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The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption of Tangier

Tangier, Morocco

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, located in the heart of the Medina of Tangier, is one of the most emblematic Catholic buildings in Morocco. Built during the Spanish protectorate, it is today the cathedral of the Diocese of Tangier and the center of Christian life in northern Morocco.

History of construction

The cathedral was built in several phases during the Spanish protectorate in northern Morocco (1912-1956). The work began in 1926 and lasted until 1961, with interruptions due to the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War. The project was directed by Spanish architects who combined the Neorromic style with elements of the Spanish-Arab architecture, reflecting the cultural fusion of Tangier.

Architecture and art

The cathedral has remarkable architectural characteristics:

• Latin cross plant with central ship and two sides.
• Bell tower visible from the medina and the port.
• Retablo mayor dedicated to the Assumption of Mary.
• Glass with scenes of the life of Mary and the saints of North Africa.
• Side chapels with various Marian advocacy.

Our Lady of the Assumption

The cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, dogma proclaimed by Pius XII in 1950. The feast of the Assumption (August 15) is the main celebration of the cathedral, with a solemn mass and procession through the streets of the Medina.

The Church of the Immaculate Conception

Next to the cathedral, the Church of the Immaculate Conception (also known as the Spanish church) is another important Marian cult center in Tangier. Built in the early 20th century, it maintains an active community of faithful, especially of Spanish origin.

Tangier: city of meeting

Tangier, an international city from 1923 to 1956, was a crucible of cultures where Christians, Muslims and Jews lived together. The cathedral was the center of the Catholic life of this cosmopolitan city. Today, Tangier remains a city of meeting between Europe and Africa, and the cathedral is a witness to that vocation.

The cathedral today

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption remains the seat of the diócesis de Tánger. The Catholic community, which is composed mostly of sub-Saharan and European, celebrates mass in Spanish, French, English and African languages. The cathedral is also a point of interest for tourists who visit the Medina of Tangier.

Prayer at Tangier Cathedral

Oh, Mary, Asunta to heaven, who from the Cathedral of Tangier candles on the Strait that unites two continents, intercede for Christians living at the crossroads of Europe and Africa. May this cathedral, built with stones of the medina, be a house of prayer for all peoples. May your Assumption be hope of resurrection for those who seek God in Moroccan land. Amen.