By this Author: Bennytheball

An interesting attraction buried deep in Tangier's ancient sprawling medina is the tomb of 14th century world traveller Ibn Battouta, difficult to find but with some determination and the help of informal directions painted on walls leading up to the site, it's still possible for the historian to discover. To avoid becoming lost in the confusing narrow medina streets the best place to begin the search is at the Grand Socco ( Place 9 Avril 1947) continuing through Bab el Fahs into Rue d'Italie then turning right into Bab Gzenaya and immediately after passing through the arch turning left into Rue Gzenaya which eventually becomes Rue Ibn Battouta

Tangier Grand Socco and Bab Fahs entrance to the Medina

Tangier Grand Socco and Bab Fahs entrance to the Medina

Tangier Medina Bab Gzenaya

Tangier Medina Rue Italie

Tangier Rue Gzenaya the street leading to Ibn Battouta tomb

Tangier Medina, Rue Ibn Battouta

The tomb itself is encased in a small building surrounded by private homes and bears an information plaque detailing the history of Ibn Battouta

Tangier Medina the tomb of Ibn Batoutta

Tangier Medina, tomb of Ibn Batouta

Tangier Medina, Tomb of Ibn Batouta

Tangier Medina Tomb of Ibn Batouta

The tomb chamber can be accessed by visitors but is kept locked, so the caretaker's phone number is displayed on the front door of the shrine, it's normal practice to give him a twenty dirham tip.

Tangier tomb of Ibn Batouta front door and gardien phone number

A tourist information plaque reads as follows ( verbatim).......

This simple and sober building is dedicated to the memory of a universally made famous by his travels around the world during the 14th century, Abu Abdullah Muhammed ibn Ibrahim Alouafi at Tanji says is indeed born in Tangier Feb 24 1304 (17 Rajab 703) he left his hometown in 1325 to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca and returned there after 29 years of adventures in which is present 44 countries, having travelled to North Africa, Egypt, Palestine and Syria, Medina and Mecca, Iraq and Persia, Southern Arabia, Yemen and East Africa, Asia Minor and Constantinople, Southern Russia and Central Asia, India, Muslim Maldive and Ceylon, Sumatra and China.

After a brief stay in Tangier ( 1346-1349) he returned in Andalusia ( Granada) and travelled to the kingdom of Morocco, the Sahara and west Africa.
In 1368-1369 Ibn Battouta died, leaving behind him the story of the journey, Ibn Jouzay dictated at the request of Sultan Abu Anan Merinid the world completed in 1355 in Fez, is entitled to present those who like to reflect on the sights of cities and wonders of travels, but is known to Rhial Ibn Battouta.