Editing Melilla

{{Short description|Spanish autonomous city on the north-west coast of Africa}}
{{Other uses|Melilla (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Melilla
| other_name         = Autonomous City of Melilla
| settlement_type    = [[Municipality]] and [[Autonomous communities of Spain#Autonomous cities|Autonomous city]]
| image_skyline      = {{Multiple image
  | perrow = 1/2
  | border = infobox
  | total_width = 280 
  | caption_align = center
  | image1 = (Melilla) Aterrizando en Melilla (16668390111).jpg
  | caption1 = Aerial view
  | image2 = Puerta de la Marina, Melilla.jpg
  | caption2 = [[Melilla la Vieja|Old city]]
  | image3 = EDIFICIO DEL ANTIGÜA REDACCIÓN EL TELEGRAMA DEL RIF.jpg
  | caption3 = [[Modernisme|Modernist]] buildings
 }}
| image_flag         = [[File:Flag of Melilla.svg|border|125px]]
| flag_alt           = Flag of Melilla
| image_shield       = [[File:Coat of Arms of Melilla.svg|75px]]
| shield_alt         = Coat-of-arms of Melilla
<!-- Maps -->| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Spain##Location within Europe
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| pushpin_map        = #Spain#Europe
| image_map          = {{Infobox mapframe
  | id    = Q5831
  | zoom  = 8
  | shape-fill-opacity=0.4
  | marker = city
  }}
| map_caption        = Location of Melilla in Spain
| coordinates        = {{Coord|35|17|32|N|2|56|27|W|region:ES-ML_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[Spain]]
| established_title  = Settled by [[Phoenicia|Phoenicians]]
| established_date   = AD {{start date and age|8}}, ''as [[Rusadir]]''<ref name="auto1">[https://museomelilla.es/fenicios_A2_5.php]. Archaeology Data Service, Autonomous City of Melilla.</ref>
| leader_party       = [[People's Party (Spain)|PP]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor-President of Melilla|Mayor-President]]
| leader_name        = [[Juan José Imbroda]]
| area_total_km2     = 12.3
| area_rank          = [[Ranked lists of Spanish autonomous communities|19th]]
| population_as_of   = 2024
| population_footnotes = <ref name=population2024>{{cite web |url=https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Datos.htm?t=67988 |title=Annual population census 2021-2024 |language=en |website=[[National Statistics Institute (Spain)]] |date=2024-12-19 |access-date=2025-01-29 }}</ref>
| population_total   =60000
| population_rank    = [[Ranked lists of Spanish autonomous communities|18th]]
| population_density_km2 = 1000 
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| population_density = 
| population_density_rank = [[Ranked lists of Spanish autonomous communities|1st]]
| population_blank1_title = % of Spain
| population_blank1  = 0.16%
| population_demonyms = Melillan
<!-- GDP  --------------->| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ine.es/prensa/cre_2022.pdf | title=Contabilidad Regional de España|website=www.ine.es}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = Total
| demographics2_info1 = €1.750 billion (2023)
| demographics2_title2 = Per capita
| demographics2_info2 = €20,479 (2023)
| timezone1          = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1        = +01:00
| timezone1_DST      = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = +02:00
| postal_code_type   = [[ISO 3166|ISO 3166 code]]
| postal_code        = ES-ML
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Official language]]s
| blank_info_sec1    = [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| blank1_name_sec1   = Statute of Autonomy
| blank1_info_sec1   = 14 March 1995
| blank_name_sec2    = Currency
| blank_info_sec2    = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]]) ([[ISO 4217|EUR]])
| blank1_name_sec2   = 
| blank1_info_sec2   = 
| website            = [https://www.melilla.es/melillaPortal/index.jsp www.melilla.es]
| module             = 
| blank2_info_sec1   = [[Assembly of Melilla]]
| blank2_name_sec1   = Parliament
| blank3_info_sec1   = 1 deputy (of 350)
| blank4_info_sec1   = 2 senators (of 264)
| blank3_name_sec1   = [[Congress of Deputies (Spain)|Congress]]
| blank4_name_sec1   = [[Spanish Senate|Senate]]
| blank3_name_sec2   = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2022)
| blank3_info_sec2   = 0.867<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/table/shdi/ESP/?levels=1+4&years=2022&interpolation=0&extrapolation=0|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2025-01-28}}</ref><br/>{{color|darkgreen|very high}} · [[List of Spanish autonomous communities by Human Development Index|18th]]
| blank2_name_sec2   = [[Patron saint]]
| blank2_info_sec2   = [[Francis of Assisi]] and [[Our Lady of the Rosary]]
}}
'''Melilla''' ({{IPAc-en|m|ɛ|ˈ|l|iː|j|ə}}, {{IPA|es|meˈliʝa|lang|Pronunciation_of_Melilla_in_Spanish.ogg|}}; {{langx|rif-Latn|Mřič}}) is an [[Autonomous communities of Spain#Autonomous cities|autonomous city]] of [[Spain]] on the [[North Africa]]n coast. It lies on the eastern side of the [[Cape Three Forks]], [[Morocco–Spain border|bordering Morocco]] and facing the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. It has an area of {{cvt|12.3|km2}}. It was part of the [[Province of Málaga]] until 14 March 1995, when the [[Statute of Autonomy of Melilla]] was passed.

Melilla is one of the [[special territories of members of the European Economic Area|special territories of the member states of the European Union]]. Movements to and from the rest of the EU and Melilla are subject to specific rules, provided for ''inter alia'' in the Accession Agreement of Spain to the [[Schengen Convention]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/30055/qc0414838enn.pdf|title=The Schengen Area|year=2015|publisher=[[Council of the European Union]]|isbn= 978-92-824-4586-0|doi=10.2860/48294|author1=Council of the European Union}}</ref>

As of 2024, Melilla had a population of 85,811.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Tabla.htm?t=2853&L=0|title=Cifras oficiales de población resultantes de la revisión del Padrón municipal a 1 de enero|publisher=[[Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain)|Instituto Nacional de Estadística]]|access-date=2020-06-26}}</ref> The population is chiefly divided between people of Iberian and [[Riffian people|Riffian]] extraction.{{Sfn|Trinidad|2012|p=962}} There is also a small number of [[Sephardic Jews]] and [[Sindhi Hindus]]. Melilla features a [[diglossia]] between the official Spanish and [[Tarifit]].{{Sfn|Sánchez Suárez|2003|p=190}}

Like the autonomous city of [[Ceuta]] and Spain's other territories in Africa, Melilla is subject to an [[Irredentism|irredentist claim]] by Morocco.{{Sfn|Trinidad|2012|pp=961–975}}

{{anchor|Names|Etymology|Toponymy}}

== Etymology ==
{{see also|Rusadir#Name}}
[[Borrowing (linguistics)|Borrowed]] from [[Spanish language|Spanish]], the [[English language|English]] name ''{{linktext|Melilla}}'' is pronounced {{IPAc-en|m|ɛ|ˈ|l|iː|j|ə}}<ref name=lex>{{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Melilla |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322182054/https://www.lexico.com/definition/melilla |archive-date=2020-03-22 |title=Melilla |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref> or {{IPAc-en|m|ə|ˈ|l|iː|j|ə}}<ref name=mw>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Melilla|access-date=19 May 2019}}</ref> to approximate the sound of the [[elle (letter)|Spanish double L]], properly {{IPA|es|meˈliʝa|}} in most standard [[Spanish dialects]]. The name is attested from the 9th century,{{Sfn|Lara Peinado|1998|p=25}} deriving from [[Arabic language|Arabic]] {{translit|ar|Malīlya}} ({{lang|ar|مَلِيلْيَة}}, {{IPA|ar|maˈliːlja|}}) of uncertain etymology. The name has been related to [[honey]] ({{langx|es|miel}}; {{langx|la|mel}}; {{langx|grc|μέλι}}, {{translit|grc|méli}}) since Melilla was a notable site for [[beekeeping]] in antiquity,{{Sfn|Lara Peinado|1998|p=25}} a [[bee]] appearing prominently on the city's [[bronze coin]]age under [[Mauretania]]n rule.{{sfnp|Head & al.|1911|p=889}} Alternatively, it has been taken from words meaning "discord", "fever", or a medieval [[Arab people|Arab]] figure.{{Sfn|Lara Peinado|1998|p=25}}{{which|date=April 2024}}<!--which words in which language? what "Arab personality"?--> The placename perhaps comes from the Amazigh root M·L (meaning 'white'), producing the Amazigh ''mlilet'' and which results in the local {{translit|rif|Mrič}} ({{IPA|ber|mrɪtʃ|}}) via /l/→ [r] and /lt/ → [č] changes.<ref name=":1">{{cite book|last=Yahia|first=Jahfar Hassan|year=2014|title=Curso de lengua tamazight, nivel elemental. Caminando en la didáctica de la lengua rifeña|language=es,rif|location=Melilla|publisher=GEEPP Ed.}}</ref>{{sfn|Tilmatine|2011|p=25}}

