Melilla: a cultural extension from Andalusia to Africa
A unique city accessible by sea or air that can be incorporated into a private itinerary through southern Spain, expanding the experience into a singular historical and cultural context.
Tours and circuits to Melilla from Andalusia: information and proposals
Are you looking for excursions to Melilla from Andalusia to discover one of the most unknown and surprising cities in Spain… even for Spaniards? Then our agency can organize the tour package you need. This Spanish territory has the status of an Autonomous City and possesses the interest of all border tourist destinations. But in this case, it is squared, as its location gives it a special character: on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, surrounded by Moroccan territory, similar to what occurs with Ceuta. To this is added the charm of its historic center, known as Melilla la Vieja, as well as other areas of tourist interest, such as its beaches, its marina, or its Modernist Extension.
At Andalucía Exclusiva, we adapt to your travel preferences to create a tailor-made proposal. With it, you will enjoy the best transportation to make the most of your time, as well as other services to discover its tourist attractions. If you are on vacation in the province of Granada, Málaga, or Almería, this getaway will fit perfectly into your program. But it will also be a possibility within your reach if you are anywhere else in Andalusia. If you want to know more details, you only have to contact us. And if you want to know now what the excursions to Melilla entail, continue reading the information we provide below.
Contents
Where Melilla is and what it is like
Melilla is located in North Africa, on the southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, and more specifically in the portion known as the Alboran Sea. If we draw an imaginary north-south line, it is located opposite the Costa Tropical (Granada) and the Costa de Almería. Therefore, the port of Motril or the port of Almería are the most common departure points for these excursions to Melilla. But they are also common from Málaga, as until the end of the 20th century it was considered a region of that province. However, our agency can organize the trip from any other point in Andalusia and even from North Africa (Morocco and Ceuta), where our agency has a large portfolio of suppliers.
Melilla has a land border with Morocco, a country that surrounds the 12 km2 city from its northwest side to the southeast. At this last point, it directly borders the city of Beni Ensar, practically forming a single urban concentration. All of this is framed within the Cape Tres Forcas peninsula, whose most prominent geographical feature is Mount Gurugú (892 m above sea level). Its climate is typical Mediterranean (Csa), quite mild all year round, although in recent decades it has progressively approached the typical climate of semi-arid areas. Episodes of higher maximum temperatures can also occur in summer due to the arrival of southern winds from the Sahara. Its highest average maximums occur in August (slightly below 30ºC) and the lowest average minimums occur in January (not reaching 10ºC). Therefore, you can go on excursions to Melilla practically
A bit of history of Melilla
For Spanish travelers, one of the great attractions of excursions to Melilla is to discover the uniqueness of this autonomous city, which is the only one in the country (along with Ceuta) located on the African continent. Therefore, the cultural diversity that dominates it is palpable. If the coexistence between different civilizations is something evoked by the main monuments and old quarters of Andalusia, in the case of Melilla it can be appreciated today, in person, live and direct. And this is not the result of chance, but of a very rich history that is worth knowing before visiting this autonomous city.
Melilla in Antiquity
Like many other cities in the Mediterranean, this territory was visited and known by different civilizations. The first to go on excursions to Melilla were the Phoenicians, in this case for commercial reasons. It was the 18th century BC and they gave the name Rusadir to this place, which can be translated as ‘imposing cape’. The Greeks, who were aware of its existence, gave it other names: Metagonium and Akros.
Centuries later, in the 3rd century BC, this settlement was part of the Punic or Carthaginian empire, a civilization ‘heir’ to the Phoenicians. It gained special importance after the foundation of Cartago Nova, present-day Cartagena, which it supplied with soldiers during the Punic Wars against the Romans. Furthermore, the surrounding mines were exploited since Antiquity, as suggested by various archaeological findings.
