Tarifa

Tarifa, the southernmost town on the continent of Europe, is a seaport of Spain, in the province of Cadiz in Andalusia, and is situated 21 miles SW. of Gibraltar. The town is still quite Moorish in aspect, and retains its alcazar and battlemented Arab walls. A causeway connects it with a small island, on which are some powerful fortifications and a lighthouse, 135 feet above sea-level. Tunny and anchovy fishing is and has been since Roman times the principal occupation of the inhabitants, but the preparation of leather is also carried on, and there is a trade in sweet oranges. Tarifa, called Julia Joza by Strabo, was occupied in 710 A.D. by the pioneers of the Moorish invasion, under Tarif Abû-Zor'a, whence it obtained its Arabic name of Jeziret-Tarif (Tarif's island). It was taken from the Moslems, after an obstinate siege, in 1292, by Sancho IV. of Castile, and its first Spanish governor was Alonzo Perez de Guzman, celebrated in the Romancero for his valiant defence of the town against the besieging Moors in 1294. During the Peninsular war Tarifa was successfully defended by Gough with 1800 British troops and 700 Spaniards against a besieging army of 10,000 French (December 1811 to January 1812). Pop. 13,580.