Algeciras

2025-10-19T23:22:19Z

2600:6C52:7E3F:80A5:FD43:BEEC:EB78:AE25:

{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Algeciras
| settlement_type = [[Municipalities in Spain|Municipality]]
| official_name = 
| native_name = 
| image_skyline = Vista Aérea del Puerto de Algeciras.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| image_flag = Flag of Algeciras.svg
| image_shield = Escudo de Algeciras (Cádiz).svg
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_map = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|frame-width=285|frame-height=180|frame-align=center|frame-coordinates={{Coord|39.5|N|3.7|W}}|zoom=4|type=point|title=Algeciras|marker=city|type2=shape|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080|text=Interactive map of Algeciras.}}
|map_caption = Location of Algeciras
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Spain
| subdivision_type1 = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Autonomous community]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Andalusia]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Cádiz (province)|Cádiz]]
| seat_type = 
| seat =
| coordinates = {{coord|36|7|39|N|5|27|14|W|type:city_region:ES|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 20
| elevation_min_m =
| elevation_max_m =
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 87.96
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 
| population_as_of = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_footnotes = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
| population_total = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
| population_demonyms = ''Algecireño'' (male)<br /> ''Algecireña'' (female)
| population_note =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_metro = 263739
| blank_name_sec1 = [[Languages of Spain|Official language(s)]]
| blank_info_sec1 =
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = [[List of postal codes in Spain|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 11200-11209
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Spain|Dialing code]]
| area_code = (+34) 956/856
| leader_title = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name = [[José Ignacio Landaluce Calleja]] (2011)
| leader_party = [[Popular Party (Spain)|PP]]
| website = {{official website|http://www.algeciras.es/}}
| module =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Algeciras''' ({{IPA|es|alxeˈθiɾas|lang|Pronunciation of Algeciras in Spanish.ogg}}) is a city and a [[municipalities in Spain|municipality]] of Spain belonging to the [[province of Cádiz]], [[Andalusia]]. With a registered population as of 2020 of 123,078, it’s the largest municipality of the [[Campo de Gibraltar]] and the second largest in the province. The city is located in the western shore of the [[Bay of Gibraltar]] ({{lang|es|Bahía de Algeciras}}) opposite the [[Rock of Gibraltar]], around the mouth of the [[Río de la Miel]], now mostly [[culvert]]ed in its lower course near the southernmost end of the [[Iberian Peninsula]] and [[continental Europe]] and the [[Strait of Gibraltar]].

The area was inhabited in Antiquity, including archaeological strata generally identified with the Roman city of [[Iulia Traducta]]. Founded soon after the [[Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula]] on the mouth of the Río de la Miel, {{ill|al-Jazira al-Khadrā|es|Al-Yazira al-Jadra}} became the head of [[Taifa of Algeciras|a rump taifa kingdom]] after Umayyad state collapse in the 11th century. In 1275, the [[Emirate of Granada]] ceded the place to the [[Marinid]]s, who founded the new walled precinct of al-Bunayya after 1282 on the opposite bank of the Río de la Miel. The twin medinas [[Siege of Algeciras (1342–1344)|were conquered in 1344]] by the [[Crown of Castile]]. Medieval urban continuity came to an abrupt end when the town was torn down by the [[Nasrid dynasty|Nasrids]] circa 1369–1385. The ruins were repopulated and the town eventually refounded upon the arrival of refugees from the [[Capture of Gibraltar|1704 Anglo-Dutch capture of Gibraltar]].

The [[Port of Algeciras]] is [[List of busiest ports in Europe|one of the largest ports in Europe]] and the world in three categories: [[List of world's busiest container ports|container]], [[List of world's busiest ports by cargo tonnage|cargo]] and [[transshipment]]. The surrounding metropolitan area also includes the municipalities of [[Los Barrios]], [[La Línea de la Concepción]], [[Castellar de la Frontera]], [[Jimena de la Frontera]], [[San Roque, Cádiz|San Roque]] and [[Tarifa]] with a population of 263,739.<ref>[http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/viviendayordenaciondelterritorio/www/servlet/descargacopt?up=14660 Plan de Ordenación del Territorio del Área del Campo de Gibraltar] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615153009/http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/viviendayordenaciondelterritorio/www/servlet/descargacopt?up=14660 |date=2011-06-15 }}, [[Junta de Andalucía]] (Spanish)</ref>

