SPAIN - Melilla

Location - North Africa; Capital - Madrid; Population - Melilla - 80,000; Spain - 46 million; Currency - Euro MORE MELILLA

There's a direct train from Fez 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. And in December 2013 I returned to finally track down the Spanish military fortresses I missed two years earlier.

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 building is a creation of Modernist architect Enrique Nieto, a student of Gaudi (creator of Barcelona's Sagrada Familia church) - Melilla

The Palacio de la Asamblea is a functioning town hall - Melilla

Around Christmas time the Assembly Palace is adorned with lights - Melilla

It's possible to have a look around inside - Melilla

Enrique 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

A statue in Parque Hernandez honouring the 'Tercio Gran Capitán 1º de la Legion', in other words the Spanish Legion's unit in Melilla

An illuminated water fountain in 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

Signing an agreement for the autonomy of Melilla? Or maybe a statement that Melilla is as Spanish as tapas - 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: On the left the Or Zaruah synagogue was designed by Enrique Nieto; on the right is the Hindu Oratory - Melilla

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

The Melilla of Four Cultures: The Church of Sagrado Corazon de Jesus stands opposite the Plaza Menendez Pelayo in Melilla

Modernist architecture next to the church - Melilla

More declarations and agreements being signed, this time in the Plaza Menendez Pelayo - Melilla

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

More fancy buildings in the Spanish enclave of Melilla

A Muslim woman takes a rest. Melilla's population is around one third Moroccan, two thirds Spanish - Melilla

Christmas decorations in the high street - Melilla

Smoke rises from a stall selling roast chestnuts - 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 Grande Libre monument 'commemorates' Franco's revolt against the Spanish government in July 1936, marking the onset of the Spanish Civil War - 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

The top floor restaurant at the Anfora Hotel is a great place to take in Melilla and Morocco - Melilla

The thick stone walls of Melilla la Vieja, or Old Melilla, roll down to the Plaza de las Culturas below - Melilla

The Plaza de Espana is hidden to the left, with the Moroccan hills rising above Melilla

Graffiti near the Plaza de las Culturas - Melilla

The barrier hides a building site but hopefully they'll keep the murals - Melilla

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

Dusk at the fishing harbour - Melilla

Windsurfers take advantage of the favourable winter weather conditions - Melilla

The impressive Melilla la Vieja, 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

The Christmas Fare was being prepared when I was there in December 2013 - Melilla

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

Ensanada de los Galapagos, an enclosed beach sandwiched between the town walls - Melilla

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

One of the ancient storage rooms on Plaza de los Aljibes, where you can also see the historic water cistern of the Aljibes de las Penuelas - Melilla

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

Work continues for the Christmas Fare within the fortress walls of Melilla la Vieja - Melilla

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

A bastion in Melilla la Vieja, with a distant Edificio V Centenario building in the background - Melilla

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

Military helicopters seem to be everywhere in Spain's African enclaves - Melilla

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

The building on the left is a museum of modern and contemporary Spanish art - Melilla

A beautifully restored building in the Old Town - Melilla

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

The Military Museum covers the history of the Spanish Legion - Melilla

Above the Military Museum is a panoramic viewpoint where you can take in the Mediterranean and the African coast - Melilla

The view from the Baluarte (bastion) de la Concepcion covers the Old Town, Melillan beaches, Moroccan hills, the Edificio V Centenario building and the African coast - Melilla

Past the lighthouse (right) to the Mediterranean Sea - Melilla

Cannons next to the lighthouse point seawards - Melilla

A residential area in the Old Town - Melilla

In the winter of 2013 the Hospital del Rey held an exhibition detailing the history of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony south of Morocco - Melilla

Decorative plant pots on a residential wall in Melilla la Vieja - Melilla

The Cuevas del Conventico are a series of tunnels used as a refuge during sieges - Melilla

Ask at the History Museum for tours of the Convent Caves - Melilla

A rather phallic carving outside the cave exit - 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 de la Concepcion from Carretera de la Alcazaba, a road opposite the Old Town - Melilla

The atmospheric Melilla la Vieja look superb, though it's eerily quiet at night - Melilla

Nudity and the veil - Melilla

The Gaselec Museum was hosting a dinosaur exhibition in late 2013 - Melilla

Sigo Sonando (I Keep Dreaming) - Melilla

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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.