== Symbols ==
The city uses as its heraldic shield the arms of the [[House of Medina Sidonia]] by virtue of a royal decree from Alfonso XIII in 1913.<ref>{{cite periodical |issn=0212-1220 |title=Real decreto concediendo |url=http://www.boe.es/datos/pdfs/BOE/1913/071/A00650-00650.pdf |periodical=Gaceta de Madrid |issue=71 |date=12 March 1913}}</ref> The [[blazon]] that defines the [[coat of arms of Melilla]] is as follows:
{{Quote|text=The official coat of arms of the city is that of the House of Medina Sidonia. It features a [[Crown (heraldry)|Ducal Crown]] overseeing [[Guzmán el Bueno]], holding a dagger in a stance of readiness from the [[castle of Tarifa]]. It is supported by the [[Columns of Hercules]], with the inscription ''Non Plus Ultra''. It also includes arms on a field of [[Azure (heraldry)|azure]], two [[Caldron (heraldry)|cauldrons]] checkered in [[Or (heraldry)|gold]] and [[gules]], gringolled with seven [[Snake|serpent]]s in [[Sinople (heraldry)|sinople]], arranged in a [[Pale (heraldry)|pale]], and a [[bordure]] of the Royal Arms of the [[Kingdom of León]] and [[Kingdom of Castile]], with nine pieces of gules, alternating with castles of gold, and nine pieces of silver with lions in gules. The coat of arms also features a motto at the top, behind the castle of Tarifa, on a winged ribbon with the legend ''Praefere Patriam Liberis Parentem Decet'' (It is right to place the Fatherland before the family), and at the base of the shield, but outside of it, a [[dragon]] in sinople.|author=''Official Bulletin of the City of Melilla'' No. 4385, March 27, 2007, p. 1167.<ref name="bocmesim">{{Cite periodical |page=1167 |periodical=Official Bulletin of the City of Melilla |issue=4385 |date=March 27, 2007 |title=Decree No. 111 of March 22, 2007, regarding the definitive approval of the Protocol and Ceremonial Regulations of the Autonomous City of Melilla|issn=1135-4011|url=http://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=ficha_bome.jsp&dboidboletin=42468}}</ref>}}
[[File:Escudo de Melilla.svg|left|frameless]]
The flag used by the autonomous city consists of the heraldic shield placed at the center of a [[light blue]] field. It bears the titles of ''Muy Valerosa y Humanitaria'' (Very Valiant and Humanitarian), granted by King Alfonso XIII through a Royal Decree on March 11, 1913, in recognition of the population's aid during the campaigns of [[First Melillan campaign|1893]], [[Second Melillan campaign|1909]], and 1911.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-29 |title=Un escudo con abolengo {{!}} Melilla Hoy |url=https://www.melillahoy.es/noticia/102000/historia/un-escudo-con-abolengo.html |access-date=2025-03-18 |archive-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929120907/https://www.melillahoy.es/noticia/102000/historia/un-escudo-con-abolengo.html |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> It also holds the title of ''Muy Caritativa'' (Very Charitable), granted by the same king on February 9, 1929, for providing assistance to the victims of the explosion at the Cabrerizas Bajas gunpowder magazine. Additionally, it bears the title of ''Adelantada del Movimiento Nacional'' (Leader of the National Movement), granted by [[Francisco Franco]] in March 1962, for being the city where the [[Spanish Civil War]] began. This last title has not been removed and remains unused by the city, recalling the unrecognized title of ''Adelantada de España en África'' (Leader of Spain in Africa) granted by the [[Catholic Monarchs of Spain|Catholic Monarchs]] for its role as a forward post in defending the Andalusian coast against the Barbary pirates.<ref>{{cite periodical |access-date=19 August 2019 |title=DECRETO 462 1962 |periodical=Boletín Oficial del Estado |date=1 March 1962 |url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1962/03/09/pdfs/A03307-03307.pdf}}</ref>

The city's patrons are [[Our Lady of Victory|Our Lady of the Rosary]] and [[Saint Francis of Assisi]].

== History ==
=== Antiquity and Middle Ages ===
{{main|Rusadir}}
Melilla was a [[Phoenicia]]n and later [[Punic]] trade establishment under variations of the name '''[[Rusadir]]''' ({{langx|xpu|𐤓‬𐤔𐤀𐤃𐤓‬}}, {{smallcaps|ršʾdr}}),{{sfnp|Head & al.|1911|p=889}} taken from the [[Phoenician language|Phoenician]] name of the nearby [[Cape Three Forks]].{{Sfn|López Pardo|2015|pp=137}} After [[Carthaginian Empire|Carthage]]'s defeat in the [[Punic Wars]], the city fell under the control of the [[Roman Republic|Roman]] [[client state]] [[Mauretania]]. After its annexation under [[Caligula]], [[Claudius]] organized it as part of the [[Roman province|province]] of [[Mauretania Tingitana]]. [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] mentions it as a [[oppidum|native hillfort]] and port ({{langx|la|oppidum et portus}}).<ref>[[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]], ''[[Natural History (Pliny)|Nat. Hist.]]'', Book V, Ch. 18.</ref> It was made a [[Roman colony]] in {{nowrap|AD 46}}, after which it was sometimes referenced as '''Flavia'''. Rusaddir was said to have once been the seat of a bishop, but there is no record of any bishop of the purported see<ref name=CE>[[s:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Rusaddir|Sophrone Pétridès, "Rusaddir" in ''Catholic Encyclopedia'' (New York 1912)]]</ref> and it is not included in the [[Catholic Church]]'s list of modern [[titular see]]s.<ref>''Annuario Pontificio 2013'' (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, {{ISBN|978-88-209-9070-1}}), p. 960</ref>

The political history is similar to that of towns in the region of the Moroccan [[Rif]] and southern Spain. Melilla was progressively ruled by the [[Vandal Kingdom|Vandals]], [[Byzantine North Africa|Byzantines]], and the [[Visigothic Kingdom|Visigoths]]. In the early 6th century, it was the main port of the [[Mauro-Roman Kingdom]]. After the [[Islamic conquest of North Africa]], it fell under the [[Umayyad Caliphate|Umayyad]]s, [[Emirate of Córdoba|Cordoba]]ns, [[Idrisid]]s, [[Almoravid]]s, [[Almohad]]s, [[Marinid]]s, and [[Wattasid]]s.

=== Early Modern period ===
During the 15th century, the city declined, like most Mediterranean cities of the [[Kingdom of Fez]], eclipsed by those on the Atlantic.{{Sfn|Bravo Nieto|1990|pp=21–22}} After the [[Catholic Monarchs]]' [[Granada War|conquest of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada]] in 1492, their Secretary {{Interlanguage link|Hernando de Zafra|es}} gathered intelligence about the sorry state of the North African coast with territorial expansion in mind.{{Sfn|Bravo Nieto|1990|p=25}} He sent agents to investigate, and subsequently reported to the Catholic Monarchs that, as of 1494, locals had expelled the authority of the Sultan of Fez and had offered to pledge loyalty.{{Sfn|Loureiro Soto|2015|p=83}} While the 1494 [[Treaty of Tordesillas]] put Melilla and [[Cazaza]], until then reserved to the Portuguese, under the sphere of [[Kingdom of Castile|Castile]], the conquest of the city had to wait, delayed by [[Charles VIII of France|the French]] occupation of Naples.{{Sfn|Loureiro Soto|2015|pp=83–84}}

[[File:Plano de la Plaza de Melilla como está en principio de febrero de 1699.jpg|thumb|Map of the Melilla fortress by the late 17th-century.]]

The [[Duke of Medina Sidonia]], [[Juan Alfonso Pérez de Guzmán, 3rd Duke of Medina Sidonia|Juan Alfonso Pérez de Guzmán]], advocated seizing Melilla, to be headed by {{ill|Pedro de Estopiñán|es|Pedro de Estopiñán y Virués}}, and the Catholic Monarchs, [[Isabella I of Castile]] and [[Ferdinand II of Aragon]], endorsed the initiative and provided the assistance of artillery officer [[Francisco Ramírez de Madrid]].{{Sfn|Bravo Nieto|1990|p=26}} Melilla was occupied on 17 September 1497, virtually without violence as it was on the border between the [[Kingdom of Tlemcen]] and the Kingdom of Fez, and as a result had been fought over many times and left abandoned.<ref>{{Harvnb|Loureiro Soto|2015|p=85}}; {{Harvnb|Bravo Nieto|1990|p=26}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.ayuntamiento.es/comunidades_melilla.php |title=Ayuntamientos de España |publisher=Ayuntamiento.es |access-date=7 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301210448/http://www.ayuntamiento.es/comunidades_melilla.php |archive-date=1 March 2012 }}</ref> No large-scale expansion into the Kingdom of Fez ensued, and, barring the enterprises of the [[Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros|Cardinal Cisneros]] along the Algerian coast in [[Mers El Kébir]] and [[Oran]], and the [[Vélez de la Gomera|rock of Badis]] in the territorial scope of the Kingdom of Fez, the Hispanic monarchy's imperial impetus was eventually directed elsewhere, to the [[Italian Wars]] against France, and, especially after 1519,{{Sfn|Bravo Nieto|1990|pp=17; 28}} to the newly discovered continent across the Atlantic.

