Place du 9 Avril 1947, more popularly known as the Grand Socco, is a circular road and park with a large marble fountain in the center. It is one of the main public areas in Tangier which separates the old Medina from the newer areas in downtown Tangier, Morocco.

The circular fountain was built about 15 years ago. Eventually it stopped working and was neglected for a few years, but thankfully, the fountain was repaired, cleaned of dirt and graffiti and the old water pipes were replaced. The newly-restored and cleaned marble fountain was turned on and began spouting water again in the first week of February 2020.

The circular park-like area is surrounded by grassy areas with tall Marrakech palms that are not native to Tangier. There are also a dozen stone benches where you may sit and relax and watch the views and passersby.

From here you can see a mosque, the entrance to Mendoubia Gardens and the large arch leading into the Medina, Rue de la Kasbah (Rue d'Italie), the old covered food market, the popular restored Cinema Rif, half a dozen cafes and simple outdoor restaurants, a pharmacy and other businesses on the perimeter.

The Grand Socco once had huge very old trees similar to those in the Mendoubia Gardens until 1955, when there was a tragic passenger bus accident which killed and injured over 20 people. Unfortunately, the Tangier city authorities at that time ordered all these 300 year old trees cut down, since they believed that the trees themselves caused the accident and not the careless bus driver.

An urgent public petition was circulated and signed by many concerned residents to try to stop the cutting down of these beautiful old trees. Sadly their effort proved useless, to the chagrin of many concerned residents interested in preserving Tangier and its historical areas.

The current Grand Socco (Place du 9 Avril 1947), with its green lawns, flowers, tall palm trees and a dozen benches to sit on overlooking the central marble fountain, remains quite popular with residents and tourists.