View source for Tarifa

{{Expand Spanish|topic=geo|Tarifa|date=May 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Tarifa
| settlement_type         = [[Municipalities of Spain|Municipality]]
| official_name           = <!-- if different from name -->
| native_name             = <!-- if different from name -->
| image_skyline           = Tarifa panorama.jpg
| image_alt               =
| image_caption           = 
| image_flag              = Flag of Tarifa Spain.svg
| image_shield            = Coat of Arms of Tarifa.svg
| nickname                =
| motto                   =
| image_map               = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|frame-width=255|frame-height=255|zoom=9|frame-lat=36.012554|frame-long=-5.605511|type=shape-inverse|stroke-width=1|stroke-color=#333333|id=Q222702|title=Tarifa}}	
| map_caption             = 
| pushpin_map             = Spain#Spain Province of Cádiz
| pushpin_label_position  =
| pushpin_relief          = 1
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location of Tarifa
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = [[Spain]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Autonomous community]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Andalusia]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Province of Cádiz|Cádiz]]
| subdivision_type4       = [[Judicial districts of Spain|Judicial district]]
| subdivision_name4       = Algeciras
| seat_type               = <!-- [[Capital (political)|Capital]] -->
| seat                    =
| coordinates             = {{coord|36.014|-5.606|region:ES_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   =
| elevation_m             = 7
| elevation_min_m         =
| elevation_max_m         =
| area_footnotes          =
| area_total_km2          = 419.67
| 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_demonym      = Tarifeños
| population_note         =
| population_density_km2  = auto
| blank_name_sec1         = [[Languages of Spain|Official language(s)]]
| blank_info_sec1         = Spanish
| 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             = 11380
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in Spain|Dialing code]]
| area_code               = (+34) 956
| leader_title            = Mayor
| leader_name             = Francisco Ruiz
| leader_party            = [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]]
| website                 = {{official website|http://www.aytotarifa.com/}}
| footnotes               =
}}

'''Tarifa''' ({{IPA|es|taˈɾifa}}) is a Spanish municipality in the [[province of Cádiz]], [[Andalusia]]. Located at the southernmost end of the [[Iberian Peninsula]], it is primarily known as one of the world's most popular destinations for [[windsport]]s. Tarifa lies on the [[Costa de la Luz]] ('coast of light') and across the [[Strait of Gibraltar]] facing [[Morocco]].

Besides the city proper, the municipality also comprises several villages, including [[Tahivilla]], [[Facinas]], and [[Bolonia, Spain|Bolonia]].

==History==
[[File:ruinas playa tarifa (44764528631).jpg|thumb|left|Ruins of Baelo Claudia near Bolonia Beach]]
[[File:Bunkers de Tarifa.jpg|thumb|left|Castle of St Catalina]]
It was thought that Tarifa was once the site of the Roman settlement of [[Julia Transducta]] (also known as Julia Joza, or just Transducta). However, that settlement is now thought to have been where [[Algeciras]] now stands, while there is strong evidence that Casas de Porro, Valdevaqueros (Tarifa) was the site of the settlement of [[Mellaria]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.tarifaweb.com/aljaranda/num23/art2.htm |last=Gozalbes Cravioto |first=Enrique |title=La ubicación de la Mellaria romana |journal=Revista de Estudios Tarifeños |volume=VI |issue=23 Fourth Quarter |date=December 1996 |access-date=20 March 2013 |archive-date=27 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627185232/http://www.tarifaweb.com/aljaranda/num23/art2.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| language = es| last = Gozalbes Cravioto| first = Enrique| title = Aspectos de la crisis del Bajo Imperio romano en la comarca del Campo de Gibraltar| year = 1995| journal = Almoraima| issue = 13| issn = 1133-5319| url = http://www.mancomunidadcg.es/IECG/doc/revistas/Almoraima%2013-Articulo%209.pdf| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120119002830/http://www.mancomunidadcg.es/IECG/doc/revistas/Almoraima%2013-Articulo%209.pdf| archive-date = 19 January 2012}}</ref> Tarifa was given its present name after the Islamic conquest of [[Tarif ibn Malik]] in 710, a military commander of [[Musa bin Nusayr]].<ref>[[Naturalis Historia]], 3,7</ref> The village of Bolonia near Tarifa was also populated in Roman times (called [[Baelo Claudia]]). Roman ruins still exist near the village today.

