subject: Algeciras - Gateway from Europe to Africa [print this page] Algeciras - Gateway from Europe to Africa
Algeciras forms an important industrial area of the Costa del Sol as well as being a major port located close to Gibraltar. Back in the days when Franco ruled Spain and he decided to close the border with the British enclave, Algeciras took the opportunity to break Spain's dependence on the shipping routes and the number of people who relied on Gibraltar's employment by developing its own port.
Algeciras is the main route to and from Morocco and is heavily used by migrant workers during the summer months while they travel back to Morocco for their holidays. You will notice at the start of the hot days of summer many French plated cars piled high with cases and other goods heading in the direction of Algeciras. Being an important hub for Morocco it is no wonder that there is a very large Moroccan presence and influence in Algeciras with some of the signs in Arabic as well as Spanish. Of course this also offers tourists and visitors to Algeciras the opportunity to experience Moroccan culture without actually having to visit Morocco.
If you head for the old town and some of the backstreets you will come across traditional tea shops which serve the famous mint teas as well as finding some cafes serving traditional Moroccan cuisine.
Algeciras is a city and this means there are many residential areas as well as industrial sections. It is not the prettiest of Spanish cities but it does have a charm of its own and there are some lovely park areas where you can escape the busier city life.
The main Ferry route between Algeciras and Morocco is to Tangier which only takes about two and a half hours on the traditional ferry or just over an hour on the high speed ferry.
If you want to visit an unusual and still heavily Arabic part of Spain then Algeciras is the ideal location.
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