Tangier, from the medina to Cape Spartel

• Cultural
• Historical
• Heritage
• Coastal
• Nature

This self-guided tour links Tangier's medina with the landscapes of Cape Spartel, at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, through all the places open to visitors. The Grand Socco, the large square connecting the medina to the new town, sits next to the Mendoubia Gardens. In the medina, the Petit Socco, the legendary café square of the International Zone, the Great Mosque and its zellige-covered minaret (the interior is reserved for Muslim worshippers), Bab Al Bahr, the sea gate, and the American Legation, given to the United States by the Sultan in 1821, tell of a city at the crossroads of Moroccan, Mediterranean and European influences. Ibn Battuta's memory lives on at Borj En-Naâm and at the small tomb traditionally attributed to him, which is often locked. The Kasbah overlooks the bay and the strait; its Museum of Mediterranean Cultures (closed on Tuesdays) occupies the former Sultan's palace. Outside the city, Cape Spartel and its lighthouse, the Caves of Hercules, whose opening to the sea recalls the outline of Africa, and the Perdicaris Interpretation Centre, in the heart of the Rmilat forest, are reached by taxi: allow about 25 minutes between the medina and the cape. The duration shown adds up visits and travel: spread the tour over several days. Every stop comes with its audio story and the map; the Scanner recognizes supported monuments. Opening hours are shown in the app: check them before you set off.