Tanger and the north have much to offer. Although it has a somewhat checkered history, a number of its monuments are very intriguing.

Tanger also has some major drawbacks: Its atmosphere is partly seedy, a remnant perhaps of its days as an international city controlled by a consortium of 20 nations prior to 1956.

Asilah, a few dozen kilometers south of Tanger, is the home to a thriving artists' colony.

A number of years ago, the crumbling kasbah was restored under the vision of the then-mayor, who is now the current Moroccan Ambassador to Washington.

Every year, a nation-wide competition calls for murals to be painted in the kasbah and sculptures to be erected along the Corniche (the Atlantic ocean-side drive). Students and artists from all over the country submit entrees. The panel of judges then selects about a dozen of each to be installed, where they remain for one year until the next competition.

The restoration of Asilah won the prestigious triennial Aga Khan award in Architecture.

Most summers, it hosts a cultural festival with music and dance from all over the world.