Our tour continues to the medina of Tetouan.
This photograph of the Junta de Andalucia shows the home of the prestigious Torres family in the Medina of Tetouan, Morocco. Among the most impressive private houses of the medina, it was built during the late 19th and early 20th century and is an example of Andalusian architecture of Tetouan in its heyday.
Its features include a courtyard, a wall fountain supplied with water from a natural underground spring, typical Tetouani tiles (known as zellij), carved wooden doors, and beautifully furnished lounges.
Located on the Mediterranean Sea east of Tangier, Tetouan was for centuries an important point of contact between Morocco and the Arab culture of Andalusia on the Iberian Peninsula. After the Reconquista - the resumption of Andalusia by the Christians of Spain - Tetouan was rebuilt by Andalusian refugees who were expelled by the Spanish.
In 1997, the medina of Tetouan was inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites as historic exceptionally well preserved.
Like urban architecture and interior design, the Andalusian touch is present in the various arts and crafts of Tetouan’s artisans.