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.

Old Melilla

Things to do

Food to try

Local customs & good to know

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