==Name==
The Arabic name for the settlement founded by Muslims after the [[Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula|conquest of the Iberian Peninsula]] was {{lang|ar-Latn|al-Jazīrah al-Khaḍrāʾ}} ({{Lang|ar|الجزيرة الخضراء}}, "The Green Island"), in reference to [[Fuerte de Isla Verde|Isla Verde]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Algeciras {{!}} Spain|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Algeciras|access-date=2021-05-25|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> {{lang|ar-Latn|Al-Jazīra(t)}} gave the modern Spanish {{lang|es|Algeciras}}.<ref>José Soto Chica y Ana María Berenjeno (2014). «La última posesión bizantina en la península ibérica: Mesopotamenoi-Mesopotaminoi. Nuevas aportaciones para su identificación.». ''II Jornadas de Estudios Bizantinos: De Roma a Bizancio: el territorio en el sureste peninsular''.</ref>{{Refn|group=n.|Thus, it shares its etymology with [[Alzira, Valencia|Alzira]] in the [[Valencian Community]], [[Lezíria do Tejo|Lezíria]] in Portugal, [[Cizre]] in Turkey, [[Gżira]] in Malta, the [[Nile]] island of [[Gezira (Cairo)|Gezira]] in Egypt, the state of [[Gezira (state)|Gezira]] in Sudan, as well as the country of [[Algeria]] and its capital, [[Algiers]], as well as with the news network [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]].}} Algeciras' site was also that of Roman cities called {{lang|la|Portus Albus}} ("White Harbor"), {{lang|la|Caetaria}} (current Getares) and {{lang|la|Iulia Traducta}}. In the later [[Spania|"Byzantine" period]], the site would come to be known in Greek as {{lang|grc-Latn|Mesopotámenoi}} ({{lang|grc|Μεσοποτάμενοι}}), meaning "between rivers/canals".

==History==
{{Main|History of Algeciras}}
The area of the city has been populated since prehistory, and the earliest remains belong to [[Neanderthal]] populations from the [[Paleolithic]] era.
[[File:Yacimientos romanos de Algeciras.png|thumb|230px|Map of the Roman (purple) and Punic (orange) sites in the municipality of Algeciras.]]
Due to its strategic position it was an important port under the [[Phoenicia]]ns, and was the site of the relevant Roman port of ''Portus Albus'' ("White Port"), with two nearby cities called ''Caetaria'' (possibly founded by the [[Iberians]]) and ''[[Iulia Traducta]]'', founded by the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]].<ref name="O'Shea1865">{{cite book|last=O'Shea|first=Henry George|title=A Guide to Spain|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qjIBAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA91|access-date=23 August 2012|year=1865|publisher=Longmans, Green|page=91}}</ref>
[[File:Iulia traducta.jpg|thumb|left|Roman coin referencing {{smallcaps|ivlia tradvcta}}]]
Recently it has been proposed that the site of ''[[Iulia Traducta]]'' was the ''Villa Vieja'' of Algeciras.<ref>{{cite journal| language = es| last = Gozalbes Cravioto| first = Enrique| title = La supuesta ubicación de Iulia Traducta en Tarifa| year = 2001a| journal = Aljaranda| issue = 21| url = http://www.tarifaweb.com/aljaranda/num21/art3.htm| access-date = 2013-03-20| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090610172800/http://www.tarifaweb.com/aljaranda/num21/art3.htm| archive-date = 2009-06-10| url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|language=fr
|last1=Mrabet|first1=Abellatif|last2=Rodriguez|first2=José Remesal|title=In Africa et in Hispania: études sur l'huile africaine
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v4AH83noXP4C&pg=PA191|access-date=2013-03-19
|year=2007|publisher=Edicions Universitat Barcelona|isbn=978-84-475-3257-5|page=191}}</ref>

{{ill|Al-Jazira al-Khadrā|es|Al-Yazira al-Jadra}} was founded few years after the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.

In the year 859 AD Viking troops on board 62 [[drekar]]s and commanded by the leaders [[Hastein]] and [[Björn Ironside]] besieged the city for three days and subsequently laid waste to much of it. After looting the houses of the rich, they burnt the Aljama mosque and the Banderas mosque. Reorganized near the medina, the inhabitants managed to recover the city and make the invaders run away, capturing two boats.

In 914, during a period of civil war (''fitna'') prior to the proclamation of the [[Caliphate of Córdoba]], Cordobese emir [[Abd al-Rahman III]] conquered Algeciras, which had provided rebel elements with key logistic support.<ref>{{Cite book|publisher=[[Casa de Velázquez]]|year=2022|location=Madrid|isbn=978-84-9096-365-4|doi=10.4000/books.cvz.31511|chapter= La red de fortificaciones en la zona del Estrecho|first=Antonio|last=Torremocha Silva|title=Le détroit de Gibraltar (Antiquité - Moyen Âge). II Espaces et figures de pouvoir|chapter-url=https://books.openedition.org/cvz/31921}}</ref> Shipbuilding docks for the Umayyad navy were then built in Algeciras, presumably in the form of a fortified port.{{Sfn|Torremocha Silva|2022}}

It enjoyed a brief period of independence as a [[taifa]] state from 1035 to 1058. It was named ''al-Jazirah al-Khadra''' ("Green Island") after the offshore [[Isla Verde, Algeciras|Isla Verde]]; the modern name is derived from this original [[Arabic language|Arabic]] name (compare also [[Algiers]] and [[Al Jazeera Arabic|Al Jazeera]]). In 1055 Emir Al-Mutadid of Seville drove the Berbers from Algeciras, claiming it for Arabs.

