Larache Place de la Liberation

Place de la Liberation, long known as the Plaza de Espana, is the main public square of Larache on the Atlantic coast of northern Morocco, at the entrance to the old medina. Larache was a port on the Loukkos estuary used by Phoenician, Roman and later Islamic traders, and in 1610 Sultan Moulay Zidan handed it to Spain, which held it until Moulay Ismail recaptured it in 1689. Spain returned in 1911 and Larache became part of the Spanish protectorate zone until independence in 1956, which explains the Spanish character of the square. The plaza is a large open space laid out with arcaded buildings, cafes, a central fountain and palm trees, and its design reflects Hispano-Moorish and Andalusian influences, with whitewashed facades, balconies and arched passages. The medina's main gate, Bab el-Bahr, lies close by, and the square is the place where residents gather in the evening. Nearby landmarks include the Spanish-era church, the covered market and the fortified sea castle Castillo de las Cigüenas, as well as the cemetery where the French writer Jean Genet is buried. The square has been renovated in recent decades with new paving and street furniture, although some surrounding buildings show weathering. The plaza is open at all times and free, making it a good starting point for exploring the town and its heritage. It illustrates the layered history of Larache, from medieval port to Spanish colonial town and modern Moroccan city.