The most attractive part of Algeciras, however, is that there are eight ferry crossings every day to Tangier and Morocco -- Casablanca, anyone? It's also the place to catch a train to Ronda, traversing some of the loveliest and most varied terrain in Andalucia, going through the Pueblos Blancos and the surrounding area.

No doubt due to its deep port and its location, so close to Africa, Algeciras was the first Spanish town taken by the Moors in 711. It was later retaken by Alfonso XI of Castile in 1344, but destroyed by the Moors in 1368 and not rebuilt until 1760, 56 years after it had been refounded by Spanish refugees from Gibraltar. As a result, it doesn't have architecture of the same antiquity as many of the cities in Andalucia.

Nevertheless, Algeciras has class. Kings, queens, and statesmen like Churchill and Roosevelt have stayed at its Hotel Reina Cristina. And though visiting dignitaries today are more likely to fly over than stay in Algeciras, its tourist industry is growing.

What to Do

Algeciras has 23 kilometers of beach, and though some are given over to industrial use, there are still several very nice ones such as the Rinconcillo, San Garcia, and

Like most Andalucian towns, Algeciras has excellent festivals, and holds them frequently. (In Andalucia, more than 3000 fiestas are celebrated each year!) The main festivals in Algeciras are the Arrastre de Latas, or Three Kings, the Fiesta de Los Reyes, Las Adas, La Chorizada, Carnival, and Tosantos (All Saints Day).

The Arrastre de Latas is when the children drag cans and pots through the streets to banish the "Giant of Botafuegos," who tries to cover the sky with gray clouds, obscuring the star from the Three Kings. The cloud is banished so that the children here might receive their gifts.Later, at the Fiesta de Los Reyes, the Three Kings bring Christmas gifts to the children, scattering sweets.

During Carnival, you can celebrate three days of music and fun with Algeciras as the Goddess of the Carnival and her Nymphs declare days of pleasure. And on All Saints Day (November 1), fiestas called Tosantos celebrate the saints with harvest fruits, nuts, and sugarcane.

Where To Stay

Besides the very nice Hotel Reina Cristina, you can stay in a variety of bed-and-breakfasts in Algeciras and neighboring small villages. One excellent choice is Monte de la Torre in Los Barrios, an Edwardian house with a thousand acres of cork oak forest to roam, mature gardens to enjoy, and the picturesque sight of grazing Retinto, a long-horned red cattle.
About the Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/spain.php if you're planning a trip to Spain.