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Tetouan

Tetouan (Arabic: Titwan or Tittawen) is the capital and cultural centre of the region Tanga (Tangiers) in the north of Morocco. In 2003 the city has about 320.000 inhabitants.

The city is situated about 40 kilometers east of the city of Tangiers and not so far from Ceuta and the Strait of Gibraltar, either. It is in the far north of the Reef Mountains. To the south and west of the city there are mountains.

History of Tetouan

The city exists since the 3rd century BCE, artefacts from both the Roman and the Phoenician era have been found.

Around 1305 a city was built here by Merinid Abou Tabit. It served as a base for attacks of Ceuta. Around 1400 it was destroyed by the Spanish, because pirates used it for their attacks. By the end of the 15th century it was rebuilt by refugees from the reconquista (reconquest of Spain).

The city is situated in the area which was formerly ruled by Spain. In 1913 it became the capital of the Spanish part of Morocco, and it remained its capital until 1956. Many people in the city still speak Spanish. On road signs often names are written both in Spanish and in Arabic. In 1956, when Morocco became independent, Tetouan became part of this country.

Sights in and around Tetouan