Melilla
4 places in and around Melilla, 1 of them among my favourite picks.
Chapter One
Places in Melilla
4 places I chose, arranged in chapters. A gold star marks one of my favourite picks.
Melilla la Vieja
A fortified city on a sea rock, with four interlocking forts, drawbridges and moats, dating from the 16th and 18th centuries. Inside are museums, cafés and the caves of El Conventico cut into the rock.
- Moderate effort
- Stone lanes and many steps; manageable for families with rests along the way. Car parks near the port.
My tip
Allow half a day; book the El Conventico caves tour in advance. Start at the Sea Gate and climb up to the Plaza de los Aljibes.
Melilla Modernista – Plaza de España
Melilla has the second-largest collection of “Modernist” (Modernismo) architecture in Spain after Barcelona, most of it designed by Enrique Nieto. The Assembly Palace, with its concave facade, opens the district onto Plaza de España.
What to see
Assembly Palace (Palacio de la Asamblea) · Plaza de España · Juan Carlos I Street · Parque Hernández · the central market “Mercado Central”
- Easy to reach
- A completely flat district, suitable for strollers; a 10-minute walk from Melilla la Vieja.
My tip
Walk along Juan Carlos I Street and Abiero Bosch Street, and look at the decorated facades; then Parque Hernández. Stroll in the morning before the heat.
Mezquita Central de Melilla
A central mosque built by the architect Enrique Nieto (1945 CE), in a style that blends Spanish modernism with Islamic ornament, with a square minaret. A large women's prayer room on the upper floor.
- Easy to reach
- In a flat district west of the centre; a 15-minute walk from Plaza de España.
My tip
Attend Friday prayer here; visits are in the morning and evening on working days. The surrounding area is less clean, so keep an eye on your belongings.
Museo de Arqueología e Historia de Melilla
A free museum inside Melilla la Vieja in the Plaza de los Aljibes, presenting the city's history from the Phoenicians through the Islamic period to modern times, with an ethnographic section on the Amazigh and Sephardic cultures.
- Easy to reach
- An old building with an internal staircase, in the heart of the fortress; moderately easy.
My tip
Entry is free, the guides are friendly and speak English; ask for a tour that covers the ethnographic and art museums.
Chapter Two
When to go to Melilla
Pick a month to see its weather and events.
Among my best months An event or holiday
January
No events listed in January. A quiet month, and prices are often lower.