Melilla was initially jointly administered by the [[House of Medina Sidonia]] and the Crown,{{Sfn|Loureiro Soto|2015|p=127}} and a 1498 settlement required the former to station a 700-man garrison in Melilla and the latter to provide the city with a number of [[maravedí]]es and wheat ''[[fanega]]s''.{{Sfn|Loureiro Soto|2015|p=125}} The Crown's interest in Melilla decreased during the reign of [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]].{{Sfn|Loureiro Soto|2015|p=131}} During the 16th century, soldiers stationed in Melilla were badly remunerated, leading to many desertions.{{Sfn|Loureiro Soto|2015|pp=127–128}} The Duke of Medina Sidonia relinquished responsibility over the garrison of the place on 7 June 1556.{{sfn|Polo|1986|p=8}}

During the late 17th century, [[Alaouite]] sultan [[Ismail Ibn Sharif]] attempted to conquer the ''[[presidio]]'',{{Sfn|Loureiro Soto|2015|p=175}} taking the outer fortifications in the 1680s and further unsuccessfully besieging Melilla in the 1690s.{{Sfn|Loureiro Soto|2015|pp=175–176; 179}}

One Spanish officer reflected<!-- when? -->, "an hour in Melilla, from the point of view of merit, was worth more than thirty years of service to Spain."<ref name="Rezette41">[[#Rezette|Rezette]], p. 41</ref>

=== Late Modern period ===
The current limits of the Spanish territory around the Melilla fortress were fixed by treaties with Morocco in 1859, [[Spanish-Moroccan War (1859)|1860]], 1861, and 1894. In the late 19th century, as Spanish influence expanded in this area, the Crown authorized Melilla as the only centre of trade on the [[Rif]] coast between [[Tetuan]] and the [[Algeria]]n border. The value of trade increased, with goat skins, eggs and [[beeswax]] the principal exports, and cotton goods, tea, sugar and candles the chief imports.

Melilla's civil population in 1860 still amounted to only 375 estimated inhabitants.{{Sfn|Saro Gandarillas|1985|p=23}} In a 1866 Hispano-Moroccan arrangement signed in [[Fes]], both parties agreed to allow for the installment of a customs office near the border with Melilla, to be operated by Moroccan officials.{{Sfn|Remacha Tejada|1994|p=218}} The Treaty of Peace with Morocco that followed the 1859–60 War entailed the acquisition of a new perimeter for Melilla, bringing its area to that where the 12&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> the autonomous city currently stands.{{Sfn|Saro Gandarillas|1993|pp=99–100}} Following the declaration of Melilla as a [[free port]] in 1863, the population began to increase, chiefly with Sephardi Jews fleeing from [[Tetouan]] who fostered trade in and out of the city.{{Sfn|Saro Gandarillas|1993|p=100}} The first Jews from Tetouan probably arrived in 1864,{{Sfn|Díaz Rodríguez|2011|p=67}} and the first rabbi arrived in 1867 and began to operate the first synagogue, located in the Calle de San Miguel.{{Sfn|Díaz Rodríguez|2011|p=68}} Many Jews arrived fleeing from persecution in Morocco instigated by [[Bou Hmara|Roghi Bu Hamara]].{{Sfn|Fernández García|2015|p=108}} Following the 1868 lifting of the veto of emigration to Melilla from Peninsular Spain, the population further increased with Spaniards.{{Sfn|López Guzmán|González Fernández|Herrera Torres|Lorenzo Quiles|2007|p=11}} The Jewish population, who also progressively acquired Spanish citizenship, increased to 572 in 1893.{{Sfn|Díaz Rodríguez|2011|pp=67–68}} The economic opportunities created in Melilla henceforth favoured the installment of a Berber population.{{Sfn|López Guzmán|González Fernández|Herrera Torres|Lorenzo Quiles|2007|p=11}}

<gallery mode="packed" captions="Views of Melilla taken from an elevated position in 1893">
File:1893-10-30, La Ilustración Española y Americana, Vista general de la plaza de Melilla y de su campo, Venancio Álvarez Cabrera (cropped).jpg
File:1893-10-30, La Ilustración Española y Americana, Vista general de la plaza de Melilla y de su campo, Venancio Álvarez Cabrera (cropped 2).jpg
</gallery>

The first body of local government was the ''junta de arbitrios'' created in 1879,{{Sfn|Saro Gandarillas|1985|p=24}} in which the military enjoy preponderance.{{Sfn|Morala Martínez|1985|pp=107–108}} The Polígono excepcional de Tiro, the first neighborhood outside the walled core ([[Melilla la Vieja]]), began construction in 1888.{{Sfn|Cantón Fernández|Riaño López|1984|p=18}}
[[File:1909-09-15, Actualidades, En el barrio judío de Melilla, Tipo de mujer judía en el interior de su domicilio, Alba (cropped).jpg|thumb|Jewish woman in the Jewish quarter (1909)]]
In 1893, Riffian tribesmen launched the [[First Melillan campaign]] to try to conquer the city; the Spanish government sent 25,000 soldiers to defend it against them. The conflict was also known as the ''Margallo War'', after Spanish General [[Juan García y Margallo]], Governor of Melilla, who was killed in the battle. The new 1894 agreement with Morocco that followed the conflict increased trade with the [[hinterland]], bringing the economic prosperity of the city to a new level.{{Sfn|Saro Gandarillas|1993|p=102}} The total population of Melilla amounted to 10,004 inhabitants in 1896.{{Sfn|Perpén Rueda|1987|p=289}}

[[File:Casa Melul.jpg|thumb|Art Nouveau buildings in the Plaza de España (c. 1917)]]
The turn of the new century saw attempts by France (based in [[French Algeria]]) to profit from their newly acquired [[sphere of influence]] in Morocco to counter Melilla's trading prowess by fostering trade links with the Algerian cities of [[Ghazaouet]] and [[Oran]].{{Sfn|Saro Gandarillas|1993|p=107}} Melilla began to suffer from this, to which the instability brought by revolts against [[Abdelaziz of Morocco|Muley Abdel Aziz]] in the hinterland also added,{{Sfn|Saro Gandarillas|1993|pp=106–108}} although after 1905 Sultan pretender El Rogui ([[Bou Hmara]]) carried out a defusing policy in the area that favoured Spain.{{Sfn|Saro Gandarillas|1993|pp=113–114}} The French occupation of [[Oujda]] in 1907 compromised the Melillan trade with that city,{{Sfn|Saro Gandarillas|1993|pp=110–115}} and the enduring instability in the Rif still threatened Melilla.{{Sfn|Saro Gandarillas|1993|p=120}} Between 1909 and 1945, the ''modernista'' ([[Art Nouveau]]) style was prevalent in local architecture, making Melilla's streets a "true museum of ''modernista''-style architecture", second only to Barcelona, mainly stemming from the work of architect [[Enrique Nieto (architect)|Enrique Nieto]].{{Sfn|Cantón Fernández|Riaño López|1984|pp=16; 19}}

Mining companies began to enter the hinterland of Melilla by 1908.{{Sfn|Saro Gandarillas|1993|p=121}} A Spanish company, the {{ill|Compañía Española de las Minas del Rif|es}}, was constituted in July 1908, shared by Clemente Fernández, Enrique Macpherson, the [[Count of Romanones]], the [[Rodrigo Figueroa y Torres|Duke of Tovar]] and {{ill|Juan Antonio Güell|es|Juan Antonio Güell y López}}, who appointed [[Miguel Villanueva y Gómez|Miguel Villanueva]] as chairman.{{Sfn|Escudero|2014|p=331}} Thus two mining companies under the protection of Bou Hmara started mining lead and iron 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) from Melilla. They started to construct a railway between the port and the mines. In October of that year, Bou Hmara's vassals revolted against him and raided the mines, which remained closed until June 1909. By July the workmen were again attacked and several were killed. Severe fighting between the Spaniards and the tribesmen followed, in the [[Second Melillan campaign]] that took place in the vicinity of Melilla.

In 1910, the Spaniards restarted the mines and undertook harbor works at Mar Chica, but hostilities broke out again in 1911. On 22 July 1921, the Berbers under the leadership of [[Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-Karim al-Khattabi|Abd el Krim]] inflicted a grave defeat on the Spanish at the [[Battle of Annual]]. The Spanish retreated to Melilla, leaving most of the protectorate under the control of the [[Republic of the Rif]].

