An ugly industrial town, a fishing port, a drug smuggling centre, an unattractive and polluted city. That is what most tourist books say about Algeciras. If you have a closer look at it, it’s not that bad. It is true that it’s not the most beautiful city in Andalucia, but it has some interesting sights.

Algeciras is situated in the province of Cádiz, in the centre of the Campo de Gibraltar, on the western site of the Bahía de Algeciras opposite Gibraltar. Because of its strategic location, it was an important port during the Roman era. In these days Algeciras was called Portus Albus. In the 14th century it was completely destroyed by Mohammed V, King of Granada. Only after 1704, when lots of people fled from Gibraltar after the British conquest, it was repopulated again. Nowadays Algeciras (or Al-Yazirat Al-Hadra, as it´s known to the Arabs) is the biggest city in the area, and has about 190.000 inhabitants.

Although a lot was destroyed during the 14th century, there are still some marks left of the Roman era. In the Rinconcillo district near the beach you can find the Roman ovens which produced the packaging used by the Carteia in San Roque. There is more left of the Arab era. Close to the city centre you can find the Parque Arqueológico de las Murallas Meriníes (the archaeological park of the Medieval City Walls). This used to be part of the stronghold built at the end of the 13th century. At the moment they are restoring this place, but from the outside you can have a look at it. In the old town and in the Paseo de la Conferencia are also some ruins of Arab walls. In the gardens of the Reina Cristina Hotel, somewhat south of the city centre, you can find the ruins of what once was the main mosque of Algeciras, built in the 13th century.

A few churches are interesting to visit, first of all the Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Palma, built in 1736 by the people who fled from Gibraltar. It was plundered in 1931 but restored in 1934. Opposite you find the Capilla Nuestra Señora Virgen de Europa, built in the last quarter of the 17th century. The San Isidro Church (end of 18th century) is also worth a visit, it houses one of the most worshipped statues by the people of Algeciras: the Nuestro Padre Jesús de Medinaceli.

As Algeciras is the biggest city in the area, this is also the place for shopping. All the big chains of shops you’ll find here, including the Corte Inglés and Hipercor. There is a daily market, on the Plaza Palma close to the port. Here they mainly sell meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, both indoor and outdoor.

If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of city life, then just north of the centre there is the Parque María Cristina. A nice park, with lots of trees and benches to relax. There is also another park, close to the Museo Municipal; the Parque de las Acacias. And if that is not quiet enough, then the beach is nearby. The main beaches are Playa Getares, only a few kilometers south of Algeciras and Playa del Rinconcillo, a bit to the north.