TETOUAN

also spelled Tetun, city, north-central Morocco. It lies along the Wadi Martin, 7 miles (11 km) from the Mediterranean Sea. The city stands on a rocky plateau detached from the southern flank of Mount Dersa. The Roman settlement of Tamuda stood immediately above the present-day city. Ttouan was inhabited in the 9th century by the Idrisids and in the 14th century was fortified by the Marinids. Its fortress became a corsair stronghold and was later destroyed by the Spanish. In the 16th century Ttouan was populated by Moorish Andalusian refugees. Spanish troops captured it in 1860 and again in 1913. In 1956 it was returned to Morocco. The Moorish-Andalusian old city is surrounded on three sides by walls containing 36 mosques and sanctuaries and seven gates. It is a commercial centre with an economy based on crafts and light manufacturing. It is known as a cultural centre with a school of music, several artisan schools, national museums of archaeology and traditional arts, and an archival library. It is connected by road with Tangier (Tanger), al-Hocema, and Ouezzane. Cereals (primarily wheat), citrus fruits, tea, sheep, goats, and cattle are raised in the surrounding area, and cork and olive trees are also cultivated. Pop. (1982) city, 199,615.