After the fall of the Carthaginian Empire (2nd century BC), it became part of Mauretania, a territory formed by tribes of Amazigh or Berber culture. But at the turn of the millennium, it passed into Roman hands, being framed within the province of Mauretania Tingitana. Archaeological remains from this era are abundant in the city, especially those found on the hill of San Lorenzo. Those interested can take advantage of excursions to Melilla to visit the Museum of History and Archaeology, where these and other ancient pieces can be viewed.
Melilla in the Middle Ages
With the fall of the Roman Empire (5th century AD), barbarian conquests also reached ancient Rusadir: in this case, the Germanic Vandals. In the following century (6th century), it passed into the hands of the Byzantine Empire, and a century later (mid-7th century) it fell under Visigothic rule.
But at the beginning of the 7th century, an even more important moment occurred: the Umayyad Islamic conquest, in its lightning progression from Damascus to Al-Andalus. A small emirate was then created of which Rusadir was part, which changed its name, adapting the previous Berber denomination: a word that eventually derived into Mliliat and meant ‘The White One’.
In the 10th century, during the splendor of the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba, this city came under its rule. After the fall of that political entity, it became a taifa (11th century), subsequently conquered by successive North African empires: Almoravids (11th-12th centuries), Almohads (12th-13th centuries), and Marinids (13th-15th centuries), the latter with their capital in Fez and in constant dispute with the Zayyanid kingdom of Tlemcen.
Melilla under Spanish rule
In 1497, the most transcendental episode in the history of Melilla occurred: the Christian conquest of the city by the troops of Pedro de Estopiñán in the service of the Crown of Castile, in the context of its maritime expansionist policy, as Aragon and Portugal were also doing. Estopiñán was in the service of the ducal house of Medina Sidonia, which assumed control by taking it from the new Wattasid sultanate with its capital in Fez. Half a century later, these territories came definitively under the rule of the Crown, in the mid-16th century.
It is then that the great citadel began to be built, what we know today as ‘el Pueblo’ or Melilla la Vieja, which is the great historical-artistic attraction of excursions to Melilla. It is a fortified enclosure on the rock where all previous civilizations had settled, since ancient Rusadir. In subsequent centuries, always under Spanish rule, it was renovated to improve its defensive character, as the successive sultanates (Saadi, Alawite) never recognized Spanish sovereignty over Melilla. This was evident with various attacks during the following centuries, such as that of Moulay Ismaïl at the end of the 17th century or the Siege of Melilla in 1774-1775.
Hostilities also continued in the 19th century, especially with the First Moroccan War (1859-1860), resolved with the Treaty of Wad-Ras, which declared Spain the victor and confirmed a curious clause agreed upon a year earlier to draw the territorial limits of Melilla: the dividing line would be marked by the range of the shots from the cannon El Caminante, in order to ensure sufficient security space for this Spanish military outpost. It was detonated in 1862 and the result was 3,060 meters from Fort Victoria. However, this did not prevent clashes between the troops of Melilla and those deployed in the Rif from remaining constant, as in the Margallo War (1893-94).
The 20th century was also a key and turbulent century for the configuration of the city as we know it today, as can be seen on excursions to Melilla. The Second Moroccan War took place in the first decades of the century, occupying much of the country’s media attention and having Melilla as one of the main enclaves. It was the reaction of the Rif tribes in opposition to the establishment of the Spanish Protectorate in northern Morocco, of which Melilla was not part, as it was already territory under Spanish sovereignty. This protectorate was in effect during the Second Republic and until well into the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco (1957), although the dissolution of that political entity did not, therefore, affect Melilla.
Melilla, from the Transition to the present day
With the arrival of democracy in Spain, Melilla voted overwhelmingly in favor of the 1978 Constitution, with 88.9% approval, in line with the Spanish average (88.5%). In the following years, the city was an administrative region of the province of Málaga, but in 1995 it approved its Statute of Autonomy.
