Travel Resources
Formerly called Cape Ampelusium (Cape of Vines), Cap Spartel looks down over the sea, its heights benefiting from relatively high levels of rainfall and humidity which favour the growth of vegetation. On its promontory stands a lighthouse built in 1865 by order of Sultan Mohammed Ben Abdel Rahman at the behest of foreign diplomats, and housing a collection of old framed photographs depicting lighthouses of the world. Founded in the 12th century, Larache is a small fishing port on the Atlantic coast, 70 km south of Tangier. It lies on the estuary of the river Loukkos, whose meandering offshoots form a sound, enclosing stretches of salt marsh. The town, whose two hundred thousand inhabitants live mainly off fishing, canning and a little tourism, is also an administrative center for the region. Due to the successive influence of Spanish and Arab occupations, its architecture varies from one district to another. The old town is typically Arab, while the new town is Andalusian in style.
Located on the Atlantic coast, Asilah is a town with a turbulent past, target for the successive attentions of Phoenicians, Normans, Portuguese and Spanish, who took turns at occupying it until the end of the 17th century when Moulay Ismail took possession of the city. Its stone-lined alleyways and white houses are imbued with calm and tranquility. The ramparts of the old town shelter the mysterious Raissouli Palace and its alleyways lead down to one of the coastline’s most beautiful beaches, where a sailing port is currently under construction. In the summer, the town turns itself into a seaside resort, attracting hosts of tourists with its delightful promenade, its tempting display of handicrafts and its excellent camping facilities. Founded in 1307 by the Merinid Sultan Abou Thabit, the white city of Tetouan nestles on Mount Dersa, with a panoramic view over the fertile river Martil valley, the sea and the foothills of the Rif Mountains. Both Arab and Spanish, Tetouan is a city of mixed race where Moorish and Andalusian styles blend harmoniously into a single architecture. Although the Spanish language is heard less and less on its streets, Andalusian music is still omnipresent. With its green and white houses, its crenellated ramparts built by Moulay Ismail, and its shady little squares, the medina is one of the most delightful spots in the Kingdom.