Castillo Santa Catalina is an observation tower which was constructed in 1931 in the style of a 16th-century castle, on a small hill of the same name. The ‘castle’ has a large, strangely out-of-proportion observation tower with mudejar arches and balconies on the corners, and has become a much-loved symbol of Tarifa.

As in most popular Andalucian tourist towns, parking in the centre of Tarifa is difficult. Here are some tips to help.

The port in Tarifa is the departure point of the fast ferry to Tangier and excursions including whale and dolphin-watching trips.

Tarifa makes a great base for scuba diving excursions, with its warm waters (15-20 degrees), good visibility and year-round sunshine. Ocean currents flow between the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, which meet just off the coast, encouraging a rich ecosystem.

Diving in the natural park of the Isla de las Palomas, you'll find an abundant selection of marine life, including star coral, moray eels, conger eels, octopus, scorpion fish, sun fish, rays, bream, sea perch, and anemones. You can also visit wrecks.

There are frequent daily ferry services from Tarifa to Tangiers so why not take a day-trip and visit the souk in this beautiful, historic Moroccan city with a rich literary and artistic heritage?

The town's bus station is at the end of the main shopping street, Calle Batalla del Salado, and next to the petrol station. The bus station is located 1.2km from Tarifa port, for the ferry to Tanger. If you have luggage it would be necessary to take a taxi to the port.

This is a typical Andalucian tree-lined avenue with bars and restaurants, where the old folk sit on wrought-iron benches in the shade of the vast palms. You will find a number of good restaurants with outside terraces along the east side of the square - the restaurants are actually built into the old city wall and, unusually, have entrances on both sides of the wall.

This central plazain Tarifa town has three names. Officially called Plaza de Santa Maria, after the church on one corner, its older name of Plaza Alfonso XII is still on the wall. However it is known locally as Plaza de la Ranita, or Little Frog Square, thanks to its unusual star-shaped fountain featuring eight ceramic frogs, one on each point, and a very Moroccan shade of turquoise.

You can get an impressive view over the Straits of Gibraltar to Morocco from the Miramar Gardens on Calle Amargura next to the Town Hall in Plaza de la Ranita. The gardens are located on top of the old city walls, providing an ideal vantage point across the sea to Africa.

The Municipal Museum in Tarifa is well worth a visit. It is located in the same attractive square as the Town Hall, officially called Plaza de Santa Maria, but known locally as the Square of the Little Frog. Inside you can see artefacts from Neolithic, Roman and Moorish times.

Jerez Gate is is a medieval gateway flanked by two crenellated towers and the only entrance through the old Moorish city walls that remains today of the four original ones - as the name suggests, this gate gave access to the road northwards to Jerez de la Frontera.

There are plenty of eateries to choose from in Tarifa, which serve the variety of tourists and locals in the area. Anyone from a seasoned gourmet fanatic to a surfer seeking nourishment after riding waves can find something suitable. Many restaurants capitalise on the striking coastal location; El Chiringuito Lounge Beach Restaurant, nestled in the corner of Playa los Lances´s southernmost point, has slick white décor which spills onto sandy decking, and serves various artfully presented meat and fish platters.

Tarifa is a small town with an amazing selection of activities available nearby, to suit all interests and ages, from the hugely popular extreme watersports like kite- and windsurfing, to scuba diving, whale-watching and horse-riding.