History and architecture of Tarifa: the city that overlooks two continents

Tarifa is not only wind and kitesurfing. It is a city with more than three thousand years of history, marked by Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths and Moors, and whose architecture speaks of all these civilizations with an eloquence that few Spanish cities can match.

The Phoenicians and the origin of the name

The Phoenicians founded a settlement here, which they called TarifTarifa was one of the first points of contact between the Mediterranean world and the Atlantic. Tarifa was one of the first points of contact between the Mediterranean world and the Atlantic, a place of commercial exchange long before the Romans built their roads.

Baelo Claudia and the Roman presence

A few kilometers from Tarifa, on the beach of Bolonia, the ruins of Baelo Claudia are one of the best preserved Roman sites in Spain. Founded in the 2nd century B.C., it was for centuries the main port for the exportation of garum towards North Africa and Rome. The visit is free of charge and a must.

Arabian heritage

Tarifa was under Muslim rule for more than five centuries, and the Arab footprint is visible in every corner of the old town: the layout of the streets, the interior courtyards, the horseshoe arches and the remains of the main mosque converted into a church. The Castle of Guzmán el Bueno, built in the 9th century, is the most visible symbol of that period.

The Castle of Guzmán el Bueno

This medieval castle, well preserved and visitable, is named after the Castilian nobleman who in 1294 preferred to see his son die rather than surrender the city. From its towers overlooks the Strait, Africa and the silhouette of the island of Las Palomas.

At The Wind Palace we are at the heart of this history. Our building is part of the historical fabric of Tarifa, and we are proud to offer you an accommodation that is, in itself, a fragment of that past.