Vowing to counter the Castilian expansion initiated by 1265, [[Emirate of Granada|Nasrid Granada]] required assistance from Fez in late 1274 and ceded the place of Algeciras (together with Tarifa) to the [[Marinid]]s.{{Sfn|García Fernández|1987|p=61}}
{{See also|Battle of the Strait}}
In 1278, Algeciras was [[Siege of Algeciras (1278)|besieged by the forces of the Kingdom of Castile]] under the command of [[Alfonso X of Castile]] and his son, [[Sancho IV of Castile|Sancho]].<ref name="Rogers2010">{{cite book|last=Rogers|first=Clifford|title=The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mzwpq6bLHhMC&pg=PA33|access-date=23 August 2012|date=21 June 2010|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-533403-6|page=33 and 209}}</ref> This siege was the first of a series of attempts to take the city and ended in failure for the Castilian forces. An armada sent by Castile was also annihilated whilst trying to [[Battle of Algeciras (1278)|blockade the city's harbor]]. Marinid ruler [[Abu Yusuf Yaqub ibn Abd al-Haqq|Abu Yusuf]] built a new walled precinct on the opposing bank of the Río de la Miel circa 1282, al-Bunayya, originally as a military camp site in the context of the [[Battle of the Strait]].<ref>{{Cite journal|title=
Cartografía Histórica de al-Bunayya: imágenes de la ciudad meriní de Algeciras|first=José María|last=Tomassetti Guerra|first2=Rafael|last2=Jiménez-Camino Álvarez|journal=Aljaranda|issn=1130-7986|issue=84|year=2012|pages=28–30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Jiménez-Camino Álvarez|first=Rafael|last2=González Gallero|first2=Raúl|last3=Blanco Medrano|first3=Estrella|last4=Ramos Martín|first4=María Ángeles|last5=Eïd|first5=Aurélie Simone|year=2020|chapter=Al-Bunayya, una ciudad fortificada benimerín en la costa norte del estrecho de Gibraltar (1282-1375). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València|pages=87–94|doi=10.4995/FORTMED2020.2020.11360|chapter-url=https://riunet.upv.es/entities/publication/467569af-2c1b-437c-bbd4-deaf1de4e4a0|title=Defensive Architecture of the Mediterranean|volume=10|publisher=[[Universitat Politècnica de València|Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València]]|isbn=978-84-9048-862-1|url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/5091780.pdf}}</ref> A substantial share of the workforce dedicated to the former end were Christian slaves.{{Sfn|Tomassetti Guerra|Jiménez-Camino Álvarez|2012|p=30}} The Marinid grip over the place further increased in the ensuing years, and the place turned into a Marinid stronghold from which [[Raid (military)|razzia]]s were launched into the still incipient Christian settlements in the Lower Guadalquivir and the Guadalete area.{{Sfn|García Fernández|1987|p=62}} Having lost interest in Iberian affairs, [[Abu Yaqub Yusuf an-Nasr]] returned Algeciras to the Emirate of Granada in 1295.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Algeciras, entre la soberanía de Granada y el Gobierno de Fez (1275-1344)|first=Manuel|last=López Fernández|page=53|journal=Almoraima|volume=57|year=2022|url=https://institutoecg.es/almoraima/index.php/revista/article/view/1569/1514}}</ref>
[[File:Al Yazirat recreación 01.png|thumb|Reconstruction of the two walled precincts on the mouth of the Río de la Miel {{circa|1344}}, with the Marinid settlement of al-Bunayya on the left (South) of the picture and al-Jazira al-Khadrā on the right (North)]]
In July 1309, [[Ferdinand IV of Castile]] laid the first [[Siege of Algeciras (1309)|Siege of Algeciras]] as well as [[Gibraltar]].<ref name="Rogers2010"/> The latter fell into Christian hands, but Muslim Algeciras held on for the following three decades, until [[Alfonso XI]] of [[Crown of Castile|Castile]] began a second [[Siege of Algeciras (1342–1344)|Siege of Algeciras]] in 1342.{{refn|group=n.|[[Juan Núñez III de Lara|Juan Núñez de Lara]], [[Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena|Juan Manuel]], [[Pedro Fernández de Castro]], [[Juan Alfonso de la Cerda]], lord of [[Gibraleón]] all participated in the siege, as did knights from France, England and Germany, and even King [[Philip III of Navarre]], king consort of Navarra, who came accompanied by 100 horsemen and 300 infantry.}} In March 1344, after several years of siege, Algeciras surrendered.<ref name="O'Shea1865"/>