After the [[Islamic conquest of Spain|Islamic conquest of southern Spain]], the city was fortified starting from the 10th century. Later Tarifa was held by the [[taifa of Algeciras]] (1031) and by [[taifa of Seville|that of Seville]] (1057), and subsequently by the [[Almoravids]]. After the latter's fall, it lived a short period under another taifa of Algeciras (1231), until becoming part of the [[Kingdom of Granada]]. In 1292 it was conquered by [[Sancho IV of Castile]], and two years later it resisted a siege by North African Islamic troops. The town resisted another siege in 1340 from [[Marinid]], eventually leading to the [[Battle of Río Salado]].

Despite its formidable defenses, Tarifa remained sparsely populated for the rest of the middle ages.{{Sfn|Criado Atalaya|1991|p=162}} The [[Siege of Algeciras (1369)|destruction of Algeciras after the 1369 Nasrid conquest]] turned Tarifa into the sole power base for the Castilian navy in the Strait area, and the influence of the [[Admiral of Castile|Admiralcy of Castile]] increased thereafter.{{Sfn|Sánchez Saus|2005|p=221}} Tarifa enjoyed a great deal of privileges confirmed by the Castilian monarchs, while being simultaneously threatened by Muslim raids that resulted into frequent killings and kidnappings.{{Sfn|Sánchez Saus|2005|pp=225–226}} 

Owing to its largely military function after 1292, military activity weighted heavily in the place's social structure in the early 15th century.{{Sfn|Martín Gutiérrez|2010|p=326}} The town was donated to [[Fadrique Enríquez de Mendoza|Fadrique Enríquez]], Admiral of Castile, in 1447.{{Sfn|Sánchez Saus|2005|pp=230–231}} The seigneuralization was fiercely opposed by the inhabitants.{{Sfn|Sánchez Saus|2005|p=232}} Occupied by Gonzalo de Saavedra, Tarifa returned to the nominal status of ''{{ill|realengo (jurisdiction)|es|realengo|lt=realengo}}'', while largely controlled by the former.{{Sfn|Sánchez Saus|2005|pp=232–233}} The mid-15th century saw the fostering of positive collaboration with the Portuguese across the strait.{{Sfn|Sánchez Saus|2005|pp=234–235}}

After 1492, Tarifa lost part of its military value.{{Sfn|Martín Gutiérrez|2010|p=337}} Owing to its good pastures, [[Animal husbandry|husbandry]] played a notable role in the economy.{{Sfn|Martín Gutiérrez|2010|p=342}} It however lacked land dedicated to cereal crops.{{Sfn|Martín Gutiérrez|2010|p=343}} Already since the conquest and increasingly in the late middle ages, fishing activity provided riches to Tarifa, and an industry of the ''[[almadraba]]'' around [[tuna]] had developed in the early 16th century.{{Sfn|Martín Gutiérrez|2010|p=345}} In the early 16th century, the city became part of the seigneurial land of the Adelantado Mayor de Andalucía.{{Sfn|Martín Gutiérrez|2010|p=340}} Population increased in the 16th century, with around 3,500–4,000 inhabitants by 1587.{{Sfn|Criado Atalaya|1991|p=162}}

In 1514 it became the seat of a [[marquisate]] ([[Marquiss of Tarifa]]), including also [[Bornos]], [[Espera]] and [[Alcalá de los Gazules]].

In the course of the [[Peninsular War]], Tarifa was besieged by French troops on 20 December 1810, and again on 18 December 1811. In both of these cases the town was defended by British troops from [[Gibraltar]] as the Spanish and British were allies against the French. During the 1811–12 [[Siege of Tarifa (1812)|Siege of Tarifa]] there were 3,000 defending troops with 1,200 of those British, including Colonel [[Charles Holloway (engineer)|Charles Holloway]] who as commanding Royal Engineer made improvements to Tarifa's defences.

On 19 December the town was attacked again by General Laval, who bombarded the town over Christmas to the point where surrender was demanded on 30 December. Both the British and Spanish commanders refused to comply and their defiance was rewarded by rain that started the next day. By 5 January the attacking force realised that their powder was wet and their guns were bogged down in mud, and retreated.<ref name=hills>{{cite book|last=Hills|first=George|title=Rock of contention : a history of Gibraltar.|year=1974|publisher=Hale|location=London|isbn=0709143524|pages=369–370}}</ref>

==Name==
The name "Tarifa" is derived from the name of the [[Umayyad Caliphate]] military commander, [[Tarif ibn Malik]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gibbon |first1=Edward |title=The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol. 9 |date=1776}}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:StraitOfGibraltar.JPG|thumb|right|A view across the Strait of Gibraltar taken from the hills above Tarifa]]

=== Location ===
At exactly 36 degrees latitude, the [[Punta de Tarifa]] is the [[Extreme points of Europe|southernmost point]] of [[continental Europe]]. (The only parts of Europe farther south are islands - including the Greek island of [[Gavdos]], which is the southernmost point of Europe.) The North African capitals of [[Algiers]] and [[Tunis]] actually lie farther north than Tarifa.

