Tarifa is the closest European city to the African Continent, which is only 14 Kms. apart from Morocco coastline.
On the photo above, one can see a ship passing through the Gibraltar Straight, and further the outline of mountains in Morocco coastline.
The city name comes from the Arabic Al Tarif Yazirat or Tarif Island. This name was given in the year 710 to the island that lies off its coast, by Tarik, commander of the expeditionary troops, in their first landing on the Iberian Peninsula.
This castle was built in 960 by Abd-ar-Rahman III, Caliph of Cordoba.
Tarifa, dominated by the invading Moor forces, and was reconquered by the Christian forces under the command of Sancho IV in 1292. This marked most awaited and important triumph of the “Reconquista” in the second half of the thirteenth century.
The Santa Catalina Castle below, is an abandoned building dated on 1929. Close to this castle is one of the most beautiful beaches in the surroundings, called Los Lances Beach.
Tarifa is world known as one of the spots with great wind for sports like windsurfing and kitesurfing.