century to the late fifties of the last century, when the Spaniards built most of its streets and neighborhoods located in the center of the city, and therefore the Spanish architectural character dominates this area.
The city center, which consists of Moulay El Mahdi Square and Mohammed V Street, or what was called in the past the Spanish Quarter, is an open-air museum, where many buildings built during the Spanish period are still standing, telling about the history of the city in that era.
3 - Feddan square
It is a square in the middle of Tetouan, separating the modern city from the old city. It was built in the style of Granada Andalusian architecture before it opened to the public in late 2016. It is a favorite destination for tourists, where they can take pictures of a number of the old city’s neighborhoods.
Tourists can also rest in this square and take pictures of themselves near the arches in the middle of the square.
4 - Royal Palace
The Royal Palace, which is located in the city center, is one of the tourist destinations that many tourists want to visit to see the front facade of the palace and take pictures of it.
This palace was built after Morocco's independence from Spanish colonialism, and then witnessed a major expansion process in the eighties to take its current shape, which includes a large area next to it called "Michouar's square".
This palace is not far from many tourist sites, such as the old city and Feddan square, as it is located in the modern city and close to all amenities.
5 - Tamouda
For lovers of history and archeology, near the city of Tetouan, there are historical relics dating back to an ancient city called Tamouda, founded by a Berber king named Baka in 200 BC, and many monuments still bear witness to this city to this day.
The tourist can reach the site of the remains of this historical city by a small taxi from the city center in a period of no more than 15 minutes, and there is a poster on the front of these monuments that includes historical information about them.
Tetouan coast
The Mediterranean coast, which includes a number of small tourist cities, is a natural extension of the city of Tetouan, and it comes to the coast that starts from Oued Laou in the east to the city of Fnidek in the west.
This vast area of the Mediterranean coast includes many tourist villages and picturesque scenery, in addition to 4 medium tourist cities, tourist resorts, and fishing and Marinas.
1- Ouad Laou
It is a coastal and tourist city belonging to the Tetouan province, and it is characterized by a long beach, and it is a favorite destination for tourists during the summer.
Oued Lou is also located close to mountain heights suitable for mountaineering enthusiasts, in addition to many valleys and waterways such as "Oued El Kannar".
2 - Martil
The city of Martil is one of the cities closest to the city of Tetouan, and it has a beautiful beach and a long Corniche that attracts tourists.
Martil is considered a summer tourist destination par excellence, and it also has a number of historical monuments, and buildings dating back to the Spanish era, such as an old watchtower, and the Spanish cathedral, which is one of the large churches that were built during the Spanish era in northern Morocco.
3 - Cabo Negro
Cabo Negro is a primarily touristic beach area, located in a mountainous highland overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. In this area, there are luxury hotels and restaurants, and there are tourist accommodations that provide all amenities.
This area is also surrounded by mountainous heights dedicated to sports and hiking, in addition to a beach and a recreational port that can be used for water sports.
4 - M'diq
M'diq or "Fishermen's Village" is a beautiful beach town not far from the city of Tetouan, also has a beautiful Corniche and a wonderful beach.
This city also has a fishing port with restaurants serving delicious meals of seafood and fish of various kinds. There is also a club for sailing boats and during different periods of the year, competitions are organized on the beach.
5 - Fnideq
Fnideq, in turn, is a beach city that does not differ much in its size and characteristics from Martil and M'diq, but it is characterized by the presence of a number of wonderful beaches which are located on the coastal line that links it with M'diq, in addition to a recreational port in an area called "Almina" that has recreational boats where water sports can be practiced.
Shopping places in Tetouan
The city of Tetouan has many places for shopping, and tourists can find what they want, whether in modern commercial centers, or traditional local markets.
As for the acquisition of souvenirs, the old city of Tetouan has many shops that sell souvenirs of the city, in addition to locally made products, such as clothes, covers, jewelry, ornaments, and others.
Tetouan also has many local markets called "souks" that are found in the old city, and in other places in the modern city, especially with regard to the acquisition of foodstuffs, while in the city center there are many shops selling various types of clothing.
Eating in Tetouan
Tetouan is one of the Moroccan cities that were historically known for the ingenuity of its people in cooking many food dishes and making many sweets. The origin of Tetouan cooking goes back to Andalusia, given that the Andalusians of Granada, upon their arrival in Tetouan, transferred with them all their cooking habits, with new additions that appeared with the Spanish era in the city.
Famous foods such as "Paella", which is a mixture of fish and vegetables, and "Tortilla" consisting of fried potatoes in eggs, are among the meals that the Tetouanis master in preparing in special ways that make them popular meals for tourists.
However, what distinguishes Tetouan more is the making of sweets, as the Tetouanis have excelled over 4 centuries in preparing many types of sweets, such as "Bishkitto" cakes, "Kaab Al-Ghazal", "Fakakis" and "Briwat" honeyed, which every tourist should taste during City visit.
These meals and sweets are found in most food stores in the city, as well as hotels and guesthouses in the city and its suburbs.
There is also a special place called the "Mallah", meters away from the royal palace, where there are many public restaurants that offer fast food and sweets of various shapes and types at very low prices. This place is considered one of the best places to buy "Zaazaa", one of the most famous drinks that originated in the city. It is a mixture of avocado juice, dry fruits, and others.
To sum up, the city of Tetouan is an integrated tourist city, where the tourist can visit the city, eat its food, drink a "Zaazaa", take pictures, go back to the past in the old city, and enjoy the charming beaches, all in a short time and without much effort.
