Tarifa, Coastal municipality at the southern tip of Spain.
Tarifa is a municipality at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, where the Mediterranean and Atlantic meet. The shoreline runs for roughly 38 kilometers (24 miles) and is lined with several long sandy beaches where strong winds create choppy waters.
The settlement emerged after the Muslim conquest in the eighth century through Tarif ibn Malik, a Berber commander. The location at the strait brought various rulers over the centuries, until the region came under Castilian control in the late 15th century.
The town takes its name from a Moorish commander and still shows traces of North African heritage in winding alleys and flat-roofed white houses. Fishermen work at the harbor using techniques passed down for centuries, while surfers and kitesurfers harness the steady year-round winds.
Ferries link the harbor with Tangier in Morocco and run several times daily with space for cars and foot passengers. The crossing takes about an hour and requires valid travel documents for entry into Africa.
Remains of a Roman town called Baelo Claudia lie a few kilometers east and show intact columns, temples, and fish processing plants from the second century before Christ. Archaeologists have also uncovered a well-preserved forum and basilica there, offering insight into Roman daily life along this remote coast.
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