| Stretching nearly to Gibraltar, Algeciras has | | | | there are still several very nice ones such |
| long been an important port in Spain. It's a | | | | as the Rinconcillo, San Garcia, and Getares. |
| popular crossroads for Moroccan workers on | | | | The Church of Nuestra Senora de la Palma and |
| the way to and from France, Holland, and | | | | the Capilla de Nuestra Senora de Europa are |
| Belgium. Partly for this reason, there's a | | | | nice to visit, thought they aren't as |
| strong Arab flavor to the city; many signs | | | | venerable or remarkable as many similar |
| are in Arabic, and you'll find excellent tea | | | | structures in other Andalucian towns. You can |
| shops specializing in Moroccan mint teas. | | | | also hike through Los Alcornocales, an |
| It's not a pretty city, but it's an almost | | | | extensive and beautiful nature reserve |
| fiercely individual one with a unique and | | | | nearby. |
| vibrant personality. The restaurants here | | | | |
| tend to be both excellent and inexpensive, | | | | Like most Andalucian towns, Algeciras has |
| and many have perfect views of the Rock of | | | | excellent festivals, and holds them |
| Gibraltar. And if you stroll the streets, | | | | frequently. (In Andalucia, more than 3000 |
| you'll find a number of quiet parks and | | | | fiestas are celebrated each year!) The main |
| plazas out of sight of the bustling city. | | | | festivals in Algeciras are the Arrastre de |
| | | | Latas, or Three Kings, the Fiesta de Los |
| The most attractive part of Algeciras, | | | | Reyes, Las Adas, La Chorizada, Carnival, and |
| however, is that there are eight ferry | | | | Tosantos (All Saints Day). |
| crossings every day to Tangier and Morocco -- | | | | |
| Casablanca, anyone? It's also the place to | | | | The Arrastre de Latas is when the children |
| catch a train to Ronda, traversing some of | | | | drag cans and pots through the streets to |
| the loveliest and most varied terrain in | | | | banish the "Giant of Botafuegos," who tries |
| Andalucia, going through the Pueblos Blancos | | | | to cover the sky with gray clouds, obscuring |
| and the surrounding area. | | | | the star from the Three Kings. The cloud is |
| | | | banished so that the children here might |
| No doubt due to its deep port and its | | | | receive their gifts.Later, at the Fiesta de |
| location, so close to Africa, Algeciras was | | | | Los Reyes, the Three Kings bring Christmas |
| the first Spanish town taken by the Moors in | | | | gifts to the children, scattering sweets. |
| 711. It was later retaken by Alfonso XI of | | | | |
| Castile in 1344, but destroyed by the Moors | | | | During Carnival, you can celebrate three days |
| in 1368 and not rebuilt until 1760, 56 years | | | | of music and fun with Algeciras as the |
| after it had been refounded by Spanish | | | | Goddess of the Carnival and her Nymphs |
| refugees from Gibraltar. As a result, it | | | | declare days of pleasure. And on All Saints |
| doesn't have architecture of the same | | | | Day (November 1), fiestas called Tosantos |
| antiquity as many of the cities in Andalucia. | | | | celebrate the saints with harvest fruits, |
| | | | nuts, and sugarcane. |
| Nevertheless, Algeciras has class. Kings, | | | | |
| queens, and statesmen like Churchill and | | | | Where To Stay |
| Roosevelt have stayed at its Hotel Reina | | | | |
| Cristina. And though visiting dignitaries | | | | Besides the very nice Hotel Reina Cristina, |
| today are more likely to fly over than stay | | | | you can stay in a variety of |
| in Algeciras, its tourist industry is | | | | bed-and-breakfasts in Algeciras and |
| growing. | | | | neighboring small villages. One excellent |
| | | | choice is Monte de la Torre in Los Barrios, |
| What to Do | | | | an Edwardian house with a thousand acres of |
| | | | cork oak forest to roam, mature gardens to |
| Algeciras has 23 kilometers of beach, and | | | | enjoy, and the picturesque sight of grazing |
| though some are given over to industrial use, | | | | Retinto, a long-horned red cattle. |