===Climate===
Tarifa features a hot-summer [[Mediterranean climate]] (Csa), bordering a warm-summer (Csb) Mediterranean climate according to the Köppen [[climate classification]]. The influence of the ocean creates a very small annual variation in temperatures. The average daily high in the hottest month, August, is only 9.3°C above the average lowest temperature during the month of January, and more than 10°C cooler than temperatures experienced further inland in the [[Guadalquivir]] valley. Thus Tarifa features a unique [[microclimate]]. Summers are strongly moderated by the cool waters of the Atlantic Ocean much more so than neighbouring cities along Spain's Mediterranean and Atlantic coast. Likewise, winters are some of the mildest in continental Europe. Rain falls primarily during the winter, with summer being largely dry as is the norm in this type of climate. Tarifa is located at the narrowest point of the Strait of Gibraltar, which greatly accelerates the prevailing winds from the east (Levante) and west (Poniente). Average wind speeds exceed 10 knots each month of the year.

{{Weather box
|location = Tarifa (1981-2010), extremes (1945-)
|width = 80%
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 22.4
|Feb record high C = 24.7
|Mar record high C = 24.3
|Apr record high C = 26.7
|May record high C = 31.9
|Jun record high C = 34.9
|Jul record high C = 35.3
|Aug record high C = 37.0
|Sep record high C = 37.4
|Oct record high C = 31.8
|Nov record high C = 27.1
|Dec record high C = 23.6
|year record high C = 37.4
|Jan high C = 15.2
|Feb high C = 15.1
|Mar high C = 16.3
|Apr high C = 17.3
|May high C = 19.4
|Jun high C = 21.8
|Jul high C = 23.9
|Aug high C = 24.5
|Sep high C = 23.1
|Oct high C = 20.6
|Nov high C = 17.9
|Dec high C = 16.1
|year high C = 19.3
|Jan mean C = 13.0
|Feb mean C = 13.0
|Mar mean C = 14.4
|Apr mean C = 15.2
|May mean C = 17.2
|Jun mean C = 19.8
|Jul mean C = 21.7
|Aug mean C = 22.3
|Sep mean C = 21.1
|Oct mean C = 18.6
|Nov mean C = 15.9
|Dec mean C = 14.1
|year mean C = 17.2
|Jan low C = 10.8
|Feb low C = 10.9
|Mar low C = 12.4
|Apr low C = 13.0
|May low C = 14.9
|Jun low C = 17.8
|Jul low C = 19.4
|Aug low C = 20.0
|Sep low C = 19.0
|Oct low C = 16.7
|Nov low C = 13.9
|Dec low C = 12.1
|year low C = 15.1
|Jan record low C = -3.3
|Feb record low C = -2.1
|Mar record low C = 1.2
|Apr record low C = 4.0
|May record low C = 7.4
|Jun record low C = 10.6
|Jul record low C = 11.9
|Aug record low C = 14.2
|Sep record low C = 5.0
|Oct record low C = 6.4
|Nov record low C = 2.4
|Dec record low C = 0.4
|year record low C = -3.3
|Jan precipitation mm = 70
|Feb precipitation mm = 75
|Mar precipitation mm = 48
|Apr precipitation mm = 57
|May precipitation mm = 28
|Jun precipitation mm = 8
|Jul precipitation mm = 2
|Aug precipitation mm = 4
|Sep precipitation mm = 16
|Oct precipitation mm = 80
|Nov precipitation mm = 86
|Dec precipitation mm = 118
|Jan precipitation days = 7
|Feb precipitation days = 8
|Mar precipitation days = 5
|Apr precipitation days = 7
|May precipitation days = 4
|Jun precipitation days = 1
|Jul precipitation days = 0
|Aug precipitation days = 0
|Sep precipitation days = 2
|Oct precipitation days = 6
|Nov precipitation days = 8
|Dec precipitation days = 10
|unit precipitation days = 1&nbsp;mm
|Jan humidity = 77
|Feb humidity = 79
|Mar humidity = 78
|Apr humidity = 77
|May humidity = 78
|Jun humidity = 79
|Jul humidity = 80
|Aug humidity = 81
|Sep humidity = 81
|Oct humidity = 81
|Nov humidity = 79
|Dec humidity = 78
|Jan sun = 153
|Feb sun = 161
|Mar sun = 199
|Apr sun = 218
|May sun = 264
|Jun sun = 284
|Jul sun = 307
|Aug sun = 297
|Sep sun = 233
|Oct sun = 202
|Nov sun = 170
|Dec sun = 142
|year sun = 
|source 1 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref>{{cite web
  |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=6001&k=and
  |title=Valores Climatológicos Normales. Tarifa
  }}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref>{{cite web
  |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos*?w=0&k=and&l=6001&datos=det&x=6001&m=13&v=todos
  |title=Valores Extremos. Tarifa
  }}</ref>
|source 3 = [[Windfinder]]<ref>{{cite web
  |url=https://www.windfinder.com/windstatistics/tarifa
  |title=Estadísticas mensuales de la velocidad del viento y direcciones para Tarifa
  }}</ref>
|date=June 2020}}

