Tetouan Things to Do

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These Mosaics are found in few homes in Lexos built in first and second centuries AD . One of the houses known as the 3 girls because of the beautiful mosaic depicting the 3 girls. The girls are surrounded by 4 heads representing the 4 seasons.

one of the other houses is Mars and Raya which has the 2nd and 3 rd mosaic. The 2nd mosaic shows Adonis and Venous with 4 cupids and few birds. The 3rd mosaic is showing Mars the war god approaching a half naked woman.

The 4th mosaic represent a Baby god Bacchus raiding on a horse. Non of these mosaics need any kind of explanation. They are all beautiful.

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You can visit the Jewish section (mallah) with its synegouge. This Jewish quarter was established in the early 19th century during the rain of Mohammed ben Abdullah (Mohammed the 3rd). The old Mellah used to near the grand mosque. They requested to move because that place was no longer big enough to accomdate them, The sultan granted them the land to estabish a new Mellah. There isn't anything that deferentiate the Mellah from the other parts of town. All jewish families have left except for one family. you can visit one of the remaining synegouges. See my Synegouge tip for more details.

The fish, meet and vegitable is located near Bab Altoot. This is the stinky part,. The rest of the medina is clean and pleaseant to walk.

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While walking in the new part of town, I could not help but notice some fascinating building from the Spanish period. These building are:

Almanderi Heritage center This is located near hotel Oumaimah between Avenue 10 may and avenue Aljazaer. The building has an interesting mixture between Spanish and Moroccan building arts. It is home to many organizations, the msot important is the TITAWEN-ASMIR ASSOCIATION which has very friendly knowledgeble people who'll go out of thier way an answer questions about the city. If you needed help in that regard, I can't think of any where else to turn to. It publishes boo about Morocco and esp the north and reef region

address is 8, rue Mhammad Ben Aboud apt 21,tetouan- Morocco
Phone : (212)(9)96.72.72 - Fax : (212)(9) 96.72.72

The Cathedral, which is still active and hold religious ceremonies. It is located at Place Moulay El Mehdi just opposite to the Spanish consulate.

The old Spanish military head quarters, at least that what I was told,. I am not sure if this was true or not. The building is eye catching and very colorful. It is now privately owned apartment complex. The building is located Blvd Mouquauama, next to Marché central.

Marche central is another fine example of 1920 building in Tetouan. It is located between the bus station and that Spanish Military Building

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This is a very interesting place to visit. The school was built in 1928 and teaches Moroccan art. Students start at the age of 9 and study for 7 years. There are 6 areas of study and specialization; Gypsum, Metal work, ceramics, wood work, Textile carpets and clothes, and Painting using natural colors.

Once you enter the school you'll see an exhibit. You’ll see items and Things students’ have designed and produced. The items are top notch and very impressive indeed. Once you leave the the exhibit you'll walk into a garden and if you visit during August you'll be able to see the workshops where students learn their craft. I went there and learned how they get the fabulous natural colors and about the material used to get specific colors.

This school is placed directly outside Bab Alokla. Entrance fee was 10 dirham and people are fantastic. They did the best they can to explain everything and made the trip extra special

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This house is the museum for The Veterans of the Moroccan Liberation war. I wouldn't be surprised if you are not interested in the subject, but you still might find the visit interesting because the house is a good example of old houses of Tetouan. There are painting of The previous Aloayte sultans (ancestors of King mohd 6th) over the last 300 hundred years, that might be intersting.

I found the house while walking around the medina. I did not find information about the history of the House but I am still looking. The owner of this house was a physician and he became the Ambassador of Morocco to countries like India, Brazil and Lebanon before he died.

His wife donated the house to be the head quarter for Moroccan Liberation War veterans and the place is full of picture and has a good library (Arabic and French) on the subject. I don't think there was an entry fee. To get to this house start for Bab Assaidi or his mosque and head north and ask about it. Sorry can't give you a more specific address. People were very happy to helpful and welcoming but they couldn't tell me much about the house history.

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This museum was established in 1928. It is located near bab Al-Okla. It shows the local furniture, customs, clothes, jewellary, Ceramics and wedding. It has a display of music instrument. The doors and building are intersting to see. Visiting hours from 9-2:30%s

I watched 2 wedddings in Northern Morocco and in both weddings the bride was carried in this box and was carried all over town. On both occasions I did not have a camera. I was glad to find this in the museum*

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Seqayat are public fountains. There are 5 examples, Seqayat Bab Aloqlah, Seqayat Bab Altoot, Seqayat Sidi Assaidi mosque, Seqayat Aloussa, and Seqayat Asher. These public fountains were built between 1720-1785 except for seqaya sidi Assaidi which was renovated around 1720 as indiated by the inscribtion, of the date of buildng the original seqayat is unkown.

These Seqayat are NOT connected to the modern city water system but it is STILL functioning the way it always has been. The are still connected to the original natural springs that used to feed them when they were built. Seqayat Aloussa is the only one of them that is connected to city water system.

All these are easy to find except for Asher. Just find bab Aloqlah, Sidi Assaidi, Aloussa, Bab Altoot and you'll find the seqaya

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During spanish occupation this was a train station. The service used to connect Tetouan to Martil and Ceuta. The service stopped with the Moroccan independance.

The train station is in the final stages of renovation and it is going to host the Moroccan museum of conteporary Art and will host all sorts of exhibits like the photo gallary that was on display when I visited the City.

The station is located on Almassera Road. After you exit through Bab Al okla tuen right and walk until you see the building on you left hand side.