Melilla

Melilla is a city by the sea.

It sits on the coast of North Africa. It is part of Spain.

The city sits near Morocco. It faces the big Mediterranean Sea. Long ago, people kept bees there.

Many people live in the city. Some speak Spanish. Others speak a way called Tarifit.

The city has many old buildings. Some look like a museum. They have a special style.

Melilla is a very special place to visit.

Melilla is a city in Spain. It sits on the coast of North Africa.

The city is near Morocco. It faces the Mediterranean Sea.

Many people live in Melilla. In 2025, there were 87,067 people. Most people are from Iberian or Riffian families. Some people are Sephardic Jews or Sindhi Hindus. People speak Spanish and Tarifit.

The city has a long history. Long ago, it was a place for beekeeping. Some people think its name means "white" in a local language. In the past, many groups ruled the city. These included the Romans and many Islamic groups.

Melilla has beautiful buildings. Many have a style called Art Nouveau. This style makes the streets look like a museum.

You can also see the city center. It has many grand parts.

Melilla is a special city belonging to Spain. It sits on the North African coast near the Cape Three Forks.

The city faces the blue Mediterranean Sea and shares a border with Morocco.

Melilla is an autonomous city, which means it has its own way of governing itself. It is also part of the European Union. Because of this, there are specific rules for moving between Melilla and the rest of the EU.

The city has a very old name with many possible meanings. Some believe the name comes from an Arabic word. Others think it comes from a local Berber word meaning "white."

In ancient times, Melilla was famous for beekeeping. You can even see a bee on the bronze coins used there a long time ago. The city was once a trade spot for the Phoenicians. Later, the Romans made it a colony.

Many different groups have ruled Melilla throughout history. After the Romans, the Vandals, Byzantines, and Visigoths all held power there. Later, many Islamic groups ruled the region. Spain took control of the city in 1497. This happened almost without any fighting because the city had been left abandoned.

For a long time, the city was managed by both the Spanish Crown and the House of Medina Sidonia.

As time passed, Melilla grew into a busy place for trade. In the late 1800s, people traded things like goat skins, eggs, and beeswax.

Many Sephardic Jews moved there to trade and live safely. By 1896, the population reached 10,004 people. Today, the city is much larger. In 2025, the population was 87,067 people.

Most people are of Iberian or Riffian descent.

Walking through Melilla feels like visiting an outdoor museum. Between 1909 and 1945, many buildings were built in the Art Nouveau style.

This style is very beautiful and makes the streets look special. The city center also has many grand areas to explore.

Today, people speak both Spanish and Tarifit in the city. It remains a unique place where African land meets European culture.

Melilla is an autonomous city belonging to Spain. It is located on the North African coast.

The city sits on the eastern side of the Cape Three Forks. It borders Morocco and faces the Mediterranean Sea.

Melilla is one of the special territories within the European Union. Because of this status, specific rules govern movement between Melilla and the rest of the EU. These rules are part of the Accession Agreement of Spain to the Schengen Convention.

The name Melilla has several possible origins. One theory is that it comes from an Arabic word. Another possibility is that it stems from a local Berber language. It may come from the Amazigh root M·L·L, which means "white."

This would make its name similar to Beni Mellal in the Atlas Mountains. In antiquity, the city was a famous site for beekeeping. This history is shown on ancient bronze coins from the Mauretanian period. These coins prominently feature a bee.

Melilla has a long and complex history of different rulers. It began as a Phoenician and Punic trade establishment called Rusadir.

After the Punic Wars, the Roman client state Mauretania took control. The Emperor Claudius later organized it as part of the province of Mauretania Tingitana. The city was eventually made a Roman colony in 41 AD. Over the centuries, the Vandals, Byzantines, and Visigoths all ruled the area. After the Islamic conquest, many different groups held power, including the Umayyads and Almohads.

Spain occupied Melilla on 17 September 1497. This conquest happened almost without violence. At that time, the city sat between the Kingdom of Tlemcen and the Kingdom of Fez. Because of frequent fighting, the city had been left abandoned.

Initially, the city was managed jointly by the Spanish Crown and the House of Medina Sidonia. A 1498 settlement required the House of Medina Sidonia to station a 700-man garrison there. The Crown was also responsible for providing wheat and money to the city.

In the late 19th century, Melilla became a major center for trade on the Rif coast. The city was declared a free port in 1863. This status caused the population to grow quickly. Many Sephardic Jews moved from Tetouan to Melilla to escape persecution. They helped grow the economy through trade. By 1893, the Jewish population had reached 572 people. Other groups, such as Berber populations, also moved to the city for economic opportunities.

Architecture in Melilla is very distinctive. Between 1909 and 1945, the Modernista style became very popular. This is also known as Art Nouveau.

The work of architect Enrique Nieto helped make the streets look like a museum.

This style is similar to what you might see in Barcelona. The city also features grand areas like the Plaza de España.

Today, Melilla is a diverse and modern city. As of 2025, the population is 87,067 people.

Most residents are of Iberian or Riffian extraction. The city experiences diglossia, which means two languages are used. Spanish is the official language, but many people also speak Tarifit. Melilla became an autonomous city on 14 March 1995. Before this, it was part of the province of Málaga.