On winning the city, Alfonso XI made it the seat of a new [[diocese]], established by [[Pope Clement VI]]'s [[papal bull|bull]] ''Gaudemus et exultamus'' of 30 April 1344, and entrusted to the governance of the bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cadiz y Ceuta|Cadiz]].<ref>[http://institucional.us.es/revistas/historia/34/03%20charlo.pdf Bulas fundacionales de la Diócesis de Cádiz (III). La creación de la Diócesis de Algeciras]</ref> The bishops of Cadiz continued to hold the title of Aliezira, as it called, until 1851, when in accordance with a [[concordat]] between Spain and the Holy See its territory was incorporated into the diocese of Cadiz. No longer a residential bishopric, Aliezira is today listed by the [[Catholic Church]] as a [[titular see]].<ref>''Annuario Pontificio 2013'' (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 {{ISBN|978-88-209-9070-1}}), p. 829</ref> The town's location far from large Christian urban centres ([[Seville]] and [[Jerez]]), the proximity to Muslim naval strongholds ([[Ceuta]] and Gibraltar), and the difficulties posed by defending such a long walled perimetre made the Christian settlement a challenge.<ref>{{Cite journal|page=443|url=https://revistas.uned.es/index.php/ETFIII/article/view/3654/3511|volume=13|journal= Espacio, Tiempo y Forma. Serie III, Historia Medieval|issn=0214-9745|first=Antonio|last=Torremocha Silva|title=Relaciones comerciales entre la Corona de Aragón y Algeciras a mediados del siglo xiv. Algunos datos desde las fuentes documentales y el registro arqueológico|year=2000|publisher=[[Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia]]|location=Madrid}}</ref> [[Republic of Genoa|Genoese]] and [[Principality of Catalonia|Catalan]] traders settled in the town.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Los castellanos en Algeciras, (1342-1349). Entre el relato de la Crónica, los planos de Verboon y la arqueología actual|journal=Aljaranda|year=2012|first=Manuel|last=López Fernández|pages=35–36}}</ref>

Left relatively unguarded during the [[Castilian Civil War]], the town was easily seized in 1369 by the [[Nasrid dynasty|Nasrids]] from Granada with assistance from a [[Marinid Sultanate|Marinid]] fleet.{{Sfn|Gómez de Avellaneda Sabio|2018|p=101}} It was destroyed on the orders of [[Muhammed V]] of Granada.<ref name="ChaucerAndrew1993">{{cite book|last1=Chaucer|first1=Geoffrey|last2=Andrew|first2=Malcolm|title=The General Prologue|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DvaIjAF5LcQC&pg=PA67|access-date=23 August 2012|year=1993|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|isbn=978-0-8061-2552-7|page=67}}</ref> While tradition asserts that it was torn down immediately after the 1369 occupation, the Nasrid [[scorched-earth policy]] has been also dated to 1375, once Granadan repopulation efforts should have failed.{{Sfn|Gómez de Avellaneda Sabio|2018|p=110; 112}} The garrison was thus relocated to Gibraltar, with a worse port but more easily defensible, in Nasrid control after the Marinid retreat from the Iberian Peninsula.{{Sfn|Gómez de Avellaneda Sabio|2018|pp=109–110}} While the jurisdiction was ceded to Gibraltar in 1462 after the Castilian conquest of the latter place, there are hints about the continued existence of informal settlements by farmers and shepherds in the area, at least after 1466.{{Sfn|Ocaña Torres|Sáez Rodríguez|Castillo Navarro|Gómez Arroquia|2001|p=18}}

[[File:Algecirasdestruida.jpg|thumb|right|Illustration drawn {{Circa|1716}} depicting the ruins of Algeciras.]]
Algeciras was refounded after 1704 by refugees from Gibraltar following the territory's [[Capture of Gibraltar|capture by Anglo-Dutch forces]] during the [[War of the Spanish Succession]]. In 1705, Algeciras was described as "...a heap of stones,...only a few hovels scattered here and there, amidst an infinity of ruins".{{Sfn|Ocaña Torres|Sáez Rodríguez|Castillo Navarro|Gómez Arroquia|2001|p=18}} Though the refugees intended on eventually returning to Gibraltar, such plans were abandoned following the 1713 [[Peace of Utrecht]], in which Spain agreed to ceded the territory to Great Britain.{{Sfn|Ocaña Torres|Sáez Rodríguez|Castillo Navarro|Gómez Arroquia|2001|p=19}} Besides them, throughout the 18th century repopulation was also participated by settlers from the rest of the Iberian Peninsula and from elsewhere, standing out Italians in the latter regard.{{sfn|Ocaña Torres|Sáez Rodríguez|Castillo Navarro|Gómez Arroquia|2001|pp=53}} Population rapidly increased (from 1,845 in 1725 to 6,241 in 1787).{{sfn|Ocaña Torres|Sáez Rodríguez|Castillo Navarro|Gómez Arroquia|2001|p=62}} The Algeciras' social structure featured a comparatively small number of nobles and comparatively larger weight of clergy.{{sfn|Ocaña Torres|Sáez Rodríguez|Castillo Navarro|Gómez Arroquia|2001|pp=6364}} Just like the rest of the Campo de Gibraltar, [[husbandry]] (cattle in particular) played an important role in the economy during the 18th century thanks to the rich pastures.{{sfn|Ocaña Torres|Sáez Rodríguez|Castillo Navarro|Gómez Arroquia|2001|p=72}} Given the abundance of international conflicts in the Strait area during the 18th century, corsair activities against ships belligerent with Spain or neutral ships provisioning the enemy also became an important part of the economy.{{sfn|Ocaña Torres|Sáez Rodríguez|Castillo Navarro|Gómez Arroquia|2001|pp=83–86}}

