SPAIN - Melilla & Spanish peñones

Location - North Africa; Capital - Madrid; Population - Melilla - 75,000; Spain - 46 million; Currency - Euro MORE SPAIN

There's a direct train from Fes to Beni Ensar port in Morocco, from where it's a short walk to the border with Spain and Melilla, an autonomous Spanish city on the Mediterranean coast in Africa covering 12km² - October 2011.

As Melilla is part of Spain it uses the Euro

Melilla centres around the trees and fountains of Plaza de Espana - Melilla

Surrounding the Plaza de Espana is the Palacio de la Asamblea, one of several Modernist buildings in Melilla

The Palacio de la Asamblea is a creation of Modernist architect Enrique Nieto, a student of Gaudi (creator of Barcelona's Sagrada Familia church) - Melilla

Nieto is synonymous with Melilla. This is the Casino Militar, also in the Plaza de Espana - Melilla

In Modernist terms Melilla is second only to Barcelona

Across the road from Plaza de Espana is Parque Hernandez, a great place for lazing - Melilla

Parque Hernandez - Melilla

Oops! A 4x4 has an argument with a newspaper kiosk - Melilla

Various statues are dotted around the town, though I've no idea if they represent famous locals - Melilla

It's a strange feeling to be in Spain but also in Africa - Melilla

The oval window of the Telegrama del Rif is typical of Modernist architecture - Melilla

The Melilla of Four Cultures: The Central Mosque is also the work of Enrique Nieto - Melilla

The Melilla of Four Cultures: On the left the Or Zaruah synagogue was designed by - surprise surprise - Enrique Nieto; on the right is the Hindu Oratory - Melilla

The Melilla of Four Cultures: The Church of Sagrado Corazon de Jesus stands opposite the Plaza de las Cuatro Culturas in Melilla

The spire of the Church of Sagrado Corazon de Jesus - Melilla

More fancy buildings in the Spanish enclave of Melilla

At the end of Calle Candido Lobera is Parque Lobera, a small park on the slopes beneath Parador de Melilla hotel - Melilla

Casa Marta has a covered area to enjoy a beer, tinto de verano etc. There's also a fantastic tapas bar, La Cerveceria, on Calle General O'Donnell - Melilla

The Plaza de Toros is the only bull ring in Africa still up and running - Melilla

A short walk from the Plaza de Espana is the Puerto Deportivo Noray - Melilla

Puerto Deportivo Noray is home to several bars and restaurants on the Mediterranean waterfront - Melilla

Local beauty Bilal poses for a photo outside one of the Puerto Deportivo Noray bars - Melilla

Keep on walking past the port to the city beaches. Playa San Lorenzo is the first one - Melilla

Better than San Lorenzo are the last two beaches Playa Hipica and Playa del Hipodromo, here with the massive courthouse in the background - Melilla

Playa Hipica is the final beach before the border with Morocco - Melilla

The border fence and watchtower marks the end of Playa Hipica and Spain, and the beginning of Moroccan port town Beni Ensar - Melilla

The Darsena Pesquera (Fishing Dock) lies next to the Old Town - Melilla

The impressive Melilla la Vieja (Old Melilla), also called Medina Sidonia - Melilla

Melilla la Vieja was constructed after the Spanish conquest in the 16th century - Melilla

A statue of Spanish dictator General Franco outside the entrance to the Old Town - Melilla

A tunnel beneath the Old Town leads to the small beach Ensanada de los Galapagos - Melilla

Steps lead away from Plaza de los Aljibes inside Melilla la Vieja - Melilla

There's a couple of cafés and restaurants inside the Old Town - Melilla

No I've got no food. The Old Town's Plaza de Armas - Melilla

The fortress walls of Melilla la Vieja - Melilla

The Spanish captured the city in 1497 and proceeded to fortify their enclave - Melilla

From the fortress walls there's excellent views of the fishing harbour and the Moroccan hills behind - Melilla

The Darsena Pesquera (fishing harbour). On the right is the Palacio de la Asamblea on Plaza de Espana - Melilla

