Melilla
www.melillamonumental.org
Melilla brings together all the mystery of Africa and the
history of Spain. The city of Melilla is a window from
which you can view two continents. An enclave in North
Africa for more than 500 years, Melilla's shorelines are
lapped by the waves of the Mediterranean Sea, where
visitors with a taste for the unexpected may find a holiday
full of exoticism, cultural variety and outdoor activities.
From the charm of its ancient Citadel walls to the
explosion of color of its Modernist architecture of over
900 Modern and Art Deco buildings, Melilla offers the
visitor a never-ending variety while walking the city
streets. The proximity of the sea and the influence of four
cultures are reflected in the city's exquisite gastronomy,
and in the variety of its artistic customs and expressions.
Few people are aware of the multiple attractions that
invite one to discover the city of Melilla, which range
from local treasures that display the city's splendour as a
historical nexus between two continents, to the city's
pristine beaches on the Mediterranean Sea.
One of Melilla's greatest attractions are the people
themselves, who constantly welcome visitors to discover the
city. Four different ethnic and religious communities
(Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Hindu) coexist peacefully
while maintaining their own particular cultural identities,
filling Melilla with a mix of surprising contrasts which
enrich the city and fill its streets with color.
This cultural blending is also evident in Melilla's
cuisine, which tempts the palate with a wide range of
dishes and exquisitely flavorful specialties which are the
product of the city's cultural diversity and Mediterranean
character.
In addition to dining out, Melilla is also a wonderful
place to shop, both because of the city's cultural
diversity and also because prices are significantly lower
than mainland Spain, since Melilla enjoys fiscal advantages
which allow many products to be sold at tax-free prices.
Melilla's shopping area is full of the shops of Muslims,
Jews and Indian traders. Here one can buy Berber jewelry
and gold and silverware, leather hand-crafted items, wall
hangings, and local pottery, as well as designer clothing,
accessories and footwear. One can also find areas that
evoke the colorful atmosphere of the African open-air
market, with all the advantages of a Western city.
By day, Melilla is a happy, vibrant and colorful city. Its
semi-arid Mediterranean climate guarantees average annual
temperatures of around 18º C. Any time of the year is a
good moment to take a break in Melilla, or enjoy longer
holidays, or take advantage of its privileged position as a
meeting point between Europe and Africa. Melilla serves as
an ideal starting point to venture into Africa, while at
the same time providing the security of being in an
exceptionally attractive Spanish location.
When night falls, Melilla is a city that offers fun for
all, where one can enjoy an evening at the most modern
clubs and discos or relax in traditional bars, where
conversation mingles with the different rhythms of
traditional instruments.
