A mixture of two cultures in one city: Tetouan
Moorish town charm, Tetouan plays on the mix of cultures while remaining guardian and showcase its finest traditions
Medina:
The Medina of Tetouan and its maze of narrow streets shaded single, is a World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Its important Mellah (Jewish Quarter) was called Little Jerusalem. It is the busiest place at night. Here, the souks are well separated, each profession occupying a specific perimeter. Tarafin street lined with jewelers, leading to Hassan II square and the Royal Palace, a fine example of Moorish architecture. To the west, modern side, lies the new town, El Ensanche. Its small five-storey buildings up, with shops on the ground floor, were built under the Spanish protectorate.
museums:
In the medina, you will find the Archaeological Museum, near the Bab Everything, and the Museum of Moroccan Arts, next to Bab El Oqla. The first has beautiful mosaics and a variety of artifacts from the Roman era, taken at the site of Lixus. The second ethnological exhibits traditional costumes and musical instruments regions. Near the museum, the School of Arts and Crafts craft teaches all specialties. The National Institute of Fine Arts, founded in 1947 by Mariano Bertuchi, Spanish painter, has the peculiarity of having a section since 2000 teaching comics. It welcomes every year since 2004 the International Festival of Comics.
Tetouan is a city in Mediterranean Morocco.
As a transportation hub in the north, Tetouan is very easy to reach by bus or grand taxi. Many travelers only see the bus station en route from Ceuta or Tangier to Chefchaouen, but it is well worth a longer visit.
Get around
Both the CTM bus station as well as the non-CTM bus station are located in the center, though the walk from the CTM station to the center is a hike up a rather steep hill.
The city center is quite small and most tourist attractions-- as well as hotels-- are located there, so there really is no need to use petite taxis. But if you choose to stay at one of the hotels on the way to Martil (Champs or Dreams) petite taxis and grand taxis are always available.
Petite taxis are very cheap, though the fare increases if you have luggage.
Though there is a decent-sized public bus system, they are notorious for running late and being filthy.
To get to nearby beaches, like Martil, Cabo Negro, Ricon, Marina Smir, and Kabila, grand taxis are easily found at a bottom of Rue Moulay Abbas (the road running along the park, beautiful views of the Rif Mountains). The fare for a single passenger to Martil is 5 dirham, but if you want a little more room you should purchase two seats. For less popular destinations, like Marina Smir, or for a more direct route to beaches like Cabo Negro and Kabila which require two differnt grand taxi rides, some travelers choose to bargain with the driver to purchase the whole taxi. This is often more expensive, but well worth it considering the time saved and the increased comfort. Drivers are often very happy to arrange to pick up passengers after their day at the beach, saving travelers time as well as hassle.
Tetouan enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The average summer temperature is 35 degrees Celcius, while the average winter temperature is a wholly comfortable 22 degrees Celcius.
The city boasts an amazing amount of annual sunshine.
The Medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unlike any other Moroccan Medina, Tetouan offers a unique perspective on the multicultural history of northern Morocco and, because of it's relatively small size, it offers visitors a chance to explore without getting hopelessly lost. There are three distinct sections of the Medina, the Andalusian, the Jewish, and the Berber sections, though the untrained eye might have trouble distinguishing between the three. Be sure to hire a guide and you'll enjoy the medina that much more.
Mohammed V Ave. A pedestrian only road in the center. Filled with people in the evenings, after the day's heat has passed. Mohammed V is filled with dozens of cafes, teleboutiques, restaurants, tourist shops, and street vendors. Further down the street you'll find a used book sellers, offering books in a wide variety of languages, and then the king's palace.