A royal decree pursuing the creation of an ''[[Ayuntamiento (Spain)|ayuntamiento]]'' in Melilla was signed on 13 December 1918 but the regulation did not come into force, and thus the existing government body, the {{lang|es|junta de arbitrios}}, remained in force.{{Sfn|Morala Martínez|1985|pp=107–108}}
[[File:Centro de Melilla, Parque Hernández, Plaza de España, Barrio Héroes de España y Mantelete.jpg|thumb|City centre in 1926]]
A "junta municipal" with a rather civil composition was created in 1927; on 10 April 1930, an ''ayuntamiento'' featuring the same membership as the junta was created,{{Sfn|Morala Martínez|1985|p=120}} equalling to the same municipal regime as the rest of Spain on 14 April 1931, with the arrival of the first democratically elected municipal corporation on the wake of the proclamation of the [[Second Spanish Republic|Second Republic]].{{Sfn|Fernández Díaz|2009|pp=25; 27}}

The city was used as one of the staging grounds for [[July 1936 military uprising in Melilla|the July 1936 military coup d'état]] that started the [[Spanish Civil War]].

In the context of the passing of the Ley de Extranjería in 1986, and following social mobilization from the Berber community, conditions for citizenship acquisition were flexibilised and allowed for the naturalisation of a substantial number of inhabitants, until then born in Melilla but without Spanish citizenship.{{Sfn|Fernández García|2015|p=110}}

=== Autonomy and late 20th, 21st century===
[[File:Estatua de Franco en Melilla.jpg|thumb|[[Statue of Francisco Franco, Melilla|Statue of Francisco Franco]] in Melilla, removed in 2021.]]
In 1995, Melilla —until then just another municipality of the [[Province of Málaga|Málaga]]— became an [[Autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous city]],{{Sfn|Bascón Jiménez|Cazallo Antúnez|Lechuga Cardozo|Meñaca Guerrero|2016|p=47}} as their [[Statute of Autonomy of Melilla|Statute of Autonomy]] was passed.

On 6 November 2007, King [[Juan Carlos I|Juan Carlos]] and Queen [[Queen Sofia|Sofia]] visited Melilla, with several display of affection from the population. The visit also sparked protests from the Moroccan government.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/Reyes/viajan/hoy/Melilla/calurosa/acogida/Ceuta/criticas/Marruecos/elpepuesp/20071106elpepunac_1/Tes |title=Mohamed VI "condena" y "denuncia" la visita "lamentable" de los Reyes de España a Ceuta y Melilla |newspaper=El País |publisher=Elpais.com |date=6 November 2007 |access-date=7 March 2012}}</ref> It was the first time a Spanish monarch had visited Melilla in 80 years.

Melilla, together with Ceuta, declared the Muslim holiday of [[Eid al-Adha]] —Feast of the Sacrifice— an official public holiday from 2010 onward. It is the first time a non-Christian religious festival has been officially celebrated in Spain since the [[Reconquista]].<ref>{{citation|url=http://spainforvisitors.com/module-News-display-sid-310.htm |title=Muslim Holiday in Ceuta and Melilla |publisher=Spainforvisitors.com |access-date=7 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929161344/http://spainforvisitors.com/module-News-display-sid-310.htm |archive-date=29 September 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.qppstudio.net/bankholidays2010/spain.htm |title=Public Holidays and Bank Holidays for Spain |publisher=Qppstudio.net |access-date=7 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930174912/http://www.qppstudio.net/bankholidays2010/spain.htm |archive-date=30 September 2011 }}</ref>

In 2018, Morocco decided to close the customs office near Melilla, the first time since mid-19th century, without any consultation with Spain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2019-12-02/marruecos-ceuta-contrabando-asfixia-ciudad_2359167/|first=Ignacio|last=Cembrero|title=Marruecos pone fin al contrabando con Ceuta y asfixia la ciudad|website=[[El Confidencial]]|date=2 December 2019}}</ref> The customs office was expected to reopen in January 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Morocco complies with Spain and announces border customs in Ceuta and Melilla in January |url=https://atalayar.com/en/content/morocco-complies-spain-and-announces-border-customs-ceuta-and-melilla-january |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=Atalayar |date=22 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
As of February 2025, trade was still tentative and limited.<ref name="Ponce">{{cite news |last1=Ponce |first1=José Ramón |title=Entra en Melilla el primer camión con pescado de Marruecos en casi cinco años - El Faro de Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/entra-en-melilla-el-primer-camion-con-pescado-de-marruecos-en-casi-cinco-anos/ |access-date=3 March 2025 |date=2025-02-20 |language=es}}</ref><ref name="Morales">{{cite news |last1=Morales Bautista |first1=Joaquín |title=Incertidumbre entre los melillenses sobre como estará la frontera este Ramadán - El Faro de Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/incertidumbre-entre-los-melillenses-sobre-como-estara-la-frontera-este-ramadan/ |access-date=3 March 2025 |date=2025-02-23 |language=es |quote=Por lo pronto, la aduana comercial vuelve a estar operativa y cuenta con unas normas establecidas: Inicialmente, solo podrá cruzar un camión de salida y otro de entrada, en este último caso prácticamente pescado. Será en un horario concreto de mañana o tarde y los productos que exportarán los empresarios melillenses se limitarán a electrodomésticos, electrónica, higiene y automoción.}}</ref>

Melilla was the location of the last public statue in Spain to commemorate former dictator [[Francisco Franco]] following Spain's [[Historical Memory Law]], passed in 2007, which included provision to the removal of any artefacts which celebrated the Franco regime from all public buildings and spaces. Nonetheless, the [[Statue of Francisco Franco, Melilla|statue]] remained on the Cuesta de la Florentina street until its final removal in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://elpais.com/espana/2021-02-23/la-ultima-estatua-de-franco-es-retirada-de-las-calles-de-melilla.html |title=La última estatua de Franco que quedaba en España es retirada de las calles de Melilla |website=El País |language=Spanish |date=23 February 2021|access-date=8 March 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Last statue of dictator Franco removed in 'historic day' for Spain |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/spain-politics-franco-statue/last-statue-of-dictator-franco-removed-in-historic-day-for-spain-idUSL8N2KT6RJ  |publisher=[[Reuters]] |date=23 February 2021|access-date=8 March 2024 }}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Melilla2022OSM.png|thumb|left|Detailed map of Melilla.]]
{{Further|Conventico Caves}}

=== Location ===
[[File:(Cabo Tres Forcas) ISS-36 Strait of Gibraltar (cropped).jpg|thumb|Detail of a satellite photograph of [[Cape Three Forks]] (centred on Melilla) taken during the 2013 [[Expedition 36|ISS-36 expedition]].]]
Melilla is in northwest Africa, on the shores of the [[Alboran Sea]], a marginal sea of the [[Mediterranean]], the latter's westernmost portion. The city is arranged in a wide semicircle around the beach and the [[Port of Melilla]], on the eastern side of the peninsula of [[Cape Tres Forcas]], at the foot of [[Mount Gurugú]] and around the mouth of the [[Río de Oro (Melilla)|Río de Oro]] intermittent water stream, {{convert|1|m|sp=us}} above sea level. The urban nucleus was originally a [[Presidio|fortress]], [[Melilla la Vieja]], built on a peninsular mound about {{convert|30|m|sp=us}} in height.

The Moroccan settlement of [[Beni Ansar]] lies immediately south of Melilla. The nearest Moroccan city is [[Nador]], and the ports of Melilla and [[Nador Port|Nador]] are within the same bay; nearby is the Bou Areg Lagoon.<ref name="wps">{{Cite web|title=Port of Nador|url=http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/MAR_Port_of_Nador_1504.php|access-date=2023-01-14|website=World Port Source|archive-date=9 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609150552/http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/MAR_Port_of_Nador_1504.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
{{climate chart|Melilla<ref name="El Tiempo: Melilla">{{cite web|access-date=14 March 2025 |date=2010 |editor=Agencia Estatal de Meteorología |title=Valores climatológicos normales. Melilla |url=https://www.aemet.es/es/eltiempo/prediccion/municipios/melilla-id52001 |website=aemet.es}}</ref>|10|17|39|11|18|39|12|19|35|13|21|29|16|23|20|19|29|6|22|29|2|22|29|5|21|27|17|17|24|36|14|21|50|11|18|37|float=right|clear=none|fuente=[[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref>[http://www.aemet.es/es/portada Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]</ref>}}Melilla has a hot [[Mediterranean climate]] on the border with a hot [[Semi-arid climate]], influenced by its proximity to the sea, rendering much cooler summers and more precipitation than inland areas deeper into Africa. The climate, in general, is similar to the southern coast of peninsular Spain and the northern coast of Morocco, with relatively small temperature differences between seasons. Minimum temperatures have never been below {{Convert|0|C|F|abbr=on}} during 1991-2020 period, and only 2.2 days per year have maximum temperature above {{Convert|35|C|F|abbr=on}}.<ref name=NCEI/>

