Tangier, situated in northern Morocco on the Strait of Gibraltar, is a multifaceted city that has always been the meeting point between Europe and Africa. The traits left by the long European influence both architecturally and culturally, which are different from the usual Moroccan standard, recall the typical scenery of any Mediterranean city. During the first half of the 20th century Tangier was considered one of the most exclusive seaside resorts in the Med, an international city with an eclectic population and a thriving commercial centre with over 70 banks and 4000 companies attracted by the lenient tax regulations. Many writers fell in love with the city like Paul Bowles and William Burrough who lived there and have described it in their works. However after Morocco reached independence in 1956, Tangier choosing to join Morocco lost its international status and almost immediately the banks and business relocated either to Spain or Switzerland followed suit by most of the foreign population, witch amounted to almost half of the inhabitants. Today Tangier is not longer one of the most popular holiday spots in the country, although it is still a favorite destination with Moroccans. Tourists prefer smaller seaside resorts such as Asilah and Larache not far from Tangier.
On arrival, Tangier can appear messy and daunting with so many people offering their services as guides and taxi drivers, unfortunately the problem of the fake guides taking advantage of careless tourists is a serious issue that makes people wary towards genuine offers of help. However, passed the initial confusion of the port, the train and bus stations it is not difficult to find your bearings, like most Moroccan cities Tangier has a Medina (the original city) and a new city built by the various European colonizers. Inside the Medina, a mesh of narrow streets and steps, there is the walled citadel of Kasbah with the sultan ancient palace in the centre. Tangier has a beach with a good selection of activities and an interesting waterfront with plenty of restaurants and cafes, and three main squares: Place de France, Grand Socco and Petit Socco. Place de France, a typically French square, is in the heart of the new city and has many nice restaurants and a panoramic view over the Strait and in clear days you can even see clearly the Spanish coast. From Grand Socco there is direct access to the Medina via the Roman archway northwest of the square and also via Rue es Siaghin, the main street of the old town with jeweler shops and many souks (markets) on the side streets. The road culminates in the square of Petit Socco lined with old coffee houses and moderately priced hotels. Coffee houses have been the centre of social life in Tangier since the glorious cultural years when the writers from the Beat Generation such as Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and Tennessee Williams used to be regular visitors; today they remain busy and lively places popular with residents and tourists alike.