9 Best Sights in Ville Nouvelle, Tangier and the Mediterranean

This large, palm-lined plaza sits at the junction of old and new, linking the medina to the Ville Nouvelle. Tangier's main marketplace in times past is now known as the Place du 9 Avril, the date of King Mohammed V’s famous speech requesting independence. The keyhole-shape Bab el Fahs, the main entrance to the medina, stands at the bottom. As late as the 1940s, when the new city was just beginning, the door was locked at night to seal off outsiders—hence the name, meaning "Inspection Gate."

Consecrated in 1905, this towering Anglican church—famously painted by Matisse in 1912–13 from his room at the Grand Hotel Villa de France—gives a sense of the flourishing interfaith relations that Tangier was once famous for. The Lord's Prayer is engraved in Arabic behind the altar, and quotes from the Koran appear across the Moorish-style walls. The church is built on land donated by Sultan Hassan. A cemetery surrounds St. Andrew's and holds the grave of British journalist Walter Harris (1866–1933; he lived in and wrote about Morocco), as well as British and Commonwealth soldiers who died fighting in North Africa during World War II. The caretaker is almost always on-site, and for a small donation to the church, he will share his knowledge about the church and those buried here.

This popular cinema and cultural center, formerly the Cinéma Rif, is in a renovated, whitewashed Art Deco theater dating from 1938; it offers retrospective screenings and cutting-edge films across two screens. Old Spanish film flyers dazzle from under their glass frames at the café, where there is a full menu of intriguing, ciné-inspired cocktails and some light bites. The colorful, comfy chairs spill out onto the legendary Grand Socco marketplace, perfect for people-watching.

A row of cannons pointed in the direction of Spain lines the so-called Idler's Terrace, known for its sweeping views; some say this is meant to stop Spanish invaders, or perhaps the French, the British, or the Portuguese. The terrace is a popular stop for locals, and on a clear day it's possible to see the outline of Spain on the horizon.

Next to the Grand Socco and flanked by a row of colonial-era buildings, this large, grassy park draws families and young couples, especially on weekends. On a peak of the central hill, surrounded by historic cannons, an engraved stone monument displays the speech King Mohammed V gave to the French asking for Moroccan independence in 1947. 

Located in the stately former British Consulate building built in 1890, this gallery, run by Morocco's ministry of culture, shows mostly traveling exhibitions of contemporary art. A lovely garden surrounds the building.

A 15-minute taxi ride from the center of Tangier and around halfway to Cap Spartel, this sprawling coastal park (also known as Park Rmilat) makes a great break from the city. Its shady pine, mimosa, and eucalyptus groves, ocean views, signposted trails, and picnic spots make it popular with local families, especially on weekends. You can also see the restored house of Ion Perdicarus (the son of an American ambassador to Greece, born in 1840) and imagine his kidnapping by the Rifi bandit El Raissouni, with whom he later became friends.

Famous for its café scene in the first half of the 20th century, Place de France is one of the Ville Nouvelle's main squares, named for the French consulate in one corner of the square. During World War II, legend has it that it was a popular haunt for European secret agents and shady deals; more recently it was the star of a thrilling chase scene in the 2007 film The Bourne Ultimatum.

Morocco’s first urban marina sits at the western end of the golden sweep of city beach, with space for superyachts, restaurants such as La Table du Marché and Chiringuito, and the trendy nightclub 555 Famous Club. It's perfect for a leisurely promenade, and on a clear day, you can see Tarifa in Spain.