TETOUAN

TETOUAN

The Medina of Tetouan and its unique maze of shady streets, is a World of Humanity by Unesco Heritage. Its important Mellah (Jewish quarter) was called the little Jerusalem. This is the liveliest place at night. Here, the souks are well separated, each trade occupying a precise perimeter. The Tarafin street, lined with jewelery shops, leads to Hassan II Square and the Royal Palace, beautiful example of Moorish architecture. To the west, modern side lies the new town, El Ensanche. Its small buildings of five storeys maximum, with shops on the ground floor, were built under Spanish protectorate.
Museums and Schools
Spanish architecure
In the medina, the Archaeological Museum are close to the door Bab Everything and the Moroccan Arts museum next to Bab El Oqla. The first presents beautiful mosaics and a multitude of artifacts from the Roman era borrowed from Lixus site. The second, ethnological, exhibits traditional costumes and regional musical instruments. Close to the museum, the School of Arts and Crafts teaches all craft specialties. The National Institute of Fine Arts, founded in 1947 by Mariano Bertuchi, Spanish painter, has the distinction of having since 2000 a teaching section of the comics. It hosts every year since 2004 the International Festival of Comics.
The origins of the city of Tetouan are still unknown, but the discovery of archaeological sites dating back to prehistoric and classical period (Phoenician, Punic-Mauritanian and Roman) in the immediate vicinity of the city show WLE ancient occupation the river valley in general and Martil Tetouan particular site.
During the Islamic period, the Tetouan region is WLE considerable importance, since it is the only passage between the Iberian Peninsula and the interior of Morocco. Several cities while out of the ground, like Ceuta, Tangier and Alcacer Ceguer. Between the 10th and 12th centuries, Tetouan is mentioned by various Arab writers, but not until the late Middle Ages, after the fall of Ceuta and other coastal centers in the hands of the Spanish and Portuguese troops to see her play an important role.
In 1286, Sultan Abu Youssef Yacoub el Marini erected a fortified garrison (kasbah) on the Tetouan site to block Ceuta. In the early 14th century, the city grows, but it will be plundered and totally destroyed by Spanish forces Wis century later. It was rebuilt in fm the 15th century, during the reign of Sultan Mohammed ash-Sheikh ei-Wattassi by Wis group of refugees from Andalusia. At the end of the 15th century, the city is not extensive: Limited to the current neighborhood of al-Balad and Wie fortified kasbah, it meets the requirements of Abu al-Hassan Ali elMandri, military leader of Banu ei-Ahmar Granada.
The second phase of development began in the mid 16th century, with the expansion of the Medina to the southwest (Rabat neighborhood did Asfal). At last, from 1609, the arrival of the Moriscos (Spanish Muslims forcibly converted to Christianity and later expelled from Spain) contributes to WLE further expansion of the Medina, to the north-west this time (area of Rabat al-Aala). This growth continues until mid-18th century with the reconstruction of the fortifications which will give the medina its current configuration.
Source: * http: //www.visitmorocco.com/
              * http: //whc.unesco.org/