Experience the best of Tétouan

Tétouan sits in the foothills of the Rif mountains in northern Morocco, a few kilometres from the Mediterranean coast. Its medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was rebuilt in the late fifteenth century by Muslim refugees from Granada, and its whitewashed houses, tiled fountains and carved wooden doors still show Andalusian style. Lanes lead to the square of Hassan II, in front of the royal palace.

Tétouan was the capital of the Spanish protectorate in northern Morocco, and the Spanish-built Ensanche, with its wide avenues and Andalusian-Moorish buildings, stands next to the old town. The Archaeological Museum holds local finds, and the school of traditional arts keeps carving and zellij tilework alive. The sea is close: the beaches of Martil and Cabo Negro lie to the east, and Chefchaouen, the blue town, and Tangier are both a drive away.

Moroccan cooking here has a Spanish accent: seafood tagines, pastilla, sweet pastries and mint tea poured from a height, with markets selling olives, preserved lemons, cheese and fresh bread. Spanish is widely understood in the north. Rain falls mostly in the mild winter, and sea breezes soften the summer.