Tangier Medina
Tomb of Ibn Battuta
Tangier city has many hidden secrets, one of them is medina which has tomb of a famous traveler, Ibn Battuta. He was born in Tangier on February 24, 1304, Tangier. Over a period of almost thirty years (starting in 1325), covering some 73,000 miles (117,000 km). These journeys covered almost the entirety of the known Islamic world, a distance readily surpassing that of his predecessor, near-contemporary and traveler Marco Polo.
He was the greatest medieval Muslim traveler and the author of one of the most famous travel books, the Riḥlah (Travels). He passed away in 1368/69 or 1377.
In the past, medina was inside the protected walls of the city. Over the centuries, it has outgrown and spread in many directions. From the old port, it inches up an incline through a series of whitewashed alleys. In other words, it is a labyrinth of alleyways both commercial and residential. It’s contained by the walls of a 15th-century Portuguese fortress.
History
Berber tribes have lived in the area for centuries but the Carthaginians were the first outsiders to settle and colonize the area. The Romans and Byzantines later controlled the area for various periods of time. In the year 702, Tangier came under the rule of the Muslims. Many Muslim dynasties ruled Tangier until the arrival of the European colonization and city fell to the Portuguese and was ruled from 1471-1662 by them.
Many rulers of Morocco tried to take Tangier back from the invading powers but failed. Finally Morocco took control of the city in 1684. In 1821, the Legation Building in Tangier became the first piece of property acquired abroad by the new country. It was a gift from Sultan Moulay Suliman.
Two days per week, farmers from the outskirts of Tangier proper travel to the Medina with their harvests. These farmers stick together in groups around the Medina’s major intersections, laying out produce on and waiting quietly for six or eight hours to sell out the haul before returning home.
After many centuries of power struggles between various empires, Tangier has created an air of its own architect. It has very strong Moroccan style with blends of Andalusian touches (Spain and Portugal) and top ups from the French occupation of the country. The city itself is delightful, charming and vibrant with life and colours. Even at the beginning of the 20th century Tangier was already quite the multicultural city. An estimated 40,000 people lived in the city; 20,000 Muslims, 10,000 Jews and 9,000 Europeans.
