Reaching out into the closest point to Africa, the southernmost point in Europe and the sea, Tarifa is one of the coastal towns with the greatest tourist attractions, having become a bona fide Mecca for windsurfers. Besides its numerous ancient remains (such as the naturalistic paintings in the Moro Cave, and the necropolis at Los Algarbes), there are not only Phoenician remains on the Isle of Las Palomas but also continues from the Roman period, with the archaeologically significant town of Baelo Claudia, considered the most significant locate in the state. Called Al-Yazirat Tarif (Tarif Island) by the Muslims, this was an important strategic point as frontier zone, stronghold against pirate forays and military site opposite the English inhabited Gibraltar It’s possible to see two different sections of the town walls from the relationship from the 10th-16th centuries: the first section is from the Islamic period and surrounded a smaller area whilst the second surrounds virtually the entire historic center. This is where the Iglesia Mayor of San Mateo, that of Santa María Church and San Francisco are to be located. Its idyllic, considerable beaches beaten by the winds from the east make Tarifa a cult center for lovers of water sports, including windsurfing, kite surfing, fly-surfing, Blokart sailing or diving, to name but a few. Beyond Playa Chica, Valdevaqueros and Los Lances, we come upon Bolonia Beach,
a wild, enormous dune with areas reserved for nudists. El Cañuelo is a seashore with breathtaking plant life, natural surroundings, and crystal-clear water, which can be reached from the Camarinal Lighthouse. Los Alemanes shore stretches to Gracia Cape from the La Plata Cape. Finally, Atlanterra is the continuation of Zahara de los Atunes.
The Roman town called Baelo Claudia, probably founded in the third century B.C:, experienced great economic and urban development between the second century B.C. and the second century A.D. The economic base for this was fishingand -net fishing, a system for fishing tuna introduced by the Phoenicians. These fish were used to prepare salt fish products and the famed garum sauce. The town boasted great public buildings such as the temples, the thermal baths, the forum or the theatre, amongst others. Now, one can visit, right beside the shore, this impressive archaeological site which has kept its layout and monuments, in addition to a sizeable part of its architecture, in very good condition.
Another site to see in Tarifa is Guzman´s El Buenos Castle. Dating from the 10th-15th centuries, this is among the local jewels. It was constructed at the orders of the Cordoba’s Caliph Cordoba Abderramán III, and is well conserved, in particular its great octagonal tower, the Jerez Gate and the Watchtowers from the 16th.
