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