{{Weather box
|location = Melilla, altitude: 52 m (1991–2020)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 27.0
|Feb record high C = 34.2
|Mar record high C = 29.6
|Apr record high C = 30.6
|May record high C = 33.0
|Jun record high C = 37.0
|Jul record high C = 41.8
|Aug record high C = 40.0
|Sep record high C = 36.0
|Oct record high C = 35.0
|Nov record high C = 34.0
|Dec record high C = 30.6
|year record high C = 41.8
|Jan avg record high C = 21.5
|Feb avg record high C = 22.0
|Mar avg record high C = 23.8
|Apr avg record high C = 25.2
|May avg record high C = 28.9
|Jun avg record high C = 31.4
|Jul avg record high C = 35.6
|Aug avg record high C = 35.0
|Sep avg record high C = 31.7
|Oct avg record high C = 29.0
|Nov avg record high C = 26.3
|Dec avg record high C = 22.4
|year avg record high C = 36.5
|Jan high C = 16.9
|Feb high C = 17.1
|Mar high C = 18.5
|Apr high C = 20.2
|May high C = 22.9
|Jun high C = 26.0
|Jul high C = 29.0
|Aug high C = 29.6
|Sep high C = 27.0
|Oct high C = 23.8
|Nov high C = 20.2
|Dec high C = 17.8
|year high C = 22.4
|Jan mean C = 13.6
|Feb mean C = 13.9
|Mar mean C = 15.3
|Apr mean C = 16.9
|May mean C = 19.6
|Jun mean C = 22.7
|Jul mean C = 25.6
|Aug mean C = 26.3
|Sep mean C = 23.8
|Oct mean C = 20.6
|Nov mean C = 17.0
|Dec mean C = 14.6
|year mean C = 19.2
|Jan low C = 10.3
|Feb low C = 10.8
|Mar low C = 12.1
|Apr low C = 13.6
|May low C = 16.3
|Jun low C = 19.4
|Jul low C = 22.2
|Aug low C = 23.1
|Sep low C = 20.7
|Oct low C = 17.4
|Nov low C = 13.8
|Dec low C = 11.4
|year low C = 15.9
|Jan avg record low C = 6.2
|Feb avg record low C = 6.9
|Mar avg record low C = 7.8
|Apr avg record low C = 9.9
|May avg record low C = 12.0
|Jun avg record low C = 15.8
|Jul avg record low C = 19.0
|Aug avg record low C = 20.1
|Sep avg record low C = 17.2
|Oct avg record low C = 13.3
|Nov avg record low C = 9.3
|Dec avg record low C = 7.4
|year avg record low C = 5.6
|Jan record low C = 0.4
|Feb record low C = 2.8
|Mar record low C = 3.4
|Apr record low C = 6.0
|May record low C = 9.4
|Jun record low C = 12.4
|Jul record low C = 16.0
|Aug record low C = 14.6
|Sep record low C = 13.6
|Oct record low C = 9.4
|Nov record low C = 5.0
|Dec record low C = 4.0
|year record low C = 0.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 55.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 48.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 43.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 37.7
|May precipitation mm = 15.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 7.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 0.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 3.8
|Sep precipitation mm = 18.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 42.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 53.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 48.2
|year precipitation mm = 
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 6.1
|Feb precipitation days = 5.0
|Mar precipitation days = 4.9
|Apr precipitation days = 4.5
|May precipitation days = 2.3
|Jun precipitation days = 0.6
|Jul precipitation days = 0.2
|Aug precipitation days = 0.8
|Sep precipitation days = 2.6
|Oct precipitation days = 4.7
|Nov precipitation days = 5.7
|Dec precipitation days = 5.6
|year precipitation days = 
| Jan humidity    =73.1
| Feb humidity    =72.9
| Mar humidity    =72.8
| Apr humidity    =70.8
| May humidity    =68.5
| Jun humidity    =68
| Jul humidity    =67
| Aug humidity    =69.8
| Sep humidity    =73.6
| Oct humidity    =75.7
| Nov humidity    =74.5
| Dec humidity    =74.4
| year humidity   =
|Jan sun = 188.9
|Feb sun = 184.8
|Mar sun = 203.3
|Apr sun = 226.2
|May sun = 269.9
|Jun sun = 295.7
|Jul sun = 304.2
|Aug sun = 278.6
|Sep sun = 220.1
|Oct sun = 203.4
|Nov sun = 183
|Dec sun = 176
|year sun = 
|source 1 = [[NCEI]],<ref name=NCEI>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Spain/CSV/MELILLA_60338.csv |title=World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020: Melilla-60338 |website=ncei.noaa.gov |publisher=[[NOAA|National Oceanic and Atmosoheric Administration]] |access-date=24 February 2024|no-pp=y |type=Excel |format=CSV }}</ref> Météo Climat<ref>{{cite web
 |url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/listenormale-1991-2020-2-p62.php
 |title = Météo climat stats Moyennes 1991/2020 Espagne (page 2)
 |publisher = Météo Climat
 |language = fr
 |access-date = 8 June 2022}}</ref>
|source 2 = Infoclimat <ref>{{cite web
 |url = https://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie/annee/1991/melilla/valeurs/60338.html
 |title = Climatologie de l'année à Melilla
 |publisher = Infoclimat
 |language = fr
 |access-date = 8 October 2023}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|location = Melilla 47&nbsp;m (1981–2010)
|collapsed = yes
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 27.0
|Feb record high C = 34.2
|Mar record high C = 29.6
|Apr record high C = 30.6
|May record high C = 33.0
|Jun record high C = 37.0
|Jul record high C = 41.8
|Aug record high C = 40.0
|Sep record high C = 36.0
|Oct record high C = 35.0
|Nov record high C = 34.0
|Dec record high C = 30.6
|year record high C = 41.8
|Jan high C = 16.7
|Feb high C = 17.0
|Mar high C = 18.5
|Apr high C = 20.1
|May high C = 22.5
|Jun high C = 25.8
|Jul high C = 28.9
|Aug high C = 29.4
|Sep high C = 27.1
|Oct high C = 23.7
|Nov high C = 20.3
|Dec high C = 17.8
|year high C = 22.3
|Jan mean C = 13.3
|Feb mean C = 13.8
|Mar mean C = 15.2
|Apr mean C = 16.6
|May mean C = 19.1
|Jun mean C = 22.4
|Jul mean C = 25.3
|Aug mean C = 25.9
|Sep mean C = 23.8
|Oct mean C = 20.4
|Nov mean C = 17.0
|Dec mean C = 14.6
|year mean C = 18.9
|Jan low C = 9.9
|Feb low C = 10.6
|Mar low C = 11.9
|Apr low C = 13.2
|May low C = 15.7
|Jun low C = 19.0
|Jul low C = 21.7
|Aug low C = 22.4
|Sep low C = 20.5
|Oct low C = 17.2
|Nov low C = 13.7
|Dec low C = 11.2
|year low C = 15.6
|Jan record low C = 0.4
|Feb record low C = 2.8
|Mar record low C = 3.4
|Apr record low C = 6.0
|May record low C = 9.4
|Jun record low C = 12.4
|Jul record low C = 16.0
|Aug record low C = 14.6
|Sep record low C = 13.6
|Oct record low C = 9.4
|Nov record low C = 5.0
|Dec record low C = 4.0
|year record low C = 0.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm= 58
|Feb precipitation mm= 57
|Mar precipitation mm= 44
|Apr precipitation mm= 36
|May precipitation mm= 20
|Jun precipitation mm= 7
|Jul precipitation mm= 1
|Aug precipitation mm= 4
|Sep precipitation mm= 16
|Oct precipitation mm= 40
|Nov precipitation mm= 57
|Dec precipitation mm= 50
|year precipitation mm= 391
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 6.3
|Feb precipitation days = 5.5
|Mar precipitation days = 4.6
|Apr precipitation days = 4.6
|May precipitation days = 2.8
|Jun precipitation days = 0.7
|Jul precipitation days = 0.3
|Aug precipitation days = 0.8
|Sep precipitation days = 2.2
|Oct precipitation days = 3.9
|Nov precipitation days = 5.8
|Dec precipitation days = 5.7
|year precipitation days = 
| Jan snow days  =0.1
| Feb snow days  =0
| Mar snow days  =0
| Apr snow days  =0
| May snow days  =0
| Jun snow days  =0
| Jul snow days  =0
| Aug snow days  =0
| Sep snow days  =0
| Oct snow days  =0
| Nov snow days  =0
| Dec snow days  =0
| year snow days =
|Jan humidity = 72
|Feb humidity = 74
|Mar humidity = 73
|Apr humidity = 69
|May humidity = 67
|Jun humidity = 67
|Jul humidity = 66
|Aug humidity = 69
|Sep humidity = 72
|Oct humidity = 75
|Nov humidity = 74
|Dec humidity = 73
|year humidity = 71
|Jan sun = 184
|Feb sun = 170
|Mar sun = 192
|Apr sun = 220
|May sun = 258
|Jun sun = 279
|Jul sun = 289
|Aug sun = 268
|Sep sun = 210
|Oct sun = 194
|Nov sun = 176
|Dec sun = 168
|year sun = 2607
|source 1 = Agencia Estatal de Meteorología<ref name="Agencia Estatal de Meteorología">{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=6000A&k=mel
|title=Valores climatológicos normales (1981–2010). Melilla
|publisher=Agencia Estatal de Meteorología
|access-date=1 May 2017}}</ref>
|date=October 2014
}}

