Algeciras is a port city in the south of Spain, on the Strait of Gibraltar. The name Algeciras is derived from the Arabic al-jazeera ("the island", from which Algiers and Al Jazeera are also derived). The original arabic name of Algeciras was 'Al-Jazeera Al-Khudra' (the Green Island). The modern harbour of Algeciras is the 49th busiest in the world (as of 2003), with much traffic to and from Africa. Because many people who pass through stay the night at Algeciras, there are many hotels and hostals. Around the beginning of August, cars with families of Moroccan immigrants living in Europe mass in the haven waiting to embark the ferry to spend their holidays in Morocco. The proudest hotel in the city is the Hotel Reina Cristina. Kings and Queens have stayed there. So have statesmen such as Churchill and Roosevelt and film stars like Rock Hudson and Deborah Kerr.
Transportation in Algeciras
By Car: The N340m is the coast road that leads to Algeciras from Cadiz in the north and from Malaga to the east.
By Train: There are direct rail connections with the main Spanish cities and the entire Costa del Sol.
By Ferry: There is a regular ferry service to Tangiers (Morocco) and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Murallas Merinies can be accessed via Avenida Blas Infante: you can still see the remains of the Medieval walls with its four flanking towers, moat, barbican, bridge and entry gate dating back to the 13th century. Baños Merinies, Parque María Cristina is the restored remains of the 13th century royal baths of ‘al-binya’. Museo Municipal, Ortega y Gasset is situated in a fine 19th century building the ‘Casa de los Guardeses’ it was refurbished in 1995 and has two floors divided into seven galleries. In Galleries 1-4 there are exhibits from prehistoric to the early middle ages and in 5-7 there are more modern and contemporary items. Plaza Alta, this area was first laid out and named the Plaza Alta in 1724 by the Marques de Verboon when he repopulated the town. It was developed into a formal square in 1807 by General Castaños. Today it is still the nerve centre of the town and the current main square was re-laid out in 1930. It is a fine example of the effect that the Ibero-Americana Exhibition in Sevilla in 1929 had on civic design. Barrio de San Isidro is the old quarter of Algeciras dating back to the 18th century. Make sure to visit the plaza and church of the same name. The church in Ruiz Tagle houses the image of San Isidro – the patron saint of agricultural workers.
