"The
Windy City"
Spain,
Tarifa,
Andalucia,
We
aim to give visitors OUR OPINION of where
to go in
Tarifa - based on "inside
information", be it windsurfing or
kitesurfing, hotels,
- weather and town maps - jobs, shopping,
property,
bars or restaurants, holiday information and
accommodation / apartments, rather than to provide
a
comprehensive listing!
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Some General
information
The seaside is the centre of
attention during sun-filled days, while at night Tarifa's nightlife spots
become
focal points.
Ten kilometres of white sandy beaches, unspoilt countryside together
with some of Europe's
best windsurfing
conditions have established this
area
as a true surfers paradise.
A lot of people who travel to or live
here prefer wind. When most people would be inside, Tarifeños &
tourists are out surfing - taking advantage of the obstacle course
of waves that currents bring. Beaches
are covered day after
day with surfers, windsurfers, kite surfers, each waiting for their
chance at what is an
unpredictable ocean.
Because of
windy conditions, this isn't a first choice of destination for luxury
loving sun-worshipers. It is
uniquely un-built ( there's no
large tourist complexes) - just great campsites, many unpretentious
cafes
and bars which come alive after a hard days surfing.
Just 11 km across the Straits of Gibraltar at its narrowest point, this
southern-most tip of Europe where Med
meets Atlantic Ocean,
enjoys spectacular views of Morocco's Rif mountains of Africa.
Windsurfing enthusiasts from all over Europe head for this location throughout
the year, some end up staying
for months. Because winds
are so strong, it's not an ideal place for beginners but if you don't
bring your own
gear you can rent windsurfing equipment from one
of many surf schools attached to major hotels .
A wild
coastline attracts surfers and nature-lovers alike. Just as famous for
its birdwatching as its surfing,
there are endless
opportunities to explore rolling countryside, horse-riding,
hang-gliding, kite- surfing,
rock-climbing or diving to name
but a few.
One can find some excellent hotels, mainly located
north of town. so if you just want to relax, there's plenty of
choice.
Tarifa Town
This little fishing town was where the moors invaded Southern Spain in AD711.
In 1295 Guzman El Bueno
fought
against invading Moors. According to local legend, the Moors
captured his son and threatened to kill him if Guzman didn't surrender .
He refused, throwing down his
sword with which they killed his
son.
Local fishermen still use " Almadraba" method of fishing
using a circle of boats and nets, a practice which
has not
changed since 13th Century. Their Tuna fishing season generally starts
end of March and lasts
about three months.
Narrow
cobbled streets, tumbling jasmine, beautiful wrought-iron rejas make
Tarifa old town a charming
place to stroll. Original
castellated city walls of this ancient town are tightly woven into the
fabric of
whitewashed houses. However, much of what we see
today was constructed in the 18th Century.
La Puerta de Jeréz,
that invites you into the walls of the medieval precinct. Tarifa's
8th Century Jerez Gate
has been recently restored.
There is a magnificent
church of San Mateo
on main street and nearby in Calle los Azogues buildings
date back to 16th and 17th century.
Guzman el Bueno's arab castle
is open to visitors. It was built in 960 AD on orders of Caliph
Abderraman III. Irregular oblong architecture has Roman influence
giving rise to popular theory that it was
built on remains of a
Roman fort. Look east - you will see two high towers protect the
entrance to
the arab town.
Tarifa's
municipal museum
is also well worth a visit. It is located near Plaza de Santa Maria.
There is an impressive view of Morocco's shores from the
Miramar Gardens
next to the Town Hall
La Alameda:
Typical Andalucian paved gardens where old folk sit on wrought iron
benches in shade of vast
palm trees. Just across the road, at
the entrance of the castle is a magnificent statue of local hero
Guzman el
Bueno,
saviour of Tarifa.
Next to the Alameda is an old fishing port. It
has never been developed makes an interesting stroll. Walk or
drive (take care as wind blown sand is sometimes deep) down the causeway
called
Muelle de Rivera
towards Tarifa's island, Isla de las Palomas. You are now at Spain's
south west tip and only a few feet
separate sea and ocean. A
modern castle here is now a military base.
There are plenty of
little
tapas bars
in the old town just to the east of the Alameda. Outside the Jerez Gate
on
main street " Batalla del Salado" (leading north out of
town) you'll find surf
shops
and plenty of trendy clothes
shops.
Tarifa offers a
tempting opportunity for a quick approach to
Morocco,
with
Tangier
feasible as a day-trip by
boat on the 5 times daily ferry .
Click here for exact times 
Tickets are
available from Tourafrica office (tel 956 684 751) on the quayside, or
from travel agents along
c/Batalla del Salado. The boat
normally leaves at 9.00am, returning from Tangier at 4.00pm or 6.30pm
(Spanish time – which is 2hr ahead of Moroccan); check current times
with Tourafrica or turismo office.
Crossing takes an hour,
leaving you just enough time for a brief look around. An overnight stay
probably
makes more sense, especially as a return ticket costs
around € 49. It's wise to book a few days ahead, as
tour
companies often take over the whole boat. This crossing is a lot more
expensive than going from
Algeciras,
but might be a better bet if the latter is chock-a-block in summer or
when Moroccans are returning
home for the two major Islamic
festivals (which rotate between January, February and March).
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Looking at those hills behind Tarifa are hundreds of wind turbines
generating enough power for a small
town. Tarifa, Spain is one
of Europe's largest
wind farms
.
(extracts courtesy of andalucia.com)
