Beautiful city
Translated by 
Jorge Soto Almela
— 14 years ago
2 0
Tags: Erasmus experiences Melilla,
Melilla,
Spain
Melilla is a beautiful but an unknown city. It is a Spanish enclave located in the North of Africa and it borders on Morocco. It boasts a Mediterranean climate with soft temperatures and scant precipitation, but with a lot of humidity.
You have three options to arrive in Melilla:
- By plane: daily flights from Almería, Málaga, Granada and Madrid and three weekly flights to Barcelona.
- By boat: daily boats from Málaga and Almería. “Transmediterránea” is the only company that works in order to connect the Peninsula with Melilla by sea. You can look up the timetables and fares on the web of this company. In summer, it is offered a service that connects Melilla with the Peninsula in two hours and a half (from Almería) or three hours (from Málaga).
- By car: once in Morocco, you can arrive in Melilla throughout the Beni-Enzar border crossing.
The prices are very affordable, both for eating and buying. Melilla has the position of free port, so the jewellery shops and perfumeries are cheaper than on the Peninsula and with the same quality. Cigarettes are also cheaper (Wiston 2€ or Malboro 2.50€).
With regard to the gastronomy, there is a wide range of products. Both food and population are multicultural. You can enjoy traditional Moroccan food at a good price. Going out to take some “tapas” is also a good idea because one drink + one “tapa” cost 2.20€ (it depends on the bar, but this is the common price). The traditional food is monkfish with chips, a type of clam (called “coquinas”) or any kind of fish from the Mediterranean Sea.
Modernist buildings are scattered throughout the whole city. The great majority of these buildings were designed by the architect Enrique Nieto, “disciple” of Antonio Gaudí. Enrique Nieto has a sculpture of himself on the avenue Juan Carlos I (in the centre of the city), where you will find the majority of Modernist buildings. It is worth visiting “la Casa de la Reconquista” the “Perelló Theatre” and “la Casa Tortosa”. The citadel, also called the Old Melilla or The Village, is another place to visit. This is the origin of the current Melilla; here you will find military constructions, the city walls, caves and buildings with a peculiar beauty and sobriety. From this ancient part of the city, the maritime views and the views of the Moroccan territory are splendid.
I also recommend visiting the coast, flanked by the Mediterranean Sea. One of the beaches has a “Blue Flag” and all of them have received the Q of quality.
To go out at night, the inhabitants of Melilla often go to Noray Port, but before going there they usually do a “botellón” (also called “botijo”). There you will find several pubs like “el Bribón”, “el Barlovento”, “el Irlandés”, “el Shamrock Irish Pub, “la Compañía” o “Mai Tai”.
If you are a tourist, you can stay in one of its hotels. The most important hotels (both with the Q of quality) are:
- “Melilla Puerto Hotel” (4*), located in front of the “Puerto Deportivo Noray”. Installations like the restaurant “La Almoraima”, the bar “El Galeón” and an area outside where tables are placed and you can enjoy charcoal-grilled meat and fish.
- “Parador Nacional” (3*). You will enjoy exceptional views of the whole city. It has a private garden and a swimming pool.
But if you come to Melilla as a student, it will be better to stay at the Student Residence: http://www.residenciamelilla.com/
You have three options to arrive in Melilla:
- By plane: daily flights from Almería, Málaga, Granada and Madrid and three weekly flights to Barcelona.
- By boat: daily boats from Málaga and Almería. “Transmediterránea” is the only company that works in order to connect the Peninsula with Melilla by sea. You can look up the timetables and fares on the web of this company. In summer, it is offered a service that connects Melilla with the Peninsula in two hours and a half (from Almería) or three hours (from Málaga).
- By car: once in Morocco, you can arrive in Melilla throughout the Beni-Enzar border crossing.
The prices are very affordable, both for eating and buying. Melilla has the position of free port, so the jewellery shops and perfumeries are cheaper than on the Peninsula and with the same quality. Cigarettes are also cheaper (Wiston 2€ or Malboro 2.50€).
With regard to the gastronomy, there is a wide range of products. Both food and population are multicultural. You can enjoy traditional Moroccan food at a good price. Going out to take some “tapas” is also a good idea because one drink + one “tapa” cost 2.20€ (it depends on the bar, but this is the common price). The traditional food is monkfish with chips, a type of clam (called “coquinas”) or any kind of fish from the Mediterranean Sea.
Modernist buildings are scattered throughout the whole city. The great majority of these buildings were designed by the architect Enrique Nieto, “disciple” of Antonio Gaudí. Enrique Nieto has a sculpture of himself on the avenue Juan Carlos I (in the centre of the city), where you will find the majority of Modernist buildings. It is worth visiting “la Casa de la Reconquista” the “Perelló Theatre” and “la Casa Tortosa”. The citadel, also called the Old Melilla or The Village, is another place to visit. This is the origin of the current Melilla; here you will find military constructions, the city walls, caves and buildings with a peculiar beauty and sobriety. From this ancient part of the city, the maritime views and the views of the Moroccan territory are splendid.
I also recommend visiting the coast, flanked by the Mediterranean Sea. One of the beaches has a “Blue Flag” and all of them have received the Q of quality.
To go out at night, the inhabitants of Melilla often go to Noray Port, but before going there they usually do a “botellón” (also called “botijo”). There you will find several pubs like “el Bribón”, “el Barlovento”, “el Irlandés”, “el Shamrock Irish Pub, “la Compañía” o “Mai Tai”.
If you are a tourist, you can stay in one of its hotels. The most important hotels (both with the Q of quality) are:
- “Melilla Puerto Hotel” (4*), located in front of the “Puerto Deportivo Noray”. Installations like the restaurant “La Almoraima”, the bar “El Galeón” and an area outside where tables are placed and you can enjoy charcoal-grilled meat and fish.
- “Parador Nacional” (3*). You will enjoy exceptional views of the whole city. It has a private garden and a swimming pool.
But if you come to Melilla as a student, it will be better to stay at the Student Residence: http://www.residenciamelilla.com/
Content available in other languages
- Español: Ciudad preciosa
- Italiano: Città bellissima
- Português: Cidade lindíssima
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