It was fortified to guard against British raids with installations such as the [[Fuerte de Isla Verde]] built to guard key points. The city was rebuilt on its present rectangular plan by [[Charles III of Spain|Charles III]] in 1760. In July 1801, the French and Spanish navies fought the British [[Royal Navy]] offshore in the [[Algeciras Campaign|Battle of Algeciras]], which ended in a British victory.<ref name="Musteen2011">{{cite book|last=Musteen|first=Jason R.|title=Nelson's Refuge: Gibraltar in the Age of Napoleon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HThZ_inxa14C&pg=PT43|access-date=23 August 2012|date=15 October 2011|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=978-1-61251-084-2|page=43}}</ref>
[[File:ETH-BIB-Algeciras aus 1800 m Höhe-Mittelmeerflug 1928-LBS MH02-05-0036.tif|thumb|Aerial view of Algeciras taken in May 1928.]]
The city became the scene for settling a major international crisis as it hosted the [[Algeciras Conference]] in 1906. The international forum to discuss the future of [[Morocco]] which was held in the Casa Consistorial (town hall). It confirmed the independence of Morocco against threats from Germany, and gave France control of banking and police interests.<ref>Eugene Newton Anderson, ''The first Moroccan Crisis, 1904–1906'' (1930)</ref><ref name="OlsonShadle1991">{{cite book|last1=Olson|first1=James Stuart|last2=Shadle|first2=Robert|title=Historical Dictionary of European Imperialism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uyqepNdgUWkC&pg=PA8|year=1991|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-26257-9|page=8}}</ref> In July 1942 Italian frogmen set up in a secret base in the Italian tanker [[Olterra]], which was interned in Algeciras, in order to attack shipping in Gibraltar.<ref name="HammondHughes2012">{{cite book|last1=Hammond|first1=Eleanor|last2=Hughes|first2=Wade|title=The Judas Reef|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2uQLqngzSx4C&pg=PA12|access-date=23 August 2012|date=7 April 2012|publisher=D Books|isbn=978-1-74335-009-6|page=12}}</ref> During the [[Francisco Franco|Franco]] era, Algeciras underwent substantial industrial development, creating many new jobs for the local workers made unemployed when the border between Gibraltar and Spain was sealed by Franco between 1969 and 1982.

In 1982 there was a failed plan codenamed [[Operation Algeciras]] conceived by the [[Argentina|Argentinian]] military to sabotage the British military facilities in Gibraltar during the [[Falklands War]]. The Spanish authorities intervened just before the attack, and deported the two Argentine [[Montoneros]] and military liaison officer involved.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jul/24/gibraltar.falklands|title= Falklands war nearly spread to Gibraltar|author=Tremlett, Giles|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=24 July 2004|access-date=23 August 2012}}</ref>

== Geography ==
=== Location ===
[[File:Algeciras mapa topográfico.png|thumb|Topographic map of the municipality]]
Algeciras is located in the southern end of the [[Iberian Peninsula]], in the ''comarca'' of [[Campo de Gibraltar]]. Its strategic location near the [[Strait of Gibraltar]]—the choke point connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the [[Mediterranean Sea]] also entailing the nearest distance between Europe and the [[African continent]]—has historically powered the importance of the port.<ref name=SCIPA>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paisajeyterritorio.es/assets/a2-07.-campo-de-gibraltar.pdf|page=286|title=Campo de Gibraltar|publisher=Centro de Estudios Paisaje y Territorio|location=Seville}}</ref> The city proper lies on the western bank of the [[Bay of Gibraltar]], fronting the [[Rock of Gibraltar]], which dominates the eastern bank.

