Andalusia is not only a region of beautiful beaches and excellent sports centres, where the season lasts almost all year round. It is also an area overflowing with wonderful cities and towns that can charm visitors in the blink of an eye. One such place is Tarifa.
Tarifa is the southernmost city in Europe, located in the province of Cadiz. Spending time in the local viewpoints, it is possible, with good weather conditions, to see North Africa, located less than 20 km from Tarifa. At night, the lights of the African city of Tangier can be seen.
Ancient settlement
The excavations that have been relentlessly carried out for many years in and around the city of Tarifa prove that the area has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic era. Like the whole of the northern part of the Strait of Gibraltar, Tarifa is rich in cave art sites that testify to the presence of cultures from this period. In and around the city you will find traces of cultures characteristic of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians or Romans, for example the Baelo Claudia, which you can read more about here.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the area of Tarifa was ruled by the Visigoths and then the Moors. It was during the reign of the latter that the Castillo de Los Guzmanes castle, which can still be admired today, was built in the town. The end of Moorish rule over Tarifa, as over the rest of Andalusia, came in the 13th century, when the Christian Reconquista was successfully carried out. Due to its strategic location – on the Strait of Gibraltar – the region was an area over which other powers, including Britain and France, tried to gain control over the following centuries.
Places worth seeing
When visiting Tarifa, apart from the Arab castle, it is worth seeing the most important of the historic churches – the Gothic Iglesia de San Mateo (16th century). Also noteworthy are the perfectly preserved defensive walls, of which the 13th-century Puerta de Jerez gate is a feature. In the past, it acted as the entrance to the city, and today it is a kind of border between its old and new parts. Passing through it, we get to the city’s old town, full of atmospheric and narrow streets, characteristic of the Arab architectural layout that has stood the test of time.
A treat for nature fans
If you go to Tarifa and are hoping to spend some time in nature, its surroundings have another amazing attraction for you. This is the Parque Natural de Los Alcornocales reserve, which is one of the largest natural parks in Spain, covering over 167,000 hectares. A distinctive feature of this large Mediterranean reserve is the perfectly preserved cork oak forest, where you will find impressive trees of this species, very rarely found in other areas with similar characteristics. An additional treat for lovers of active leisure is the considerable number of caves containing prehistoric cave drawings, confirming the population of this area as far back as Paleolithic times.
Follies on the waves
Tarifa is famous for yet another attraction, namely its excellent surfing conditions. In fact, the city is widely considered to be the Spanish capital of this sport, and is appreciated by both wind- and kite-surfers. The Tarifa area owes its excellent conditions for water sports to the Strait of Gibraltar, where the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea merge and, consequently, the atmospheric conditions characteristic of both bodies of water clash.
In Tarifa, you’ll find plenty of shops selling surfing equipment, as well as numerous schools that will allow you to master conquering the waves at different levels, from beginner to advanced courses. This is an excellent alternative to golf, which can be played almost all season long on the Costa del Sol.
Culinary feast
And when you get tired of taming the waves and the wind on the waters of the Mediterranean or the Atlantic Ocean, then you should definitely recuperate in one of the many restaurants located in Tarifa. Here are some suggestions of places you must visit in Europe’s southernmost city:
- El Chiringuito – a great place to enjoy seafood dishes while enjoying one of the most magnificent sea views in Tarifa.
- Silos 19 – the restaurant offers fusion cuisine combining traditional Andalusian ingredients with international recipes. If you decide to visit it, it is worth remembering that the restaurant does not take table reservations.
- Osteria del Sole – a restaurant located right on the beach of Lances Norte, from where you can admire the African coast. The restaurant offers excellent Mediterranean cuisine and an extensive selection of Umbrian wines.
- Arte Vida Tarifa – the restaurants belonging to the Arte Vida Hotel, with a wide cross-section of seafood dishes and excellent cocktails to effectively quench your thirst on a warm Spanish day.
- El Francés bar – unlike the previous establishments, El Frances is not located by the beach, but is well worth a visit for its excellent Spanish tapas and traditional Mediterranean cuisine.