Currently, one of the aspects that most attracts attention on excursions to Melilla is the enormous cultural diversity that can be seen in every corner. In fact, of the more than 80,000 inhabitants registered in the city, it is estimated that slightly less than half are native Melillans of the Catholic religion, or with peninsular origins. A similar percentage is made up of people of the Muslim faith, whether they are Melillans with Riffian roots or Moroccan immigrants. In addition, there are numerous minorities that complete this cultural map, among which Algerians and Chinese stand out, increasing in recent years. Special mention deserves the Jewish community, especially Sephardim descendants of families expelled in the times of the Catholic Monarchs: it is estimated that their population is around a thousand, although due to the aliyah to Israel, its population has been decreasing since the mid-20th century, when it was estimated to be around 7,000. The Hindu population also forms a small but visible community.
Melilla’s economy focuses mainly on the service sector, with a very important weight of activities related to Public Administrations, as there is a strong presence of the Spanish State in the city. It has the status of a free port, which makes it a hub for the commercial exchange of goods. The city also has special tax treatment: it lacks VAT and instead has an equivalent local tax (IPSI), although with a lower tax rate and intended to directly finance the Melillan administration. It is estimated that one-third of the local budget is funded through this channel.
In recent decades, Melilla has experienced strong growth in its GDP, although this is not reflected in a similar increase in GDP per capita, because it has also experienced a large increase in population: about 20,000 more people in the current century. This makes the per capita income lower than the Spanish average, despite the fact that nearly one-third of the city’s professionals are high-ranking officials or members of the state security forces, and therefore of a medium-high level.
Regarding tourism, its weight in the local economy is lower than in other regions, such as Andalusia. It is estimated that around 60,000 people stay overnight each year in this city, to which should be added those visitors who limit themselves to excursions to Melilla on the same day, without staying the night here. However, the trend in recent years is an increase in the number of tourists, attracted by the very particular atmosphere that reigns in the city and by the monumental attractions it possesses, such as those we show you in the following sections.
What to see in Melilla
In addition to its interest as a border city and as a laboratory for the coexistence of cultures, many people go on excursions to Melilla because its old town is, quite simply, beautiful and historic. And those are precisely the ingredients that move many tourists to travel. Below we show you the areas of greatest attraction for those visiting this autonomous city.
Melilla la Vieja
Due to the continuous dispute it has been subject to during all these centuries, it is logical that the most prominent and outstanding places in Melilla la Vieja are dominated by military and defensive constructions. In fact, it is a large citadel 2,000 meters long, in whose perimeter four walled enclosures are identified. Walking through the area, you will enter some and leave others, almost without realizing that their styles and periods change, although they are separated from each other by moats or cuts, the result of permanent work of construction, reconstruction, and adaptation to new times.
And between the Second and Third Walled Enclosures, specifically between the bastions of San Pedro Alto and Cinco Palabras, opens the Ensenada de los Galápagos, one of the most charming corners in Melilla la Vieja: a small urban beach flanked by these military constructions in a sort of embrace, where a small swimming area with golden sand and crystal-clear waters emerges.
Another place of interest that can be part of excursions to Melilla is the Lighthouse and its corresponding Promenade, which offers panoramic views of the southeastern area of the city, with the Port of Melilla dominating the scene. The view also reaches the Melillan beaches and even neighboring Beni Ensar.
Regarding recommended cultural visits in Melilla la Vieja, it is worth mentioning the Military History Museum of the city, located in the Bastion of the Concepción, in the First Walled Enclosure. Here, a review of the eventful history of this enclave is made, with models that recreate its past appearance. Another of the most valuable objects is the Calabrino cannon, contemporary to the aforementioned El Caminante. In addition, the collection is rich in maps, such as the one made to delimit the city’s boundaries.
Of course, it is not the only museum in the city, nor even the only one located in Melilla la Vieja. It is also worth mentioning the Museum of History and Archaeology, located in the Plaza de la Maestranza of the First Walled Enclosure. It occupies premises of what were the Peñuelas Warehouses and is a very interesting place to see pieces recovered in archaeological excavations: samples from the Neolithic site of El Zafrín (Chafarinas Islands), Roman amphorae, or coins from the Carthaginian era. There are also recreations for educational purposes, such as a Moorish burial or a model of Melilla la Vieja.