The municipality spans across a total area of {{cvt|87.96|km2}},<ref name=rel>{{Cite web|url=https://ssweb.seap.minhap.es/REL/frontend/inicio/municipios/1/13386|publisher=[[Ministry of Economy (Spain)|Ministerio de Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital]]|title=Datos del Registro de Entidades Locales|access-date=3 May 2021}}</ref> bordering with the municipalities of [[Los Barrios]] and [[Tarifa]]. The lower course of the river [[Palmones (river)|Palmones]] forms part of the boundary of Algeciras with the municipality of Los Barrios.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dipucadiz.es/export/sites/default/agencia_provincial_de_la_energia/Programa-Costera/Documentacion/190626_Recomendaciones.pdf|page=60|publisher=Diputación de Cádiz|year=2019|title=Recomendaciones para la Adaptación de los Municipios Litorales Gaditanos a los Efectos del Cambio Climático}}</ref>

The urban agglomeration formed by Algeciras and the surrounding settlements is the sixth largest in [[Andalusia]] and the third largest off the region's coast.<ref name=SCIPA />

===Climate===
Algeciras has a [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] [[subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Csa'') with very mild, rainy winters and warm, dry summers with occasional heat waves, and temperature fluctuations are small because of the strong [[Oceanic climate|Oceanic]] influence. There are no snow registers in the city since the 19th century.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://foro.tiempo.com/olas-de-frio-entradas-frias-y-temporales-de-nieve-en-espana-1830-1985-t91237.0.html|title=OLAS DE FRÍO, ENTRADAS FRÍAS Y TEMPORALES DE NIEVE EN ESPAÑA 1830 - 1985|date=5 July 2008|access-date=9 May 2019|work=Tiempo|language=es}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Algeciras
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 16.1
|Feb high C = 16.7
|Mar high C = 17.8
|Apr high C = 18.9
|May high C = 21.7
|Jun high C = 24.4
|Jul high C = 27.2
|Aug high C = 27.8
|Sep high C = 26.1
|Oct high C = 21.7
|Nov high C = 18.9
|Dec high C = 16.7
|year high C = 21.2
|Jan mean C = 13.6
|Feb mean C = 13.9
|Mar mean C = 15.0
|Apr mean C = 16.1
|May mean C = 18.7
|Jun mean C = 21.1
|Jul mean C = 23.6
|Aug mean C = 24.2
|Sep mean C = 23.1
|Oct mean C = 19.2
|Nov mean C = 16.4
|Dec mean C = 14.5
|year mean C = 18.3
|Jan low C = 11.1
|Feb low C = 11.1
|Mar low C = 12.2
|Apr low C = 13.3
|May low C = 15.6
|Jun low C = 17.8
|Jul low C = 20.0
|Aug low C = 20.6
|Sep low C = 20.0
|Oct low C = 16.7
|Nov low C = 13.9
|Dec low C = 12.2
|year low C = 15.4
|Jan precipitation mm = 121.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 106.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 106.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 66.0
|May precipitation mm = 38.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 10.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 0.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 2.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 25.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 76.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 149.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 132.1
|year precipitation mm = 835.7
|source 1 = [[The Weather Channel]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/SPXX0088|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140918195916/http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/SPXX0088|url-status=dead|work=[[The Weather Channel]]|title=Monthly Averages for Algeciras, Spain|access-date=9 May 2019|archive-date=18 September 2014}}</ref>
|date=August 2010}}
{|class="wikitable"
|+Temperature of sea (Bay of Gibraltar)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/gibraltar/ |title=Gibraltar Climate Guide |work=weather2travel.com |access-date=9 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
!'''Jan'''
!'''Feb'''
!'''Mar'''
!'''Apr'''
!'''May'''
!'''Jun'''
!'''Jul'''
!'''Aug'''
!'''Sep'''
!'''Oct'''
!'''Nov'''
!'''Dec'''
!'''Year'''
|-
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|style="background: #FFFF66; color: black;"|{{convert|18.4|°C|°F|abbr=on}}
|}

== Demographics ==
{{Vertical bar chart|type=demographic|color_2=OceanBlue|color_3=OceanBlue|position=center|name=Algeciras<ref name = Evo>{{cite web|url=https://www.ine.es/intercensal/intercensal.do?search=3&codigoProvincia=11&codigoMunicipio=004&btnBuscarCod=Consultar+selecci%C3%B3n|title =Alterations to the municipalities in the Population Censuses since 1842|language=es|website=Instituto Nacional de Estadística (España)|access-date =21 July 2025}}</ref>|1842|11077|1857|16198|1860|18216|1877|11865|1887|11924|1897|12760|1900|13131|1910|15020|1920|19249|1930|20674|1940|26114|1950|52392|1960|66021|1970|79997|1981|85390|1991|101256|2001|101468|2011|117695|2021|123435|note=<small>{{legend|#99B2FF|''De jure'' [[census]] population, according to the [[National Statistics Institute (Spain)|INE]].}}{{legend|#007fcc|''De facto'' census population, according to the [[National Statistics Institute (Spain)|INE]].}}</small>}}

==Economy==
[[File:Port of Algeciras.jpg|thumb|Port of Algeciras]]

Algeciras is principally a transport hub and industrial city. Its main activities are connected with the [[Port of Algeciras]], which serves as the main embarkation point between Spain and [[Tangier]] and other ports in Morocco as well as the [[Canary Islands]] and the Spanish enclaves of [[Ceuta]] and [[Melilla]]. It is ranked as the 16th busiest port in the world. The city also has a substantial fishing industry and exports a range of agricultural products from the surrounding area, including cereals, tobacco and farm animals.