=== Terrain ===
The relief of Melilla is characterized by its variety, including a rocky peninsula, an elevated plateau, and a volcanic massif. The Melilla Peninsula, which extends into the Mediterranean Sea, is dominated by elevated terrain. To the southeast is the coastal lagoon of Mar Chica, and to the south lies the volcanic massif of Gurugú. The city's maximum altitude exceeds 200 meters above sea level. Melilla is built on a hill that gently slopes down towards the sea to the east, while the western area features more rugged terrain. The eastern coast has rocky cliffs with panoramic views of the sea. This diverse relief has influenced the urban layout, with the old town adapted to the irregularities of the land, while the more modern neighborhoods extend into the flatter areas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Descripcion de la demarcación hidrográfica de Melilla - CHG |url=https://www.chguadalquivir.es/descripcion-de-la-demarcacion-hidrografica-de-melilla |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=www.chguadalquivir.es}}</ref>

=== Hydrography ===
The main river of Melilla is the [[Río de Oro (Melilla)|Río de Oro]], which originates in [[Mount Gurugu|Mount Gurugú]], in [[Morocco]], where it is called the Río Meduar, southwest of the city. It flows into the bay of Melilla between the beaches of [[San Lorenzo Beach|San Lorenzo]] and [[Carabos Beach|Los Cárabos]].

The river remains dry for most of the year, only flowing when there are continuous rains, such as those on October 26, 2008, which washed away the Melilla fence and caused the Río de Oro and its streams to overflow. A small dam near the Melilla fence, on the Nano River, was also destroyed. The river flows in a roughly southwest-northeast direction and receives water from the left side from the Tigorfaten streams, the Cañada de la Muerte, the Nano River, and the Cabrerizas ravine. On the right, it receives water from the Farhana and Sidi-Guariach streams.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=27 August 2018 |last=Narváez López |first=Francisco |date=2016 |archive-date=15 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215023326/http://www.puertodemelilla.es/images/documentos/historia/Los_puentes_de_la_cemr_sobre_el_rio_de_oro.pdf |title=LOS PUENTES DE LA CEMR SOBRE EL RÍO DE ORO |website=Puerto de Melilla|url=http://www.puertodemelilla.es/images/documentos/historia/Los_puentes_de_la_cemr_sobre_el_rio_de_oro.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |access-date=27 August 2018 |last=Narváez López |first=Francisco |date=2014 |archive-date=28 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828035713/http://www.puertodemelilla.es/images/documentos/historia/puente_metalico_de_la_compania_del_norte_africano_puente_de_la_zetolazar.pdf |title=PUENTE METÁLICO DE LA COMPAÑÍA DEL NORTE AFRICANO – PUENTE DE LA SETOLAZAR |website=Puerto de Melilla |url=http://www.puertodemelilla.es/images/documentos/historia/puente_metalico_de_la_compania_del_norte_africano_puente_de_la_zetolazar.pdf}}</ref>

=== Soils ===
[[Pedogenesis]] is a synthetic process in which the rest of the natural factors, both biotic and abiotic, are involved.

Melilla features a mountainous geography and relief that influence the formation of its soils. The Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and mild winters, favors the development of calcareous and stony soils. The vegetation, mainly shrubs and scattered forests, contributes to the formation of humus, increasing fertility in certain areas.

The soils in Melilla include calcareous, stony, and clayey types, depending on the relief and altitude. Pedogenetic processes are marked by erosion, decomposition of organic matter, and the alkalinity of the soils due to the presence of limestone. However, human activities such as urbanization and agriculture have impacted these processes, leading to soil compaction and loss of fertility.<ref>{{cite web|title=Guía de campo de la Geología Geología de Melilla |url=https://granjamelilla.es/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Guia-de-Campo-Geologia-PARA-WEB-RED.pdf}}</ref>

=== Flora ===
[[File:Phoenix dactylifera Daktylowiec właściwy 2023-02-24 07.jpg|thumb|[[Date palm]]]]
Biogeographically speaking, Melilla is part of the [[Holarctic Kingdom]], specifically within the [[Mediterranean basin|Mediterranean Region]], Western Mediterranean Subregion.

In general terms, the typical vegetation of Melilla is [[Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub|Mediterranean forest]], characterized by evergreen and xerophytic plants, adapted to the dry summer period. In the [[Rostrogordo Pine Forests]], common species include the [[Pinus halepensis|''Pinus halepensis'' (Aleppo pine)]], [[Olea europaea|''Olea europaea'' (wild olive)]], [[Ficus benjamina|''Ficus benjamina'' (weeping fig)]], [[Trachycarpus fortunei|''Trachycarpus fortunei'' (windmill palm)]], [[cypress]], and [[Capsicum annuum|''Capsicum annuum'' (bell pepper)]]. The dominant understory is made up of woody, spiny, and aromatic species: plants such as [[rosemary]], [[thyme]], and [[Rock rose|rockrose]] are very typical of Melilla.

=== Fauna ===
[[File:BennyTrapp Chamaeleo chamaeleon Samos Griechenland.jpg|thumb|[[Common chameleon]]]]
The fauna of Melilla is closely linked to its natural environment, particularly to the vegetation that dominates the region. Despite the alterations caused by urban expansion and human impact, a surprising diversity of species has managed to adapt and survive in this territory.
[[File:Testudo graeca at Dibbeen2.JPG|thumb|[[Greek tortoise]]]]
Among the most representative species are reptiles such as the [[Common chameleon|common chameleon (''Chamaeleo chamaeleon'')]] and the [[Greek tortoise|spur-thighed tortoise (''Testudo graeca'')]], which are unique to the region and are considered endangered. The spur-thighed tortoise, in particular, has a historical connection with Melilla, as evidence of its presence has been found since ancient times. This species remains an important part of the local fauna, and its popularity in captivity reflects its close relationship with Melilla's culture.

The bird fauna is also very rich, with several species of birds of prey, both diurnal and nocturnal, such as the [[peregrine falcon]], [[kestrel]], and [[owl]]. Additionally, Melilla is a notable stopover for migratory birds, with more than 100 species recorded that pass through its skies during their journeys between Europe and Africa.

The [[marine ecosystem]] of Melilla also hosts species that are endangered, such as the [[loggerhead sea turtle]] and the [[bottlenose dolphin]], although information about these ecosystems is limited. Moreover, its waters contain interesting species such as Mediterranean coral reefs and various marine invertebrates.<ref>{{Cite web |last=comentó |first=Paspandú |title=Descubriendo la fauna de Melilla - El Faro de Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/descubriendo-la-fauna-melilla/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |language=es}}</ref>

=== Protected Natural Areas ===
[[File:Aguadú2.jpg|thumb|[[Aguadu Cliffs|Aguadú Cliffs]]]]
[[File:Pferruginea_04_JGuallart.jpg|thumb|[[Patella ferruginea|Rusty limpet]], an endangered species]]
The city of Melilla has two protected areas classified as [[Special Area of Conservation|SACs (Special Areas of Conservation)]] within the [[Natura 2000 network]]:

* [[Barranco del Nano]]. Protected due to its military zone status, it stands out as a habitat for the [[Tetraclinis articulata|araar (''Tetraclinis articulata'')]], a conifer native to the Atlas forests, and the presence of [[Helianthemum|cat's-head rockrose (''Helianthemum caput-felis'')]] and [[Cistus heterophyllus|Cartagena rockrose (''Cistus heterophyllus'')]]. Among the animal species, it is sometimes possible to spot the [[Canis aureus|golden jackal (''Canis aureus'')]] from the Moroccan side, and reptiles such as the [[Testudo graeca|Greek tortoise (''Testudo graeca'')]] and [[Chamaeleo chamaeleon|common chameleon (''Chamaeleo chamaeleon'')]] are frequently found.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived Copy |url=http://www.melillamedioambiente.com/media/gmiragaya/LicNano.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412170847/http://www.melillamedioambiente.com/media/gmiragaya/LicNano.pdf |archive-date=12 April 2020 |access-date=12 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.laverdad.es/nuestra-tierra/medio-ambiente/201602/23/la-vida-rebrota-en-el-barranco-del-nano.html | title=La vida rebrota en el barranco del Nano | date=17 June 2016 }}</ref>
* [[Aguadu Cliffs|Aguadú Cliffs]]. A maritime-terrestrial space that includes cliffs, beaches, and marine bottoms, all especially rich in plant and animal species. The cliff nesting bird colonies, such as those of [[Larus audouinii|Audouin's gull (''Larus audouinii'')]], are particularly noteworthy. In the marine bottoms, the presence of [[Patella ferruginea|rusty limpet (''Patella ferruginea'')]], an endangered species of mollusk found in abundance here, is remarkable. At depths of 15 to 20 meters, some of the best Mediterranean [[Corallium rubrum|coral reefs]] in Spain can be found. On the terrestrial platform, various species of arthropods and terrestrial mollusks endemic to the area are abundant.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived Copy |url=http://www.melillamedioambiente.com/media/gmiragaya/LicAguadu.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412170844/http://www.melillamedioambiente.com/media/gmiragaya/LicAguadu.pdf |archive-date=12 April 2020 |access-date=12 April 2020 }}</ref>

