Tetouan Medina

The medina of Tetouan, entered from Place Hassan II in northern Morocco, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1997 and is regarded as one of the best-preserved Andalusian medinas in the Maghreb. Tetouan was founded as a fortress in the 14th century by the Marinids, and it was razed by Castilian forces in 1399. It was rebuilt from around 1484 by Sidi Ali al-Mandri with Muslim and Jewish refugees from Granada and other parts of Andalusia, and their architecture, crafts, music and cuisine shaped the city. The walled medina, whitewashed and laid out on a hillside, is entered by several gates, including Bab el-Okla, Bab Rouah and Bab Nouader. Its labyrinth of lanes is organised into quarters for crafts and trades, with souks such as the Souk el-Houts, the Ghersa el-Kebira and the leather, copper and woodworking lanes. Distinctive houses open onto interior courtyards with painted wooden doors, wrought-iron balconies and tiled fountains, while mosques, zawiyas and fondouks punctuate the street plan. In the early 20th century, under the Spanish protectorate (1913-1956), Tetouan became the capital of the northern zone, and the Spanish built an Ensanche district beside the old city. The medina has been conserved through restoration programmes since its UNESCO listing, with projects repairing walls, gates, workshops and houses. Its condition is generally good, although some residential buildings need maintenance. The medina is a living neighbourhood, so shops open from morning, and visitors can browse for crafts and eat in local restaurants while exploring.