The city of Tetouan (تطوان Titwan distortion of the word Amazigh Tittawen in Rifaina (tariffs), Tit = plural of the eyes or the source) is the capital and cultural center of the region of Tanger (Tanja) north of Morocco and is considered City of the Andalusian kingdom. Since 1999, he became the main summer residence of King Mohammed VI.
The city is located in the Rif, in the Pays de Jebal which is the western part of the Rif, about 50 miles east of the city of Tangier and near the Strait of Gibraltar. Located in a valley (the Cluse Tetouan) excavated by Mhannech wadi in the mountains of the Rif chain of limestone in the north and south. Near Tetouan, many coastal cities and tourist and holiday Mediek Martil Marina Smir and Black Cape.
The Wilaya of Tetouan has a land area of 10,375 km ².
In 2004, the population of the city had 320 539 inhabitants (277,516 in 1994). The province had 624 399 inhabitants. After Tetouan, the most populous cities are Fnideq (53,559 inhabitants), Martil (39,041 inhabitants), Mdiq (36,596 inhabitants) and Azla (12 611).
Ethnography:The company was originally tétouanaise essentially consists of Arab Muslims (al-Andalus) and Jews, who joined the families of high fassen sent by the sultan. Rural-urban migration and installation companies saw many families jbala, neighboring tribes (Hozman Beni, Beni Maadane, Beni Said, Ghomara, Beni Idder etc.) The city has also seen the arrival of many Algerian families that have enriched society through his music and Turkish pastry recipe. Rifaina component is large (Ouriaghel Beni), attracted by the business of the city and fleeing the adverse central Rif mountains. The 1960's saw the number of Jews fast, especially the parties in South America (Venezuela and Argentina ...) and Israel, as well as Spanish families who remained after independence.
As in the rest of the Andalusian cities of Morocco (Rabat, Salé, Fès and Chefchaouen), many families still have the Arabic (Moorish), which generally correspond nicknames referring to the locations of the Iberian Peninsula and Torres Molina Castillo Aragon, Medina, Paez, Baeza, Morales, Murcia, Castilla.
Monuments and Architecture:Tetouan neighborhoods belong to 3 types of different architectural styles: Andalusian style (the medina), the Spanish style of the early and mid-century 20 (Eixample) and style after independence (suburbs). Each style includes more or less important variations in relation to the evolution of styles and materials.
Duration: half day is enough to make the city a comprehensive and detailed below in promenade.
In a short step, plans to spend about 1 hour to the medina.
The Place Moulay El Mehdi is the new city center. Its properties in the crescent can be traced back to the Spanish protectorate and the church, which dates back to 1926
Boulevard Mohamed V, the pedestrian street is surrounded by elegant building dating from the same period. leading to the place where he settled to Pull a piece of the wall with a small cannon.
the archaeological museum on the left of the square. above, is a garden or landscape display lapidary are the most interesting ancient inscriptions, Roman mosaic pavements, Muslim gravestones, etc.
Hassan II, in place of the relationship between the modern city and the medina. So it was entirely paved with mosaic, which has disappeared in favor of a modern pavement is closed to traffic. In a cafe, right, you see an old photo that represents this place, which was one of the most charming of the city. It has been completely redesigned for the expansion of the royal palace. Part of the former consulate of Spain and the facade of the palace were held together by Khalifa and a monumental gateway that serves as the entry from Dar Makhzen.
Give Makhzen Khalifa's old palace, was the residence under the protection of the Sultan's representative. Founded in the seventeenth century. during the reign of Moulay Ismail remain, despite a major renovation in 1948, a good example of Spanish-Moorish architecture.
The medina is on the right of the palace. It consists of a maze of alleys and sometimes tangled or houses to sink back in the outdoors a lot.
Every street is dedicated to a separate activity. Of embroiderers who work here are the dyers, tanners, weavers and also examined their jobs. Urban in his white suit djellaba or together with the European rural Djebel long brown dress robes, sometimes embroidered with colorful patterns, and the peasant girt or covered in Fouta rays (cotton red stripes are a local tradition). Like other peoples, Tetouan is increasingly invaded rural pat. These gradually replacing the older people who migrate to the new city or elsewhere. Lack of culture of the city, these populations often have less than their predecessors city.
