Old Melilla

Melilla la Vieja

A fortified old town perched on a rocky promontory, comprising four walled enclosures built from the 16th century onward. Narrow lanes, chapels, museums and sea bastions make it the historic heart of the city.

Things to do

• Enter through Puerta de Santiago — Pass beneath this restored 16th-century Gothic gateway, one of the original entrances into the fortress town.
• Tour the Museo Municipal de Melilla — Housed inside the Baluarte de la Concepción bastion, this museum traces Phoenician, Roman, Islamic and Spanish layers of the city's history.
• Visit the Iglesia de la Purísima Concepción — This baroque sanctuary honors Melilla's patroness and sits at the heart of the old quarter's religious life.
• Step into the Capilla de Santiago — A rare Gothic chapel built into the walls, one of the few surviving from the original 15th-16th century fortification.
• Walk the Foso and ramparts — Follow the dry moat and bastion walkways for sweeping views over the Mediterranean and the modern city below.
• Climb the Torre del Homenaje — This keep tower offers a sense of the fortress's defensive scale and panoramic coastal views.
• Explore the Cuevas del Conventico — Wander through tunnels and caves carved into the rock that once served as storage and refuge within the fortress.
• Cross through the four walled enclosures — Trace the layered recintos built progressively from the 16th century, each added as the town's defenses expanded seaward.

Food to try

• Pastela — A sweet-savory filo pie of pigeon or chicken, almonds and cinnamon, reflecting Melilla's Sephardic and Moroccan culinary blend.
• Berenjenas con miel — Fried eggplant slices drizzled with honey, a Sephardic Jewish dish still served in cafes near the old town.
• Cuernos de gacela — Almond-filled crescent pastries dusted with sugar, a classic Andalusi-Maghrebi sweet found in local bakeries.
• Té moruno con pastas — Sweet mint tea served with almond pastries, best enjoyed at a terrace overlooking the fortress walls.
• Marisco fresco del puerto — Fresh seafood caught just below the ramparts, served grilled or fried in nearby portside restaurants.

Local customs & good to know

• Respect the multicultural heritage — Melilla's old town reflects Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu communities living side by side, so dress and behave respectfully near religious sites.
• Wear sturdy shoes — The steep cobbled lanes and stairways of the fortress can be uneven and slippery, especially after rain.
• Check museum and chapel hours — Many sites keep limited opening hours and close on Mondays, so plan visits in advance.
• Visit by day for full access — Some bastions and passages are gated at night, so daytime exploration offers the best access to the walled enclosures.