In this same building is also the Ethnographic Museum, dedicated mainly to two of the most important communities in the past and present of the city: the Judeo-Sephardic and the Berber or Amazigh. Everyday objects, samples of craftsmanship, and other pieces of interest appear to the eyes of those who visit this space as part of their excursions to Melilla.
The Melilla Extension
In addition to visiting ‘el Pueblo’, during excursions to Melilla it is also recommended to visit the Extension or ‘Melilla la Nueva’. This is the modern and modernist area of the city, located southwest of the walled enclosures. The square that joins both environments is the Plaza de las Culturas and, therefore, it is also a good place to start the tour of this surprising part of the autonomous city. In fact, Melilla is considered one of the best exponents of Spanish modernist art, after Barcelona, and the most prominent on the entire African continent.
And not by chance: from the end of the 19th century, Melilla experienced great urban and demographic growth, as a result of the definitive establishment of the city limits and the military and administrative reinforcement of the area in the geopolitical context of the Spanish Protectorate of Morocco. One of the central figures of this artistic current was Enrique Nieto y Nieto, a member of the Barcelona School and a follower of the great Lluis Doménech i Montaner.
During excursions to Melilla, it is common to see numerous works by this architect, such as the former editorial office of El Telegrama del Rif, the headquarters of Muebles La Reconquista and its Department Store, the Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation, the former Military Commissary, and stately palaces such as the Casa David J. Melul, the Casa de José Zea and Manuel Alvadalejo, the Casa José García Álvaro, and the Casa Juan Montes Hoyo, among other examples. In them, one can appreciate the taste for floral ornamentation and ironwork. Another of his great buildings is the Assembly Palace or City Hall, in this case a late work more typical of the Art Deco prevailing in Europe in the 1930s.
Another prominent name in Melillan modernism is Emilio Alzugaray, who designed such important buildings as the College of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the Casa de las Fieras, the Casa de Salomón Cohen, the Casa de José Morely, or the very elegant Casa de la Viuda de Samuel Salama.
Coexisting with modernism are also abundant examples of other styles of the time, works by other important architects for the city such as Eusebio Redondo or José de la Gándara. Among these styles are eclecticism and historicism, mixing elements from different eras and artistic traditions. In this sense, one can mention the Metropol building, the Port Authority of Melilla, the Casa de los Cristales, the Polígono Market, and religious constructions such as the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is also a style that was used for military constructions, as is the case with the outer forts: Fort of Camellos, Fort of Rostrogordo, Fort of Cabrerizas Altas, and Fortín de Reina Regente, with a neo-medieval air and built during the military context of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Melilla Bullring, known as the ‘Mosque of Bullfighting’, is in the Andalusian Neo-Baroque style; it is one of the nine existing in Africa and the only active bullring on the continent. Industrial architecture also has another prominent example in the Ore Loader, made of reinforced concrete and located right in the port.
Most of these buildings are located on wide, regular, and symmetrical streets, typical of the urban extensions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And as expected in a project of this magnitude, there is also space for large squares and parks. Among the former, the Hernández Park stands out, in the place where the Río de Oro used to pass, diverted a century ago. Its imposing palm trees are striking, but also its giant yuccas and other large trees. Among the latter, the aforementioned Plaza de las Culturas, the Plaza de España, or the charming Plaza de Menéndez Pelayo are worth mentioning.
Other places of interest in Melilla
During excursions to Melilla, it is possible to discover other spaces of interest that attract the flashes of local citizens and tourists alike. One of the poles of attraction of the current city is the area formed by the V Centenario Towers and the Noray Marina. In the first case, it is the most representative contemporary building in the city, whose silhouette dominates the Melillan skyline. At its feet is the port, a mooring place for boats of all sizes and levels, especially luxury ones.