Renovation work is under way on a church inside Melilla la Vieja - Melilla

A beautifully restored building in the Old Town - Melilla

The Old Town affords near 360° views of the Mediterranean - Melilla

Past the lighthouse to the Mediterranean Sea - Melilla

Cannons next to the lighthouse point seawards - Melilla

A residential area in the Old Town - Melilla

Melilla was originally inhabited by the Phoenicians back in the 10th century BC when the city was known as Rusadir

Checking out the Baluarte (bastion) de la Concepcion from Ctra de la Alcazaba, a road opposite the Old Town - Melilla

The atmospheric Melilla la Vieja at night - Melilla

On the outskirts of the city centre is one of three 19th century forts dotted around the enclave - Melilla

The forts were built in order to protect Melilla's border. Camellos Fort lies on the south side of the Rio de Oro.

From Camellos Fort you get an idea of the density of housing in the centre - Melilla

The second fort is Rostrogordo, near the northern border - Melilla

Rostrogordo Fort has been converted into a recreation hostel - Melilla

Rostrogordo Fort - Melilla

Next to Rostrogordo Fort is this swirly building; not sure what it is - Melilla

Head across the wasteland from Rostrogordo towards a miltary base.
Follow the winding road downhill and you'll come across a lovely coastline - Melilla

Outside the centre the enclave is littered with 'Military Zone' signs and off-limits military areas.
Moroccan governments demand the return of these Spanish territories, arguing they are a relic of colonialism - Melilla

Melilla and Ceuta are not the only Spanish territories on the Moroccan coastline. On a clearer day I'd have seen the distant Chafarinas Islands from here - Melilla

The third 19th century fort is Cabrerizas Fort, now enclosed in the military barracks of the Spanish Legion - Melilla

A statue outside the Spanish Legion barracks - Melilla

A painting opposite La Legion barracks depicts Jose Millan-Astray, founder of the Spanish Foreign Legion, predecessor to the Spanish Legion - Melilla

Drying clothes near La Legion - Melilla

Residential housing between La Legion and the city centre - Melilla

Lying in front of the Moroccan hills is Melilla Airport (middle left, below the marked slope).
It's very difficult to see but a plane is coming in to land - Melilla

Heading back to Beni Ensar in Morocco. It's strange to cross a land border in Africa and end up in the European Union! Melilla

Peñónes - Spanish military fortresses

Peñón de Alhucemas: Some of the Spanish peñones - or military rock fortresses - are a couple of hours drive from Melilla near the Moroccan resort of Al-Hoceima. Take a taxi to Plage Asfiha for a closer look at one.

Peñón de Velez de la Gomera: Unfortunately I didn't get to see this military fortress, also close to Al-Hoceima. It's a tiny piece of Spanish territory linked to the coast of Morocco by a narrow spit of sand.

Three islands are clearly visible from the Moroccan resort of Al-Hoceima. But they're not Moroccan, they're Spanish. On the left is Peñón de Alhucemas, in the middle Isla de Mar and on the right Isla de Tierra.

A short taxi ride to the Moroccan beach Plage Asfiha provides a good look at the islands. The main one is Peñon de Alhucemas.

At its longest point, Peñon de Alhucemas measures 220 metres

The military fortress is crammed with buildings, including a church, houses and helicopter landing area - Peñon de Alhucemas

Spanish military exit the helicopter, next to the church. And yes, Peñon de Alhucemas is off-limits to visitors.

A few hundred metres from the military fortress are the uninhabited islands of Isla de Tierra and Isla del Mar

Isla de Tierra is so close to the Moroccan coast - weird!
It's a legacy of Spain's influence in Morocco, which extended down to Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara).

'No entry. Grounds of the Spanish Ministry of Defence' - a sign in Spanish, French and Arabic on the uninhabited island of Isla de Tierra

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LINKS

www.melillaturismo.com

www.melilla.es - in Spanish

www.melillamonumental.org

www.spain.info - Spanish tourist board

I am not responsible for the content of external websites.