TANGIER, MOROCCO

Tangier is the real gateway to Morocco, built on the edge of a remarkable bay. It is an international city and a winter coastal resort of great renown. Tangier and its suburbs is where, in the unmistakably African streets, many cultures continue to mix but never completely blend.

Tangier is the real gateway to Morocco, built on the edge of a remarkable bay. It is an international city and a winter coastal resort of great renown. Tangier and its suburbs is where, in the unmistakably African streets, many cultures continue to mix but never completely blend. After driving through the main boulevards and the Place de France, we will pass through the fashionable residential district f Marche aux Beoufs, where we will stop to admire the panoramic view over the old city. We follow the mountain road, lined with magnificent villas and lovely gardens, before arriving at the Cape Spartel Lighthouse. It is over a century old and shines a warning beacon to shipping sailing between the Atlantic and Mediterranean. We will enjoy the panoramic drive along the coastline before arriving back in Tangier, where a stop will be made at a hotel for a refreshing mint tea or soft drink. Tangier’s Mdina (old town) follows the ancient Roman city plan: the Mdina wall marks the line of the Roman defences; the grand Mosque rises on the exact site of a temple to Neptune; and the Petit Socco covers the area of the Forum. The Kasbah is situated on the highest part of the Mdina in an area, which has been the preserve of palaces and castles for thousands of years. Roman governors, Byzantine counts, Arab princes and Portuguese crusaders all succeeded in possessing the citadel. When they left Tangier in 1685, the English destroyed the existing ancient medieval fortress with fire, gunpowder and pickaxe. What we see today was largely built by Sultan Moulay Ishmael and his Pasha in the 18th century. Our guide will walk us through the Mdina and the Kasbah, before we return to the ship.

Please note that there is approximately 1¼ hours of walking involved on this tour. The majority of the walking is downhill, however several steps, cobbled streets and uneven ground can make the walking strenuous. The walk through the mdina will be a very crowded experience over uneven ground, and you will be hassled by shopkeepers pressing you to purchase their wares.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2008 CANARIES & MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES