Morocco Travel Guide

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fortress, several fascinating museums and nearly 50 tapas bars. The result is Melilla, a nirvana
for architecture and history buffs, as well as a great place to spend the weekend.

Along with Ceuta, Melilla is one of two autonomous Spanish cities on the Moroccan coast,
known as the plazas majores (see the boxed text, Click here ). These cultural islands have
much in common: their economies are rooted in cross-border commerce, their societies are
strongly multicultural and there is a significant military presence, the result of strained relations.
Melilla is nearly equally divided between Christian and Muslim, with the latter being
predominantly Berber. Various forces such as immigrants trying to get in and Moroccan claims
to sovereignty, and more – have caused headaches in the past, and at the time of research,
there were riots over local employment issues. A result of sub-Saharan immigrants trying to get
in was the construction of a €33 million fence that stretches from one side of the enclave to the
other. The visit of the king and queen of Spain in 2007, the first royal visit in 80 years, met with
great local acclaim but was strongly reviled by the Moroccans.

Melilla

    Top Sights

Melilla La  Vieja

Plaza   de  España

    Sights

1    Aljibes    de  las Peñuelas

2    Banco  de  España

3    Casino Militar

4    Cuevas del Conventico