page_title: Tarifa
section_title: Main sights
hierarchical_section_title: Tarifa / Main sights
caption_attribution_description: English: Avistamiento de ballenas y delfines en el estrecho de Gibraltar, Tarifa
context_page_description: Tarifa is a Spanish municipality in the province of Cádiz, Andalusia. Located at the southernmost end of the Iberian Peninsula, it is primarily known as one of the world's most popular destinations for windsports. Tarifa lies on the Costa de la Luz and across the Strait of Gibraltar facing Morocco.
  At exactly 36 degrees latitude, the Punta de Tarifa is the southernmost point of continental Europe. Across the Strait of Gibraltar, the African capitals of Tangier, Tunis and Algiers are to the south of Tarifa.
  There are several villages which depend economically on Tarifa in the municipality, including Tahivilla, Facinas, and Bolonia.
context_section_description: Historical landmarks of the city include:
  the well-preserved Guzman castle, near the port, built by order of caliph Abd-ar-Rahman III (960). Annexed are the Guzmán el Bueno Tower (13th century) and the church of St. Mary, on the site of a former mosque.
  remains of the medieval walls. Of three gates once existing, today only the Puerta de Jerez (13th century) has survived.
  Church of St. Matthew, built in the early 16th century in Gothic style, also over a former mosque. The façade was redesigned by Torcuato Cayón de la Vega in 1774.
  The ruins of the Roman city of Baelo Claudia, located nearby.
  Tarifa has become a popular spot for northern Europeans to spend their summers.
  Tarifa's unique wind conditions have made the beaches at Playa de Los Lances, Valdevaqueros and Punta Paloma the most popular in Europe with windsurfers and kitesurfers. The funnel created by the Strait of Gibraltar creates a Venturi effect when either the Levante (Easterly wind from Africa) or Poniente (Westerly wind from the Atlantic) is blowing. These two winds prevail in Tarifa for over 300 days most years, meaning Tarifa experiences exceptionally strong and consistent winds throughout the year. In addition, localised thermal winds at locations such as Valdevaqueros mean that even when the prevailing wind is not strong it is often possible to windsurf and kite surf in Tarifa These unique wind conditions are also the reason Tarifa is dotted with countless wind turbines.
  Tarifa is located within the Intercontinental Mediterranean Biosphere Reserve, a renowned place to watch migrating birds, in particular the storks which cross the Straits of Gibraltar in spring and autumn. Also whale and dolphin watching can be done as there are several species living on the 14 kilometre-wide Straits, for instance the Pilot whale .
caption: Watching fin whales off Tarifa.
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