=== Coastline ===
The city has the following beaches: [[Aguadu Cliffs|Aguadú Beach]], [[Horcas Coloradas Beach]], [[Alcazaba Beach]], [[Galápagos Cove Beach]], [[Trapana Cove|Trápana Cove Beach]], [[San Lorenzo Beach]], [[Carabos Beach]], [[Hipodromo Beach]], and [[Hipica Beach]].
<gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed" heights="80">
Cortados de Aguadú 7.jpg|[[Aguadu Cliffs]] 
Horcas Coloradas (1).jpg|[[Horcas Coloradas Beach]] 
Ensenada de los Galápagos, Melilla (3).jpg|[[Galapagos Cove Beach]] 
Trápana, MelillaCerca pero sin poder llegar (3622271396).jpg|[[Trapana Cove]] 
PAPEA (2) (9773256625).jpg|[[San Lorenzo Beach]] 
Playa de los Cárabos (9436872331).jpg|[[Carabos Beach]] 
Playa del Hipódromo5, Melilla.jpg|[[Hipodromo Beach]] 
Puerto de Melilla desde la playa de la Hípica.jpg|[[Hipica Beach]] 
</gallery>

=== Air and noise pollution ===
Vehicle traffic is the main cause of pollution in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Melilla |date=2023-02-08 |title=The main source of pollution in Melilla is road traffic • Ecologistas en Acción |url=https://www.ecologistasenaccion.org/284316/la-principal-fuente-de-contaminacion-en-melilla-es-el-trafico-rodado/ |accessdate=2025-04-05 |website=Ecologistas en Acción |language=es}}</ref> The periodic droughts in Melilla cause increased levels of suspended particulate pollutants as well as other gases like [[carbon dioxide]] and [[nitrogen]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla - Atmospheric Pollution and Air Quality |url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_fdes_d4_v1.jsp&contenido=3703&nivel=1400&tipo=6&codResi=1&language=es&codMenu=200&codMenuPN=601&codMenuSN=8 |accessdate=2025-04-05 |website=www.melilla.es}}</ref> which in that year still did not exceed the allowed levels. Regarding noise pollution, it has been detected that Melilla exceeds 65.7 decibels, surpassing the levels established by the [[World Health Organization]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Noise Ordinance of the Autonomous City of Melilla |url=https://www.ruidos.org/Normas/Melilla_ordenanza.htm |accessdate=2025-04-05 |website=www.ruidos.org}}</ref>

The major sources of coastal pollution come from sewage (65.8%) and oils and petroleum (34.2%). The high population density leads to the production of large amounts of wastewater, which is discharged into the sea. There is a treatment plant in the city, but discharges from other areas affect Melilla, causing an increase in turbidity that hinders the penetration of sunlight necessary for the [[photosynthesis]] of aquatic plants, an imbalance in aquatic communities due to excessive organic matter, an increase in germs in the coastal environment, as well as the appearance of foam and scum on the sea surface.<ref>{{Cite web |last=20minutos |date=2024-06-12 |title=These are the two black flags of Melilla for pollution and poor management |url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5492409/0/banderas-negras-melilla-contaminacion-mala-gestion/ |website=www.20minutos.es - Latest News |language=es}}</ref>

=== Natural hazards ===
Melilla is exposed to various natural hazards that influence territorial planning and urban development. The main risk is that of [[flooding]], particularly caused by flash floods after episodes of torrential rain. The [[Río de Oro (Melilla)|Río de Oro]], which runs through the city, has an artificial channel with limited capacity, leading to frequent overflows, especially at its mouth, affecting neighborhoods such as Industrial and Real.<ref>{{Cite web |title=La CHG abre a consulta pública los mapas de riesgo de inundaciones de origen fluvial en Melilla - Detalle de noticia - CHG |url=https://www.chguadalquivir.es/-/la-chg-abre-a-consulta-publica-los-mapas-de-riesgo-de-inundaciones-de-origen-fluvial-en-melilla |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=www.chguadalquivir.es}}</ref>

Flooding is worsened by the accumulation of solid waste, illegal occupation of the river's easement zone, and lack of maintenance of the channel. In addition, certain urban developments have altered the natural drainage network, increasing vulnerability to rainfall.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-14 |title=Melilla en Verde dice que lleva años avisando de posible inundación - El Faro de Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/melilla-en-verde-dice-que-lleva-anos-avisando-de-posible-inundacion/ |access-date=2025-04-11 |language=es}}</ref>

Other hazards present in the territory include [[erosion]] of riverbeds and the coastline, occasional [[landslides]] in cliff areas, and a moderate [[seismic risk]], with an estimated seismic acceleration of 0.08 g, which allows for earthquakes of intensity VI on a 500-year return period.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-03 |title=Medio Ambiente destaca que el Estado es competente en reducir el riesgo de inundaciones - El Faro de Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/medio-ambiente-destaca-que-el-estado-es-competente-en-reducir-el-riesgo-de-inundaciones/ |access-date=2025-04-11 |language=es}}</ref>

== Government and politics ==

=== Self-government institutions ===
{{See also|List of Mayor-Presidents of Melilla}}
[[File:Ayuntamiento de Melilla.jpg|thumb|Palace of the Assembly of Melilla]]
The government bodies stipulated in the Statute of Autonomy are the [[Assembly of Melilla]], the [[President of Melilla]] and the Council of Government. The assembly is a 25-member body whose members are elected through universal suffrage every 4 years in [[Closed list|closed party lists]] following the schedule of local elections at the national level. Its members are called "local [[Deputy (legislator)|deputies]]" but they rather enjoy the status of ''[[Local councillor|concejales]]'' (municipal councillors).{{Sfn|Márquez Cruz|2003|pp=10–11}} Unlike [[List of Spanish regional legislatures|regional legislatures]] (and akin to municipal councils), the assembly does not enjoy [[Right of initiative (legislative)|right of initiative]] for primary legislation.{{Sfn|Márquez Cruz|2003|p=11}}

The president of Melilla (who, often addressed as Mayor-President, also exerts the roles of Mayor, president of the Assembly, president of the Council of Government and representative of the city){{Sfn|Márquez Cruz|2003|p=12}} is invested by the Assembly. After local elections, the president is invested through a [[qualified majority]] from among the leaders of the election lists, or, failing to achieve the former, the leader of the most voted list at the election is invested to the office.{{Sfn|Márquez Cruz|2003|pp=14}} In case of a [[motion of no confidence]] the president can only be ousted with a qualified majority voting for an alternative assembly member.{{Sfn|Márquez Cruz|2003|pp=14}}

The Council of Government is the traditional collegiate executive body for [[parliamentary system]]s. Unlike the municipal government boards in the standard [[ayuntamiento (Spain)|''ayuntamientos'']], the members of the Council of Government (including the vice-presidents) do not need to be members of the assembly.{{Sfn|Márquez Cruz|2003|pp=12–13}}

Melilla is the city in Spain with the highest proportion of [[postal voting]];<ref name=bautista /> [[Electoral fraud#Vote buying|vote buying]] (via mail-in ballots) is widely reported to be a common practice in the poor neighborhoods of Melilla.<ref name=bautista>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2019-05-06/melilla-vice-votos-corrupcion_1976146/|website=[[El Confidencial]]|title=Se compran votos por 50 euros|first=José|last=Bautista|date=6 May 2019}}</ref> Court cases in this matter had involved the PP, the CPM and the PSOE.<ref name=bautista />

On 15 June 2019, following the [[2019 Melilla Assembly election|May 2019 Melilla Assembly election]], the regionalist and left-leaning party of Muslim and Amazigh persuasion [[Coalition for Melilla]] (CPM, 8 seats), the [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]] (PSOE, 4 seats) and [[Citizens (Spanish political party)|Citizens–Party of the Citizenry]] (Cs, 1 seat) voted in favour of the Cs' candidate ([[Eduardo de Castro]]) as the Presidency of the Autonomous City,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://resultados.elpais.com/elecciones/2019/municipales/19/52/01.html |title=Resultados Electorales en Melilla: Elecciones Municipales 2019 en EL PAÍS |publisher=Resultados.elpais.com |newspaper=[[El País]]|access-date=15 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Alba|first1=Nicolás|url=https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2019/06/15/5d04d1c3fc6c833b568b46a6.html |title=El único diputado de Ciudadanos consigue la presidencia de Melilla tras 19 años de Gobierno del PP |newspaper=[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]] |date=15 June 2019 |access-date=15 June 2019}}</ref> ousting [[Juan José Imbroda]], from the [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]] (PP, 10 seats), who had been in office since 2000.

