Famous Cities in Morocco Series (Episode 7 of 13): Tangier

posted on: Aug 25, 2021

By: Claire Boyle / Arab America Contributing Writer

Introduction:

The country of Morocco has so many interesting towns and cities as well as beautiful landmarks. From the astonishing city of Casablanca to Marrakech, Fes, and Rabat, Morocco has everything one might hope to experience. These places boast historical monuments, such as the Hassan II Mosque, the Jemaa el-Fnaa, and many others. In this article series, we will be featuring cities and landmarks in Morocco that are historically and culturally significant. In this seventh installment, we will be traveling to Tangier, and then we will learn about the important religious architecture and diplomatic institutions in the city. These are the St. Andrew’s Anglican Church and the Tangier American Legation Museum in Tangier. Finally, we will learn about the history of the cities themselves as well as some of their famous and associated landmarks.

Historical Synopsis and Background of Tangier:

The city of Tangier, Morocco has a storied past. This is because Tangier dates to at least the tenth century BCE, but it perhaps could be even older. Tangier is a unique mix of Moroccan, Arab, Berber, European, and international cultures all wrapped into one. In the past, Tangier was a “strategic location for the Berbers and it later became a Phoenician trading town even into the 1950s as Morocco was gaining its independence.” Tangier has gone through numerous ruler and dynasty changes over the thousands of years that it has been in existence. This is because the city has its ancient roots by way of the “Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Roman Empire, the Byzantines, then the Portuguese, Spanish, French, and finally as its own independent state.” The city also became a haven for diplomats, spies, tourists, the arts and culture, and specifically, literature as Tangier has frequently been associated with hippieism and the Beat Generation. Finally, Tangier is located near the Strait of Gibraltar, and it is also a thirty-minute boat ride from Spain which makes it a popular spot for weekenders, and the city is surrounded by the bluest waters you could ever hope to see in your life! Everything is beautiful here just like it is in the rest of Morocco!

Historical Landmarks—the St. Andrew’s Anglican Church and the Tangier American Legation Museum:

St. Andrew’s Anglican Church:

St. Andrew’s Anglican Church has roots that date to the late nineteenth century. “In 1880, King Hassan I of Morocco, donated land to a British community to build an Anglican church.” The church has been reconstructed multiple times because the first building was too small for the growing number of congregants. In 1905, the church was consecrated. St. Andrew’s also boasts a Moorish architectural style.

The belltower looks very much like a minaret that you typically see in a mosque. Furthermore, Moorish architecture is usually a mix of cultures; notably, the “Berbers, Romans, Byzantines, Visigoths, modern Middle East designs with a courtyard that looks like a riad, and the amazing Arab geometric patterns that you see in mosaics, tiles, and archways.” We know that the city of Tangier, itself, has for many centuries been under these various kingdoms, so it is no surprise that a church in an English and Western denomination takes its influence from the Eastern culture. Finally, an interesting fact is that the famous French artist, Henri Matisse, painted a picture called Landscape Viewed from a Window which depicts the church!

Tangier American Legation Museum:

The Tangier American Legation Museum is dedicated to telling the storied diplomatic relationship between Morocco and the United States. In November 1776, the small Dutch island of St. Eustatius became the history-making center of diplomacy. Historian Barbara Tuchman in her book, The First Salute, details how an American ship entering the foreign port was “ritually-greeted with a return salute of a cannon.” This port was controlled by the Moroccan government, and it has now been proven that Morocco was the first country to officially recognize the United States of America as its own independent state. This is why Morocco and the US have such strong diplomatic bonds even to this day and was further girded by the signing of the “Moroccan—American Treaty of Friendship in 1786,” which is still active today.

To add even more intrigue to the Moroccan-American diplomatic relationship, it is known that George Washington, the first president of the United States of America (USA), penned a letter to the “Emperor of Morocco, Mohammed Ibn Abdullah in December 1789.” Washington called the emperor, his “Great and Magnanimous Friend,” and this letter was meant to thank Ibn Abdullah for assisting the Americans in their fight for independence against the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War. The Emperor helped the Americans “by including them on a list of countries who would be welcome in Moroccan ports even though they were at the time not recognized internationally.” This all changed when Morocco became the first country to officially recognize the United States as an independent country and nation. It is sad to note that the “Emperor never received the letter because he, unfortunately, died two months before it arrived in the country,” however, this letter and relationship continues to stand the test of time of the undying alliance between the USA and Morocco which is quite interesting. The letter can be found on the Mount Vernon website which holds just about everything relating to the archives and personal effects of George Washington here!

The Tangier American Legation can also boast that it is the first public property owned by the US government that is not on American soil. Additionally, the museum now includes a “research, library, and cultural center, and an institute for Arabic language studies.” Finally, the location includes numerous pieces of art and literature by the esteemed painter, Marguerite McBey who lived in Morocco, and the highly-respected writer, Paul Bowles, who became an American expatriate to live in Tangier as well.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, thank you for joining me on this seventh episode of the series “Famous Cities in Morocco.” This time we journeyed to the wondrous city of Tangier which in my opinion is one of the most stunning places on earth due to its architectural style that is influenced by international elements including Arab, French, Moroccan, and others! Stay tuned for the next installment featuring the amazing city of Agadir! I hope you got to learn a little bit more about the majestic landscapes and landmarks that Morocco has to offer. If you are ever in Tangier, I highly recommend you visit the city itself, the exquisite St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, and finally, take a walk around the intriguing Tangier American Legation Museum, you will not be disappointed!

This is the seventh installment in a series of thirteen focusing on cities in Morocco with an emphasis on its history and famous landmarks. Each article will feature a historical synopsis about the city and 2 to 3 significant landmarks. Keep an eye out for the next article about Agadir, Morocco coming soon. Thank you for reading!

To read episode 6 which features the city of Rabat, the As-Sunna Mosque, and St. Peter’s Cathedral, please click here!

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