What to See in Tangier - Top Sights and Attractions

Tourist attraction in Tangier, Morocco. The Caves of Hercules is an archaeological cave complex located in Cape Spartel, Morocco. Situated 14 kilometres west of Tangier, the popular tourist attraction is adjacent to the summer palace of the King of Morocco.

The cave has two openings, one to sea and one to land. The sea opening is known as "The Map of Africa". It is believed that the Phoenicians created the sea opening which is in the shape of Africa when looked at from the sea. There are also some markings on the wall in the shape of eyes, that are said to be made by the Phoenicians, which make up a map of the local area.

The cave itself is part natural and part man-made. The man-made part was used by Berber people to cut stone wheels from the walls, to make millstones, thus expanding the cave considerably. There are both free and paid entrances. It costs 5 Moroccan dirhams per person to enter the cave and an optional additional 5 for a guide, but other currencies are also accepted.^[1]

Historical landmark in Tangier, Morocco. The Grand Socco or Place du 9 Avril 1947 is a historic circular roundabout separating the old Médina from the newer area of downtown Tangier, Morocco.

The term, socco is a Spanish corruption of the Arabic souq (or souk). The Grand Socco is surrounded by a mosque, a few shops, several banks, half a dozen modest restaurants with covered outdoor seating areas, several cafés, the Cinema Rif, an Amendis office and a pharmacy. On one side is the arch entrance to Mendoubia Gardens and another arch leads to the Rue de la Kasbah, also known as Rue d'Italie.

In the mid-1950s many large trees were cut down in the round central outdoor market. Currently, the Grand Socco has a large marble fountain in the center, surrounded by tall palm trees and small flower gardens with a dozen benches for people to sit and relax.

The square underwent further development in 2005.^[3]

Museum in Tangier, Morocco. The Tangier American Legation, officially the Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies, is a building in the medina of Tangier, Morocco. Formerly the chancery of the United States diplomatic mission to Morocco, it was the first American public property abroad and is the only U.S. National Historic Landmark located in a foreign country.

The legation was established on May 17, 1821, after Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah issued a proclamation recognizing U.S. independence from Great Britain, making his nation the first to do so. The building was gifted by the sultan to the U.S. government to serve as a diplomatic post, for which it served for the next 140 years. After Morocco's diplomatic capital moved to Rabat in 1956, the building served a variety of government functions, before gradually falling into neglect and disrepair. In 1976, former U.S. diplomats established the nonprofit Tangier American Legation Museum Society to restore and preserve the structure; the site has since served as a cultural center, museum, and research library, concentrating on Arabic language studies.

The Tangier American Legation is considered a symbol of the historic cultural and diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the Kingdom of Morocco, and of long-running American engagement with the wider Islamic world. In recognition of its historic and cultural importance, the site was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1981 and designated a National Historic Landmark the following year; it is one of only 39 properties owned by the U.S. Department of State listed in the Register of Culturally Significant Property.^[8]