Tangier: a cultural bridge on the Strait of Gibraltar. A project proposal for the valorisation of the relationship between the old city and the harbour

Tangier, founded by the Phoenician, for millennia has been located on the edge of the Old World. The city extends its arms on the Mediterranean Sea towards the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the gate of North Africa from the Strait of Gibraltar. During the Roman Empire, Tangier was the capital of the Mauretania Tingitana, therefore the structure of the city was modified with the typical shape based on the cardo and decumanus. During the 8th century, Tangier became an Arab military outpost supporting the invasion of Spain. After the discovery of the New World, the city became for centuries an important trading center. Thus the Medina, the commercial hub of Tangier, in this context maintained the Roman military structure. Since the 15th century, under the domination of Portugal, United Kingdom, Spain and France the construction of the city walls, the bastions and the York Castle were completed; the structure of the current harbour was shaped during these centuries of wars. The creation of a free trade zone and the consequent increase of the harbour business interrupted the historical relationship between the Old City and the sea, moving away the sea from the city and creating a coastal area with a strong criticism. The aim of this study is to show the first result of a project proposal for the valorization of the historical town by renovating the ancient connection between the Medina and the new harbour.