Another attraction of the city is its rich and varied sculptural heritage, which achieves its goal of beautifying the city streets. Among the bronze or stone statues scattered throughout Melilla are the Monument to the Heroes and Martyrs of the Campaigns in the center of the Plaza de España, the large Sundial with the statue of the god Chronos in the Plaza del Primero de Mayo, that of the naturalist Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente in Hernández Park, that of Cervantes and Don Quixote in Plaza Menéndez Pelayo, or that of Pedro Estopiñán y Virués, in the eponymous square of the Frente de Tierra.
As we have been mentioning, one of the great attractions of excursions to Melilla is the multiculturalism of the city. And one way to discover it is by visiting its religious buildings. The Route of the Temples covers not only the Christian churches and chapels mentioned above, but also the sacred sites of the other three major religions present here. For example, the Central Mosque or Zawiya Al-Alawiya of Sufi worship, which is also one of the best examples of eclectic architecture. The Holy Light Synagogue or Or Zoruah is one of the masterpieces of the aforementioned Enrique Nieto, with reminiscences of Caliphal and Nasrid styles. Although a minority, the Hindu community also has its place of worship, the Mandir, which is also a meeting hall for its faithful. Inside there are numerous effigies of holy men and gurus and, thanks to it being a religion with a syncretic attitude, it is also possible to find images of Jesus Christ.
Finally, if we move a bit away from the city, it is possible to see places of interest that give us another perspective of Melilla, such as the Barranco del Quemadero Viewpoint, from where the Moroccan coast and the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean can also be seen.
Beaches of Melilla
Logically, those who go on excursions to Melilla from Andalusia will find numerous and wonderful beaches on the Costa del Sol, the Costa de la Luz, the Costa de Almería, or the Costa Tropical of Granada. However, this Spanish autonomous city also has interesting swimming areas, spread along 2 kilometers of coastline south of the citadel or Melilla la Vieja.
In fact, some of them received recognition for their quality in 2020 through Blue Flags. Specifically, Hipódromo-Los Cárabos, La Hípica, Ensenada de los Galápagos, and San Lorenzo. All of them, except for Galápagos, are located south of the port and are separated by large breakwaters. They are characterized by their wide sandy areas and their fine golden sand.
Other beaches or swimming areas include Aguadú, Horcas Coloradas, Alcazaba, and Trápana. The first two are north of Melilla la Vieja and are small and difficult to access due to their rocky and virgin environment. The other two are located between the forts and bastions of the walled enclosures of Melilla la Vieja, like the Ensenada de los Galápagos.
Nature of Melilla
Due to its small dimensions, Melilla (about 12 km2) has limited natural areas, but it is not without them: it has two protected spaces with the status of Sites of Community Importance. The most interesting place from the point of view of nature tourism is the Aguadú cliffs, located north of the autonomous city. It is a maritime-terrestrial space of great beauty due to its rocky and rugged profile, at whose feet small coves and swimming areas are formed. It is a perfect habitat for nesting birds, such as Audouin’s gull. In its seabed, biodiversity is even greater, highlighting the ferruginous limpet mollusk, abundant here but declared in danger of extinction due to its scarcity elsewhere. The coral reefs are also of great importance.
The other SCI is the Barranco del Nano, at the northwestern end of the Melillan territory, where the aarar conifer grows, typical of the Atlas forests. However, this space has traditionally been mistreated and is in the process of regeneration, so for now excursions to Melilla do not usually cover this space.
And those who wish to have a more intense and complete natural adventure experience can cross to the Moroccan side to visit other environments of enormous environmental interest. Mainly, Mount Gurugú, where a Natural Park has been created. Its most iconic inhabitants are the Barbary macaques and here are also the archaeological ruins of Tazuda, from the Roman era. Another interesting option is to explore Cape Tres Forcas, a huge, practically virgin land projection that serves as an unbeatable balcony to delight in the immensity of the Mediterranean Sea. If you are interested in exploring this option, contact us, as Andalucía Exclusiva also has extensive experience in trips and circuits through Morocco, so we will help you with all the necessary procedures to cross the border.