You enter across the street Ahmed Torres Medina, recently restored as other parts of the city. is the street of jewelry, or necklaces, bracelets, cuffs, double, sparkling in the window without any protection. Souk el Hout s "open left at the first intersection. This charming little square with trees planted around the home sellers cloth and charger
Souk el Fouks at the end of the street where it was committed. This is facilitated by the sale of cakes and posts included plates (Kesra) Moroccan accompanying meals. The spices are subtle aromas acres repend its earlier, giving way to aromas of wood and alpha, which shows the presence of carpenters and craftsmen Nattier. The stalls of women's beauty powder to add color to the place
Bab Sebta is a bit further north, after Zaouia of Derkaoui, zelliges carved and decorated with plaster. This door is one of seven in the city. tradition that the dead are always right columns. Opens in a large cemetery.
Nearby, the Jewish cemetery contains thousands of graves, some of which are carved dozens of strange reasons: it would be graves of Spanish Jews who returned from South America, were inspired by pre-funeral rites. The reasons to distinguish the graves of men to women
In the souk until Fouks to leave the right to follow the street Djarrazin. Limited to the left of the workshops tanners (a small cul de sac provides access to tanks or workers employed skins). Consecrated beyond trade in leather goods, provides access to the souks Fripiers. The Gherzi the Kebira, much more than second-hand clothing shops, home to a true market flea market. In one or two workshops, one can still see the old colors of preparing the tissues. Mix the dye and salt in a large pot to a boil in a wood fire.
OATUU, graphic appeal pleasant shade, is very close. Is the center of Bled. is one of the liveliest quarters of the medina.
Beyond that, the Saffain the street, in part, to the south of the site, we can achieve Zaouia The Abbasiya, chapel built in 1760 in honor of Abu Abbas, is Sebti, from Ceuta, and continue until the first mosque in picturesque
Souk Street Hout Ferblantiers again or have the past.
ex mellah opens before you, The Jewish quarter was established in a rectilinear plan, during the reign of Moulay Siliman (1807).
If a quarantine of the Jews in Tetouan, the city has a very large Jewish community long by what he calls the little town of Jerusalem.
As in other mellah Morocco, differs from the architecture of the medina with its balconies, its doors to little steps preceded the large windows, ads in Andalusia, its areas, sometimes linking homes. Offered the first school in Tetuan Jews in Morocco. Adjacent is the Jewish neighborhood or lived Souiqa General Franco during the Spanish protectorate.
Ahmed Torres Street will resume on the left, quickly turned to the right and extends the rue Sidi El Yousti. Leading to Bab el Oqla without crossing the gate, mounted Sqala Street immediately to the right, the museum (Museum of Moroccan Arts).
The boat is the school right in front of Bab el Oqla. In the morning we will try to visit this school, located in a beautiful house built in 1928, could see the young students who work under the guidance of their teachers, and find these workshops of carpets, leather, inlaid wood, ceramics, Zellige mosaics etc the most beautiful book presents in a room downstairs. Until recently, the vessel was one of the main economic activities in the city.
Following Sen north of the avenue that runs along the walls of the medina and the crossing through the gate Bab el Saidi, you can reach the mosque Sidi is Saisies, patroness of the city, recognizable by its two domes and a minaret covered with tiles.
Leaving the museum, along the walls on the left to win the gardens Moulay Rachid, also called garden lovers, left the green and white building in the old train station that connects Tetuan to Ceuta. Beautiful views of the Jebel Ghorgez front of the city.
The craft center, built in 1971, faces the garden after the season. has three objectives: to offer to tourists, to take no surprise, the craftsmanship and quality products, maintain quality and ensure the survival of certain traditional activities threatened by industrialization.
To continue on the avenue, turn right on the street to return Ourouba Moulay el Mehdi place.