In recent years it has become a significant tourist destination, with popular day trips to [[Tarifa]] to see bird migrations; to Gibraltar to see the territory's sights and culture; and to the [[Bay of Gibraltar]] on [[whale watching]] excursions.

Algeciras is the southern terminus of two principal north–south [[Euroroute]]s, the [[European route E05|E05]] and [[European route E15|E15]]. Both routes, moreover, run to Scotland (the E05 terminates at [[Greenock]] and the E15 at [[Inverness]]) via France and England.

==Tourism==
[[File:Plaza Alta, Algeciras, Cádiz, España, 2015-12-09, DD 02.JPG|thumbnail|Plaza Alta.]]
Places of interest include:

* [[Parque Natural del Estrecho]]
* [[Los Alcornocales Natural Park|Parque Natural Los Alcornocales]]

==Transport==
[[File:Algeciras Darsena.jpg|thumb|200px|Fishing port in Algeciras]]
[[File:Algeciras Bus Station.jpg|thumb|200px|right|San Bernardo Bus Station]]
[[File:Campo de Gibraltar carreteras Algeciras.png|thumb|200px|right|Transport links of Algeciras]]
[[File:Algeciraspassportstamp.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Passport stamp from the Port of Algeciras]]

===Public transport===
The bus urban transport in managed by C.T.M. (''Cooperativa de transporte de Marruecos'').
* Bus lines:
** Line 1: Bajadilla-Pajarete
** Line 2: Colinas-San Bernabé-Reconquista
** Line 3: Rinconcillo
** Line 4: La Granja
** Line 5: Bahía de Algeciras
** Line 6: Juliana
** Line 7: Saladillo
** Line 8: San García-Saladillo
** Line 9: San García Directo
** Line 10: El Cobre
** Line 11: La Piñera
** Line 12: San García playa
** Line 16: Cementerio-Centro Penitenciario
** Line 18: Cortijo Vides-Piñera
** Line 19: Puerto-S.J.Artesano-Rinconcillo
** Line 21: San García – Residencia – Puerto – Parque

===Rail===
The [[Algeciras Gibraltar Railway Company]] built the [[Algeciras-Bobadilla railway]] line, which connects [[Algeciras railway station]] to [[Bobadilla, Antequera]] and continues to the rest of Spain, the train line terminates near the port of Algeciras.

===Road===
The main routes serving Algeciras include:
* [[European route E15]]
* [[European route E05]]
* [[Autopista AP-7]]
* [[Autovía A-48]]
* [[N-340 (Road)|N-340]]
* [[GR 7 (Spain)|GR 7]]

===Intercity buses===
The main bus station is located next to the train station. Several bus companies operate [[intercity bus service]]s from and to Algeciras.<ref name="stations">{{cite web|url=https://www.travelinho.com/en/travel/algeciras|title=Algeciras: Stations|publisher=Travelinho.com|access-date=2018-07-10|archive-date=2018-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710194850/https://www.travelinho.com/en/travel/algeciras|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Airport===
The nearest airports are:
* [[Gibraltar Airport]] – to {{cvt|20|km}}
* [[Jerez Airport]] – to {{cvt|100|km}}
* [[Málaga Airport]] – to {{cvt|120|km}}

In addition, the [[Algeciras Heliport]] is being built for transport to [[Ceuta]] and other areas in the region.

==Monuments==
[[File:Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Europa, Algeciras, Cádiz, España, 2015-12-09, DD 06-08 HDR.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Europa]]
[[File:Banco en la Plaza Alta, Algeciras, Cádiz, España, 2015-12-09, DD 03-05 HDR.JPG|thumbnail|Elaborate bench in Plaza Alta.]]
* Hornos Romanos del Rinconcillo (first century B.C.). (furnaces)
* Factoría de salazones de la calle San Nicolás (first century). (salt meat factory)
* La Villa Vieja, torres de la Huerta del Carmen (tenth century). (Towers)
* Parque Arqueológico de las Murallas Meriníes (thirteenth century). (Archeological Park)
* [[Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Europa]] (1690). (Chapel)
* Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Palma (1736). (Church)
* Hospital de La Caridad, (1748).
* Capilla de la Caridad (1752). (Chapel)
* Casa Consistorial (1756). (City Council)
* Capilla de San Servando (1774). (Chapel)
* Capilla del Santo Cristo de la Alameda (1776). (Chapel)
* Plaza Alta (1807).
* Mercado de Abastos de Algeciras of engineer [[Eduardo Torroja|Eduardo Torroja Miret]] (1935). (Supplies Market)
* Art School Building. (1971) architect: Fernando Garrido Gutiérrez.
* Faro de Isla Verde. Project of Jaime Font, constructed in 1864. (Light)
* [[Hotel Reina Cristina]] (1901).
* District de San Isidro, typical district designed in the twentieth century.

