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Whereas the coast gets dry in summer, the capital
of the Rif Mountain region, Tétouan, lies in the cool valley
of the "Wadi Martil", just kilometres inland
from the Spanish coastal enclave of Ceuta. Formerly the capital
of Spanish Morocco, this pretty city has a tangible connection with
Andalucía: balconies and windows framed by iron grilles,
shaded squares and patios with refreshing Moorish-Andalusian fountains,
white plasterwork and flamenco.
This connection is accentuated by the fact that
many of the Moriscos, expelled from Spain by King Felipe IV in the
16th century, settled here. The extent to which their descendants
are still nostalgic about Andalucía is borne out by the 400-year-old
tradition in which the keys of homes left behind in Spain are still
passed on from generation to generation, yet the locals have recreated
the beautiful Hispano-Moorish architecture of old in this charming
capital of northern Morocco.
Khalif's Palace
The old palace of the Khalif also served as the residence of the
King's representative during the time of the Protectorate, when
Tetouan was the capital of Spanish Morocco.
Gateways
Seven magnificently sculpted gateways offer not only a visual delight,
but also a variety of ways to breach the age-old ramparts and enter
the town from different angles.
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| Market Produce |
Kasbah
Dating back to the 14th century, the Kasbah of Tetouan is a particularly
good example of a Middle Eastern covered market place whose maze
of stalls produce sights, sounds and scents that are inextricably
part of the Moroccan experience.
Old Quarter
The maze of alleyways and cobbled streets, with their blue-tainted
whitewashed houses, remain among the most enchanting of Tetouan's
sights. In places is this quintessentially Moroccan feature more
alluring.
Museums
The Archaeological Museum and the Ethnographic Museum, both located
in grand old buildings, offer an insight into the many different
people who have inhabited the country over the ages, and the typically
Moroccan traditions that have evolved out of this.
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