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The first human traces in Tarifa date back to the Palaeolithic times. In the mountain ranges around Tarifa there are more than 50 caves with prehistoric art made in Palaeolithic ages and later. The Cueva del Moro, (a cave with palaeolithic carving), and the Necropolis de los Algarbes (an ancient cemetery from the Bronze Age) are the most important prehistoric sites near the town of Tarifa.
Tarifa has always been wrapped around in an aura of mystery. Ever since ancient mythology told stories of the Pillars of Hercules, of which Gibraltar is one (being where the world ended), Travelers and sailors alike have always been weary and intrigued by this place.
The origins of Tarifa are shrouded in mythology. The old legends tell us it was a King Tago who founded the city back in 2118 BC. The city's first name was Julia Traducta as mentioned by by a number of Spanish historians like Estrabón (60 BC) and Plinio (23 BC). The royal cosmographer Pedro Medina (1493) dates its origin to 1655 BC, when the burial of Hercules and the battle of the Titans took place.
The Romans had a large presence in Bolonia, a village only 5km away, and might have had a military camp in Tarifa as well. The castle of Guzman El Bueno was built in 960 AD by the Caliph Abderramán 111; on what apparently are thought to be the ruins of a Roman military camp.
The city derivers its name from Tarif Ben Malluk, a Berber who occupied the city in July 710 AD. The Arabs called the place "Island of Tarif", hence the name Tarifa. Under the Muslim domination it was never very populated, although it was port of great activity. The Muslim armies "El-Andalus" (Vandals) used this harbor for disembarking and resting their troops on their way to North Africa, being only 14 kilometers from the African coast.
Tarifa is often credited with being the origin of the word ‘tariff’ since it was the first port in history to charge merchants for the use of its docks, but other sources point to the Arabic word, ‘ta’rďf’, as the origin.
During 500 years of rule by the Moors, the city was captured on a few occassions, by Alphonso IV in 1083, Alphonso VIII and Fernando II in the twelth century. Until 1291 Tarifa lived through many battles between Muslims and Christians.
The most famous episode was when Sancho IV of Castille finally captured Tarifa during the siege of 1291-1292 (his statue is outside the castle entrance), slaying his opponent Abu Ya'qub Yusuf. The Muslim garrison resisted for 6 months, surrendering on October 13th 1292 due to starvation. The city had 9.000 inhabitants in those days.
Many later attempts were made by the Moors to recapture it, but all were unsuccessful. In 1294 it was defended by Alonso Pérez de Guzmán. He is known as Guzman El Bueno (Guzman the Good), with a statue to his name in the Alameda in Tarifa.
On October 20, 1340 after a great siege, by the Sultan Abu-l-Hasan and Yusuf I of Granada, on Tarifa, the famous battle of the "Salado" took place. The Muslims were dealt the final crushing blow by Juan Alonso of Benavides and defeated, after years of conflict.
The territory was subsequently ceded to the Crown of Great Britain in perpetuity by Spain under article X of the Treaties of Utrecht. Despite some military attempts by the Spanish to retake it in the eighteenth century, most notably in the Great Siege of 1779-1783, the Rock has remained under British control ever since.
After the United Kingdom gained control of Gibraltar under The Treaties of Utrecht in 1717, Tarifa was garrisoned and fortified by the British. The city walls themselves were constructed between the 10th and the 12th century. The most important reconstruction took place in the 18th century,
The last siege of the town and this castle occurred in 1812 when Napoleon’s troops failed to overcome Tarifa’s tenacious resistance. The small coastal town had been occupied by a small British garrison early in 1811. But in December 1811, 4000 Anglo/Spanish troops crowded into Tarifa, which only had a population of about three thousand in those days, defending the town against the 12,500 French troops under Marshal Victor. The weather was on the side of the Anglo/Spanish troops and stopped the charges by the French troops, having to give up for lack of moral and food. The breach in the city walls was repaired and on it was placed an inscription, which still hangs there today.
Tarifa Spain was predominantly a fishing village with its colourful fleet occupying the harbour, until some 25 years ago when the first of the windsurfers discovered Tarifa and introduced tourism which is now Tarifa’s main source of income. The harbour became an international ‘Schengen’ harbour some 4 years ago, and more and more ferries are making the 35 minute crossing from here to Tangier.
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