==Main sights==
[[File:Tarifa Playa de Los Lances - 05 (10479559976).jpg|thumbnail|left|[[Playa de Los Lances|Los Lances Beach]]]]
[[File:Tarifa. Windsurfing. MG 3657 (5917539245).jpg|thumb|left|Windsurfing in Tarifa]]
[[File:CZ Rorcual FinWhale Estrecho Strait Gibraltar.jpg|thumb|Watching [[fin whale]]s off Tarifa|left]]

Historical landmarks of the city include:
*the well-preserved [[Castillo de Guzmán|Guzmán castle]], near the port, built by order of caliph [[Abd-ar-Rahman III]] (960). Annexed are the Guzmán el Bueno Tower (13th century) and the church of St. Mary, on the site of a former mosque.
*remains of the medieval walls. Of three gates once existing, today only the ''Puerta de Jerez'' (13th century) has survived.
*[[Iglesia de San Mateo (Tarifa)|Church of St. Matthew]], built in the early 16th century in [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] style, also over a former mosque. The façade was redesigned by [[Torcuato Cayón de la Vega]] in 1774.
*The ruins of the Roman city of [[Baelo Claudia]], located nearby.
*Tarifa has become a popular spot for northern Europeans to spend their summers.
*Tarifa's unique wind conditions have made the beaches at [[Playa de Los Lances]], [[Valdevaqueros]] and Punta Paloma the most popular in Europe with [[Windsurfing|windsurfers]] and [[Kitesurfing|kitesurfers]]. The funnel created by the [[Strait of Gibraltar]] creates a [[Venturi effect]] when either the [[Viento de Levante|Levante]] (Easterly wind from Africa) or [[Poniente]] (Westerly wind from the Atlantic) is blowing. These two winds prevail in Tarifa for over 300 days most years, meaning Tarifa experiences exceptionally strong and consistent winds throughout the year. In addition, localised thermal winds at locations such as Valdevaqueros mean that even when the prevailing wind is not strong it is often possible to windsurf and kite surf in Tarifa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.graykite.surf/2016/02/24/tarifa-wind/|title=Tarifa wind {{!}} Levante, Poniente, thermals and Venturi effects make Tarifa's wind unique|website=www.graykite.surf|language=en-US|access-date=17 September 2018|archive-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810095754/http://www.graykite.surf/2016/02/24/tarifa-wind/|url-status=dead}}</ref> These unique wind conditions are also the reason Tarifa is dotted with countless [[wind turbine]]s.
*''La Isla'', a small island that is connected to the mainland by a 30m long bridge. This island and its connecting bridge are considered the official divide between the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Andalusia.

Tarifa is located within the [[wikt:sp:Reserva de la Biosfera Intercontinental del Mediterráneo|Intercontinental Mediterranean Biosphere Reserve]], a renowned place to watch [[bird migration|migrating birds]], in particular the [[stork]]s which cross the Straits of Gibraltar in spring and autumn. Also [[Whale watching|whale and dolphin watching]] can be done as there are several species living on the 14 kilometre-wide Straits, for instance the [[common dolphin]], [[Pilot whale]], [[sperm whale]] and [[orca]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=TURMARES TARIFA - AVISTAMIENTO DE CETÁCEOS|url=https://www.turmares.com/en-US/whale-watch/tarifa|access-date=2021-05-25|website=www.turmares.com|language=es}}</ref>

==Cinema==
Tarifa is renowned for its [[African Film Festival of Tarifa|African Film Festival]], whose first edition took place in 2004.
==Books==
Tarifa is popular for its placement in ''[[The Alchemist (novel)|The Alchemist]]''.

Tarifa is a location for a visit in Laurie Lee's A Rose for Winter.

