Discover Melilla

The old town of Melilla is also known as "El Pueblo," meaning "The Village." This name dates back to the time when the Spanish built walls around Melilla in the 15th century. The inner city of Melilla has been preserved almost intact since then.

Visitors should definitely not miss the opportunity to stroll through Melilla's old town, wandering along the city walls or through the winding alleys. Tourists can also walk to the Conventico caves, which sheltered generations of Melilla residents whenever the city was besieged by North African armies.

The brilliant architect Enrique Nieto – a student of the "father" of Spanish Modernism, Antoni Gaudí – lived and worked in Melilla for many years. Thanks to Nieto, Melilla boasts countless modern architectural works. Walking between rows of adjacent houses filled with curves and motifs reminiscent of the female form designed by Nieto, even the most discerning observers are left in awe.

The area with the highest concentration of modern buildings is known as the "Golden Triangle," with the three vertices being the city council building, the Casa Melul apartment complex, and Menéndez Pelayo square.

Melilla's coastline is only 9km long, but it is blessed with fine white sand beaches and calm ocean currents. In the summer, the beaches of San Lorenzo, Alcazaba, and Ensenada de los Galápagos are always crowded with locals swimming, enjoying the breeze, and playing with their families.

Those seeking tranquility should drive north to Cortados de Aguadú beach. Here, sand is interspersed with rocky slopes, and the Mediterranean breeze blows year-round. Cortados de Aguadú can soothe even the most weary souls and revive the oldest imagination.

There are four main religious communities living in Melilla: Jewish, Catholic, Hindu, and Muslim. Their ancestors came to Melilla when the city was still a strategic location of the Spanish Empire.

Over the centuries, members of these communities have strived to both preserve and integrate their customs and cultures with one another. This has resulted in an incredibly diverse cultural life in Melilla.

From murals to local cuisine, visitors can recognize the imprint of different cultures. The best time to enjoy this cultural diversity is at the Feria de Melilla fair, held annually in September, which brings together artists, craftspeople, chefs, and more from all over the world.

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