What to do during excursions to Melilla
As you can see, during excursions to Melilla there is much to see. But in addition to sightseeing in ‘el Pueblo’, modernist Melilla, and the city’s surroundings, you will also find other interesting ways to spend your time here. The area around the Noray Marina is probably the liveliest and most recommended for nightlife, with the city’s main venues. In addition, at the foot of the V Centenario Towers is the Grand Casino of Melilla, a meeting place for fans of games of chance.
The Marina is also the great reference for nautical sports, as it has its own sailing club, as well as professional associations and companies in its facilities. It has more than 300 moorings and accommodates boats up to 24 meters in length. Here you can also do water activities such as jet skiing, or depart to other points for diving or fishing. In addition, the Nautical Week at the beginning of August stands out, a major event that organizes numerous regattas but goes beyond sports, becoming the great social event of the summer in this city.
Of course, you can also take advantage of excursions to Melilla to taste its exquisite and surprising gastronomy, which shows better than any other cultural expression the fusion of the autonomous city. You will be surprised to see that in some places they have churros with tea and you will feel the sensory explosion of the richness of spices in its establishments. In addition, it is one of the best cities to taste pinchos morunos, heirs of the kebab, but with marinated pork or chicken meat instead of lamb. But without a doubt, you should not miss the opportunity to try its fabulous seafood and fish offerings: fried chanquetes, coquinas, Larache elvers, Mar Chica prawns…
And as far as shopping is concerned, it is common to spend time on excursions to Melilla to take a walk through the Extension in search of original items that are difficult to find on the peninsula: while there is representation of the major fashion and accessory franchises, the most striking will be the small shops where you can appreciate the influence of Berber craftsmanship to achieve an unparalleled exoticism, with special mention to products made in leather, tapestries, and ceramics.
Practical Information
Our excursions to Melilla use the preferred means of transport for each client, within the possibilities offered by this autonomous city by land, sea, and air. Below we detail all of them, although if you book your tour package with us you will not have to worry about this issue, as we pick you up at the door of your accommodation and take you back to it, if you so wish.
How to get to Melilla
By land: the autonomous city has several land entrances, although most are restricted to residents, workers, or school students. Those coming on excursions to Melilla from Morocco must use the Beni Ensar border crossing.
Boat: the port of this autonomous city is very dynamic, both for cargo and passenger traffic. Therefore, it is possible to organize excursions to Melilla from Andalusia, departing from any of the ports with a direct connection. That is, Almería, Málaga, and Motril (Granada), with daily ferries.
Plane: the city of Melilla has its own airport, with connections from several different autonomous communities. Andalusia is the one that offers the most routes, as it is possible to take off from Almería, Granada, Málaga, and Seville. Flights also arrive from the Canary Islands (Gran Canaria), Catalonia (Barcelona), the Community of Madrid, and the Balearic Islands (Palma de Mallorca). On the other hand, it has no routes with other countries, not even with neighboring Morocco. Helicopter: the air connection is not limited to planes, as Melilla airport can be reached by helicopter from other heliports. For example, from the neighboring autonomous city of Ceuta. But also on private routes from the other side of the Mediterranean Sea.
How to get around Melilla
The excursions to Melilla organized by Andalucía Exclusiva provide for all the details of the trip, and this includes transport around the autonomous city. In this sense, you can move with our private taxi or minivan with a driver, so you can move when and where you want. In any case, you should know that seven bus lines operate in the city connecting the main points of Melilla and have frequencies ranging between 20 and 40 minutes. It also has an abundant fleet of taxis, which connect the port with the border crossings and other strategic locations.
Finally, the tourist office can also provide an interesting service to those who go on excursions to Melilla for one or several days. It is located at Plaza de las Culturas nº1.
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