==Celebrations==
* Arrastre de latas (5, January).
* Feria Real de Algeciras (June).
* Fiestas patronales en honor de Ntra. Sra. la Virgen de la Palma (August).
* Fiesta de los Tosantos (1, November).
* Carnival of Algeciras.

==Sports==
[[File:AlgecirasCF.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Algeciras CF]] at the [[Estadio Nuevo Mirador]].]]
[[Algeciras CF]], the [[association football]] club, founded in 1912, most commonly play in the third ([[Primera Federación]]) and fourth-tiers of the [[Spanish football league system]], with some past spells in [[Segunda División]]. They play home games at the [[Estadio Nuevo Mirador]].

[[Algeciras BM]], the professional [[team handball|handball]] club, played in the [[Liga ASOBAL]] between 2005 and 2008. The team was dissolved due to enormous debts after relegation to second level in 2008.

==Education==
[[File:Avenida Blas Infante 2.JPG|thumb|upright|Avenida Blas Infante]]

===Universidad de Cádiz – Campus Bahia de Algeciras===
The following education centres are property of the [[University of Cádiz]]:
* Escuela Politécnica Superior de Algeciras
* Escuela Universitaria de Enfermería de Algeciras
* Escuela Universitaria de Estudios Jurídicos y Económicos del Campo de Gibraltar "Francisco Tomás y Valiente"
* Escuela Universitaria de Magisterio "Virgen de Europa"
* Centro Universitario de Derecho de Algeciras (CUDA)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070104003547/http://www.uca.es/web/organizacion/campus/campus2 Campus Bahia de Algeciras] {{in lang|es|en}}

==Noted Natives of Algeciras==
* [[Yahya ibn Yahya al-Laythi|Yahya Ibn Yahya]]
*[[Paco de Lucía]]
* [[Ramón de Algeciras]]
* [[Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir]]
* [[Ana Belén Palomo]]
* [[Cristóbal Delgado Gómez]]
* [[José María Sánchez-Verdú]]
* [[Álvaro Morte]]
* [[Canelita]]

==Sister cities==
[[File:CorchoAlcornocales.jpg|thumb|[[Los Alcornocales Natural Park]]]]
* [[Ceuta]], Spain
* [[Neda, Galicia|Neda]], Spain
* [[Dakhla, Western Sahara|Dakhla]], [[Western Sahara]]

== See also ==
* [[List of port cities of the Mediterranean Sea]]
* [[List of municipalities in Cádiz]]

== Informational notes ==
{{reflist|group=n.}}

== References ==
;Citations
{{Reflist}}
* Algeciras. ''Encyclopædia Britannica Online'', 2006.
* Algeciras. ''The Columbia Encyclopedia'', 2004
* ''Lonely Planet Andalucia'', Lonely Planet, 2005
;Bibliography
* {{Cite journal|year=1987|journal=Estudios de historia y de arqueología medievales|volume=7–8|pages=59–76|url=https://idus.us.es/bitstream/handle/11441/51464/ALGECIRAS%20%20%201344-1369.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|title=Algeciras 1344–1369|first=Manuel|last=García Fernández}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Gómez de Avellaneda Sabio|first=Carlos|title=Gibraltar, causa de la destrucción de Algeciras en el siglo XIV y la verdadera fecha de esta|journal=Almoraima. Revista de Estudios Campogibraltareños|issue=48|year=2018|location=Algeciras|publisher=Instituto de Estudios Campogibraltareños|pages=101–114|url=http://institutoecg.es/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/07-avellaneda-26sept.pdf}}
* {{Cite book|title=Historia de Algeciras. Tomo II. Algeciras moderna y contemporánea|location=Cádiz|year=2001|publisher=Servicio de Publicaciones de la Diputación de Cádiz|isbn=84-95388-34-0|chapter=Capítulo V: El siglo XVIII: el resurgimiento|pages=15–118|first=Mario L.|last=Ocaña Torres|first2=Ángel|last2=Sáez Rodríguez|first3=Luis Alberto del|last3=Castillo Navarro|first4=Maribel|last4=Gómez Arroquia|first5=Antonio|last5=Torremocha Silva|first6=Juan Ignacio de|last6=Vicente Lara|first7=Juan Carlos|last7=Pardo González|first8=Juan José|last8=Téllez Rubio|url=http://www.clubgetares.com/HISTORIA/HISTALG2.pdf|access-date=2021-05-03|archive-date=2021-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503151112/http://www.clubgetares.com/HISTORIA/HISTALG2.pdf|url-status=dead}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Algeciras}}
{{Commons}}
* {{in lang|es}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20031014123005/http://www.ayto-algeciras.es/ Ayuntamiento de Algeciras]
* {{in lang|es}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20080222144656/http://www.expoalgeciras.com/ Expoalgeciras: Images Gallery] (History and present from Algeciras with old and current photographs)
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[[Category:Municipalities of the Province of Cádiz]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Spain]]

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Algeciras