History of Melilla

Routes full of History and Modernity

Melilla has preserved its important Phoenician, Roman, Vandal, Byzantine and Arab heritage. But as if this wasn't enough, Melilla also boasts more than 900 Modernist and Art deco buildings. All this makes of Melilla a very special living architectural museum, with an atmosphere of diversity and exoticism.

Old Melilla, or 'El Pueblo' (the Village), as the Melillans affectionately refer to it, and also known by many as 'La Ciudadela' (the Citadel), is a fortified area which was built in the 15th Century on the site of the ancient city. The collection of monuments is made up of four separate areas separated by a moat or defile. The first three jut out over the sea while the fourth is further inland. It is here that we find the forts of the 'Rosario' and 'Las Victorias', where the "El Caminante" cannon salvos determined the current town limits of Melilla.

Opposite 'Los Carros' Square, in the heart of the city, is the Melilla of the 19th Century, made up of the small, charming neighbourhoods established around the Forts of San Carlos, San Miguel, Alcazaba and Mantelete.

A climb from the square up the Alcazaba road brings the visitor to a spot where the 'Frente de la Tierra' and part of the 'Galapagos' Cove may be viewed. On the way back down the hill, we can see the balustered facade of the third site situated on the 'los Carneros' moat, with its 'La Alafia' Tower, the Barracks and the 'San Fernando' Bastion, which can be reached through the 'San Fernando' Tunnel. The visitor emerges into the ‘Hornabeque’ Moat, before going through 'La Victoria' Tunnel and on to the San Pedro and San José Bastions, located in the second area, or 'Armas' Square.

From here, the visitor may stroll through the streets and past the buildings enclosed by the Renaissance walls and towers of the first enclosure: the Portal and Chapel of St James (the only Gothic religious construction on the African continent), the Cisterns, the 'Conventico', which served as a place of refuge in times of assault, the Store House, the Church of the Conception (with its outstanding altar and 18th Century Baroque side chapel, with its 16th Century Mannerist image of the Virgin of ‘La Victoria’, the Patron Saint of the city, as well as the 16th Century engraving of the Christ of the Vera Cruz) and the ‘Hospital del Rey’, which today houses an unusual Exhibition Centre.

To complement a visit to Old Melilla, one may visit the forts around the exterior of the Square, construction of which began in the 16th Century. From the 'Camellos' Fort, we continue to the 'Cabrerizas' Fort, finishing our walk at the outer 'Rostrogordo' Fort.

The modern city of Melilla has a very special charm. Leaving behind the 16th Century town, our tour may begin with the lovely España' Square, presided over by the Assembly Hall, an Art-deco construction also designed by Nieto. España Square is the bustling heart of the city of Melilla. As we stroll around the square, we find the Military Casino and the Bank of Spain, both buildings very emblematic of Melilla.

From there, it is worth prolonging the walk to visit the streets and buildings forming the 'Reina Victoria' (nowadays, 'Heroes of Spain') neighbourhood, known as the 'Golden Triangle'.