LITERARY TANGIER

From the 14th-century scholar Ibn Battuta to contemporary novelist Tahar Ben Jelloun, Tangier’s homegrown literary pedigree is impressive. The city has also drawn an unusually illustrious list of expat writers, including Paul and Jane Bowles, Jean Genet, William S. Burroughs, Truman Capote, and Samuel Beckett. Since 1949, the heart of the literary scene has been a bookstore,

Librairie des Colonnes ( librairie-des-colonnes.org), which hosts frequent readings and events. The newer Les Insolites ( fb.com/ lesinsolitestanger) has a smaller selection of books but it doubles as an

art gallery and charming café that serves lunch.