Explore the medina of Tétouan through its gates, streets and craft districts. This UNESCO World Heritage Site combines a distinctive urban layout with insights into traditional crafts. For a culturally focused stay, Tétouan offers several historic points of interest, from the alleys of the medina and Dar Sanâa to the archaeological remains at Tamuda.
Medina: Gates, Streets and Alleys
The medina is surrounded by a historic wall about five kilometres long and can be accessed through seven gates. Its main streets connect the gates and lead to squares, public buildings such as funduq inns, mosques and zawiyas, as well as craft and commercial districts. Smaller alleys lead to passageways and semi-private residential areas. Walking through the alleys lets you experience different parts of the city’s layout: public spaces along the main routes and smaller paths into residential areas.
Crafts and Dar Sanâa
Tétouan’s craft districts include zellige, Taajira embroidery, inlaid and painted wood, and wrought-iron work. Zellige tiles are also made in the medina, where artisans produce them. Together, these materials and techniques give traditional crafts several distinct facets to look out for as you explore the city.
Another point of interest is Dar Sanâa, Tétouan’s national school of crafts and arts. The Spanish painter Mariano Bertucci and Abdessalam Bennouna founded it in 1919, during the Spanish Protectorate. The school is opposite Bab El Oqla, one of the old medina’s seven historic gates. Its architecture is in the Andalusian style and reflects an era when Moroccan, Spanish and Jewish artisans worked side by side. Dar Sanâa is considered a living museum; numerous objects illustrate the history and art of traditional crafts.
An annual event also puts local crafts practised by women in the spotlight: the Marché au fil du temps pop-up event showcases them on the sidelines of the Women’s Voices International Music Festival. If you would like to include this event in your travel plans, check the dates for your travel year.
Collections and Archaeological History
The Musée Bab El Oqla closed for restoration and renovation in 2018 and reopened in January 2022. Its collection includes bridal clothing and jewellery, as well as a collection of Arab-Andalusian music representing a heritage of eight centuries. These collection themes offer a different perspective from the work found in the craft districts. For a specific museum visit, please check the current opening hours.
The archaeological site of Tamuda is near Tétouan, five kilometres southwest of the city. Remains from the Mauretanian and Roman periods have been excavated there. The Roman army built a military camp on the ruins of the Mauretanian city; it remained in use until the 5th century AD. In 2005, the Ministry of Culture designated Tamuda as national heritage. The site broadens the focus from the medina and its crafts to the area’s earlier history.
These themes offer different ways to shape your stay: the streets and districts of the medina, traditional crafts and their history, the collections of the Musée Bab El Oqla, or the archaeological finds at Tamuda. You can tailor your stay to the cultural interests that matter most to you on your trip to Tétouan.
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Back to the regional travel overview: Tangier-Tétouan.