==Transportation==
[[File:Beach of Bolonia - 014 - view.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bolonia, Spain|Bolonia Beach]]]]
There are regular ferry services connecting Tarifa with [[Tangier]] (40 minutes) and [[Ceuta]] (1 hour) from the ferry port.<ref>[http://portoftarifa.com/en/ ferry port] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506071349/http://portoftarifa.com/en/ |date=6 May 2016 }}.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://portoftarifa.com/en/ |title=Ferry Tickets from Tarifa to Tanger - Port of Tarifa |access-date=29 July 2016 |archive-date=6 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506071349/http://portoftarifa.com/en/ |url-status=dead }}.</ref>

[[Bus]] services run from the bus station on Calle Batalla de Salado. There are regular services between Tarifa and [[Algeciras]], about 20&nbsp;km to the northeast, and [[Seville]] about 200&nbsp;km to the north.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tgcomes.es/horarios_33_english.htm |title=tgcomes.es: "LA LÍNEA - SEVILLA" |access-date=6 February 2016 |archive-date=25 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225011404/http://www.tgcomes.es/horarios_33_english.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Direct buses also run to [[Málaga]] and [[Cádiz]]. In high summer a special kitesurfing bus runs along the A7 between Tarifa bus station and Camping Jardin de las Dunas, stopping at popular hotels and campsites along the route.

There is a taxi rank on the Avenida Andalucía. It is about 5 minutes walk from the bus station and is located just outside the Puerto de Jerez (the main entrance to the old town) at the junction of Avenida Andalucía and Calle Batalla de Salado.

==Surroundings==
The intentional community "Molino de Guadalmesi", which is part of the [[Global Ecovillage Network]] (GEN), is located about 13&nbsp;km north-east from Tarifa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sites.ecovillage.org/molino-de-guadalmesi|title=Molino de Guadalmesí {{!}} GEN sites|website=sites.ecovillage.org|access-date=11 May 2016|archive-date=10 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610093639/http://sites.ecovillage.org/molino-de-guadalmesi|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==In literature==
*The city of Tarifa is depicted in the 1986 worldwide bestseller fiction novel, ''[[The Alchemist (novel)|The Alchemist]]'', by [[Paulo Coelho]]. The lead protagonist, a shepherd boy, visits the city to meet an interpreter of dreams and ask her to interpret a recurrent dream he has had twice. His life takes a dramatic turn when he meets an old king of Salem named ''Melchizedek'' at a city marketplace.

* The city of Tarifa is depicted in the first chapter of [[Laurie Lee|Laurie Lee's]] 1955 novel, ''A Rose For Winter''.

== See also ==
* [[Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography]]
* [[List of municipalities in Cádiz]]

==References==
;Citations
{{reflist}}
;Bibliography
* {{Cite journal|url=http://institutoecg.es/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Almoraima5-Articulo9.pdf|title=Evolución histórica del urbanismo tarifeño|first=Francisco Javier|year=1991|journal=Almoraima: Revista de Estudios Campogibraltareños|issn=1133-5319|last=Criado Atalaya|pages=147–169}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Martín Gutiérrez|first=Emilio|url=https://www.raco.cat/index.php/ActaHistorica/article/view/250082/334638/|year=2010|title=Estructura económica y grupos de campesinos en la villa de Tarifa a finales de la Edad Media|journal=Acta Historica et Archaeologica Mediaevalia|issue=30|pages=333–358|issn=0212-2960}}
* {{Cite book|chapter=Tarifa, el Estrecho y los Almirantes de Castilla (1394-1478)|last=Sánchez Saus|first=Rafael|year=2005|title=Tarifa en la Edad Media|location=Tarifa|publisher=Ayuntamiento de Tarifa|pages=221–239|isbn=84-923890-7-9|chapter-url=https://repositorioinstitucional.ceu.es/bitstream/10637/2846/1/Tarifa_Sanchez_2005.pdf}}
{{Commons}}
{{wikivoyage|Tarifa}}
*[http://www.aytotarifa.com/ Official website] {{in lang|es}}
*[http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente/servtc5/ventana/mostrarFicha.do?idEspacio=14076 Estrecho Natural Park] {{in lang|es}}
*[http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente/servtc5/ventana/mostrarFicha.do?idEspacio=7386 Lances Beach Natural Paraje] {{in lang|es}}

{{Tarifa}}
{{Municipalities in Cádiz}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Tarifa| ]]
[[Category:Costa de la Luz]]
[[Category:Municipalities of the Province of Cádiz]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns on the Spanish Atlantic coast]]