Sat majestically above the Strait of Gibraltar, the city has a rich and colourful history. From the 1930s the demi-monde flocked to Tangier, with the likes of Henri Matisse, Ava Gardner, Errol Flynn, Barbara Hutton, Francis Bacon, William Burroughs, Samuel Beckett and The Rolling Stones who have all been drawn to Tangier.
An eclectic mix of architectural styles line the streets reflecting the international past of Tangier. Stroll past these and drink a café au laît in The Gran Café de Paris with its cork lined walls where Tennessee Williams and Jean Genet once sat. The café was also a renowned meeting spot for spies when Tangier became an international zone in 1923.
In the Kasbah galleries, shops and cafés can be found inside restored buildings. The whitewashed medina is home to an array of shops and bazaars, it is in the medina where you will find Tangier's best-known museum, set within the old American Legation building. On the outskirts of the medina lies the weavers' souk, the Fondouk, where looms clatter away and artisanal textiles can be bought.
Overlooking the Grand Socco is the Cinema Rif. Built in the 1930s the Cinematheque de Tangier is now an independent movie theatre founded by the Franco-Moroccan multimedia artist, Yto Barrada. Nearby the food markets can be found; neatly curated pyramids of fruits, vegetables and spices are displayed with pride. The fish market is a riotous affair with its glistening tiled floor and marble counters where rows of silvered anchovies and prize catches are presented.
Asilah, a picturesque, fortified town straddling the cliffs of the Atlantic coast, is around forty-five minutes by car from Villa Mabrouka. The medina of Asilah is flanked by stone fortifications built by the Portuguese in the late 15th Century.
Upon entering the medina through the gate, Bab al-Kasbah, pristine narrow streets take you through a maze of gleaming, brilliant white buildings accented with vibrant cobalt blue painted doors and windows, sculpted arches and elaborate doorways. Many of these buildings are homes to galleries and boutiques. In the first two weeks of August each year the walls of the town are painted with colourful murals celebrating the yearly Asilah arts festival.
Once inside the city walls, the ramparts can be reached. These drop down to the rocky coastline and sea below and offer wonderful views of the fishing boats coming back after a day out at sea as the sun sets and the sparkling white town below.
