Musée de la Kasbah review: our verdict
The building itself is the first piece of the collection. The museum occupies the former 17th-century sultan's palace, and its restored rooms unfold the layers of Tangier's history: Phoenicians, Romans, Berbers, Arabs, and Andalusians. Sculpted doors, mosaics, craft objects, and Greco-Roman archaeological artifacts form the historical core, the most solid part of the visit.
The route is not extensive, and that is an asset: you move calmly, away from the noise of the Kasbah's alleyways, with the Andalusian patio as the climax. A second wing presents "Lumières d'Afrique," an artists' gaze on light—electric, solar, or spiritual; the exhibition is not recent but retains its interest. The format suits a morning of culture or a break between two walks in the medina. Those expecting a grand museum with vast collections will quickly reach the end of the tour: the pleasure lies in the whole, palace included.
The pitfall: finding the doors closed on Tuesdays; the rest of the week, entry is from 10 am to 5:30 pm. The good tip: a very cheap ticket, and the terrace overlooking Tangier Bay to finish the visit.