Melilla also maintains a local police force known as Policia Local de Melilla (Ciudad Autonoma de Melilla - Policia Local).

=== Justice ===
The judicial district of Melilla for the administration of justice and the highest judicial body of the autonomous city is the [[High Court of Justice of Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla|High Court of Justice of Andalusia, Ceuta, and Melilla]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ministry of Justice - Judicial District of Melilla |url=https://www.mjusticia.gob.es/BUSCADIR/ServletControlador?apartado=buscadorMunicipioDesdeListado&municipio=52001&lang=es_es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=C.G.P.J - High Court of Justice of Andalusia, Ceuta, and Melilla |url=https://www.poderjudicial.es/cgpj/es/Poder-Judicial/Tribunales-Superiores-de-Justicia/TSJ-Andalucia--Ceuta-y-Melilla/ |accessdate=2022-02-28 |website=www.poderjudicial.es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Melilla Judicial District Map and Municipalities of its Territorial Scope. Ministry of Justice |url=https://www.mjusticia.gob.es/es/JusticiaEspana/OrganizacionJusticia/InstLibraryCartographyJudProv/Melilla/Melilla.pdf}}</ref>

=== Administrative subdivisions ===
<!--Anchor for redirect, do not alter. -->
Melilla is subdivided into eight districts (''distritos''), which are further subdivided into neighbourhoods (''[[barrio]]s''):
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*1st
**Barrio de Medina Sidonia.
**Barrio del General Larrea.
**Barrio de [[Ataque Seco]].
*2nd
**Barrio Héroes de España.
**Barrio del General Gómez Jordana.
**Barrio Príncipe de Asturias.
*3rd
**Barrio del Carmen.
*4th
**Barrio Polígono Residencial La Paz.
**Barrio Hebreo-Tiro Nacional.
*5th
**Barrio de Cristóbal Colón.
**Barrio de Cabrerizas.
**Barrio de Batería Jota.
**Barrio de Hernán Cortes y Las Palmeras.
**Barrio de Reina Regente.
*6th
**Barrio de Concepción Arenal.
**Barrio Isaac Peral (Tesorillo).
*7th
**Barrio del General Real.
**Polígono Industrial SEPES.
**Polígono Industrial Las Margaritas.
**Parque Empresarial La Frontera.
*8th
**Barrio de la Libertad.
**Barrio del Hipódromo.
**Barrio de Alfonso XIII.
**Barrio Industrial.
**Barrio Virgen de la Victoria.
**Barrio de la Constitución.
**Barrio de los Pinares.
**Barrio de la Cañada de Hidum
{{div col end}}

=== Postal division ===
Before the reform of the [[Postal codes in Spain|postal code]] system implemented in Spain, Melilla used the code ''29801'', corresponding to the province of [[Málaga]], with which it maintained an administrative affiliation. The number ''29'' identified all localities belonging to that province, and Melilla did not have a specific postal code of its own, despite its geographical and political singularity.<ref>{{Cite news |last=País |first=El |date=1984-07-06 |title=Correos crea 17 nuevos distritos postales y reorganiza todos los que ya existían |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1984/07/06/madrid/457961061_850215.html |access-date=2025-04-18 |work=El País |language=es |issn=1134-6582}}</ref>

This situation changed with the entry into force of the ''Order of 27 September 1995'', which established a new postal code system to better reflect the territorial particularities of certain areas. As a result of this order, from ''1 February 1996'', Melilla began using the prefix ''52'', with ''52001'' assigned as its main postal code. This change marked an administrative separation from Málaga in postal terms and was part of the broader process of institutional recognition of Melilla as an [[autonomous city]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Ministerio de Obras Públicas, Transportes y Medio Ambiente |title=Orden de 27 de septiembre de 1995 sobre modificación del código postal de las ciudades de Ceuta y Melilla |date=1995-10-04 |issue=Orden |pages=29195–29196 |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1995-21835 |access-date=2025-04-18}}</ref>

Since then, all postal codes in Melilla begin with ''52'', thus distinguishing it from mainland Spain and reinforcing its distinct administrative and territorial identity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=comentó |first=Español |date=2023-02-25 |title=Melilla y Andalucía |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/melilla-andalucia/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |language=es}}</ref>

=== Spain-Morocco relations ===
[[File:MTN25-1111c3-2003-Melilla.jpg|thumb|Map of Melilla]]
There are recurring issues in the [[Spain-Morocco relations]], such as Morocco's claim to include Melilla and Ceuta within its territory, as well as the [[Plazas de soberanía|sovereignty plazas]], the incident on [[Perejil Island]], the [[2007 Morocco–Spain diplomatic conflict|2007 diplomatic conflicts]], the [[2021 Morocco–Spain border incident|mass crossing of people at the Ceuta and Melilla borders on May 17, 2021]], and the phenomenon of unaccompanied foreign minors. The [[Spanish Government]] has never initiated negotiations on these issues, as Ceuta, Melilla, and the sovereignty plazas are part of Spanish national territory, and the Spanish people support the Spanish sovereignty over these territories.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foreign Ministry defends the 'absolute Spanish sovereignty' of Ceuta and Melilla. |url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2010/05/17/espana/1274126915.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Opina Institute Poll. |url=http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/29196/spaniards_review_ceuta_and_melilla_situation/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111224223026/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/29196/spaniards_review_ceuta_and_melilla_situation/ |archive-date=December 24, 2011}}</ref> Morocco, however, relies on the nationalist idea of [[Greater Morocco]], with occasional [[disinformation]] campaigns in British media, attempting to assimilate Melilla or Ceuta with [[Gibraltar]], which is a [[British Overseas Territory]] on the United Nations list of territories to decolonize.<ref name="books.google_1">Jesús A. Núñez Villaverde, Miguel Hernando de Larramendi, Hernando de Larramendi H. de Larramendi, [http://books.google.es/books?id=BRSzrQ01C44C&pg=PA25&dq=angel+ballesteros,+gran+marruecos&hl=es&ei=M5NVTsDZGoqcOsninZ0G&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&sqi=2&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=gran%20marruecos&f=false ''La política exterior y de cooperación de España hacia el Magreb (1982-1995)''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212153115/http://books.google.es/books?id=BRSzrQ01C44C&pg=PA25&dq=angel+ballesteros,+gran+marruecos&hl=es&ei=M5NVTsDZGoqcOsninZ0G&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&sqi=2&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=gran%20marruecos&f=false}}, ISBN 978-84-8198-182-7, p. 25.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Territories to be decolonized |url=http://www.un.org/es/decolonization/nonselfgovterritories.shtml}}</ref><ref>Dioniso García Flórez, ''Ceuta y Melilla. Cuestión de Estado'', Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla, 1999, p. 48.</ref><ref>Dioniso García Flórez, ''Ceuta y Melilla. Cuestión de Estado'', Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla, 1999, pp. 61-63.</ref>

== Economy ==
The [[gross domestic product]] (GDP) of the autonomous community was 1.6 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 0.1% of Spanish economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 19,900 euros or 66% of the EU27 average in the same year. Melilla was the [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS2]] region with the lowest GDP per capita in Spain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58|title=Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018|website=Eurostat}}</ref>

Melilla does not participate in the [[European Union Customs Union]] (EUCU).{{Sfn|Morón Pérez|2006|p=64}} There is no [[VAT]] (IVA) tax, but a local reduced-rate tax called IPSI.{{Sfn|Morón Pérez|2006|p=67}} Preserving the status of [[free port]], imports are free of tariffs and the only tax concerning them is the IPSI.{{Sfn|Morón Pérez|2006|pp=67–68}} Exports to the Customs Union (including Peninsular Spain) are however subject to the correspondent customs tariff and are taxed with the correspondent VAT.{{Sfn|Morón Pérez|2006|pp=67–68}} There are some special manufacturing taxes regarding electricity and transport, as well as complementary charges on tobacco and oil and fuel products.{{Sfn|Morón Pérez|2006|p=68}}

'''Labor market'''

The labor market in Melilla in 2023 shows an [[Unemployment|unemployment rate]] of 27.42%, the second-highest in Spain. The [[employment rate]] is 42.55%, lower than the national average. The [[services sector]] leads in affiliations and hiring, with 90% of contracts in this sector. Despite an improvement in contract stability, the total number of contracts decreased by 16.45%. Melilla remains a region that exports young workers, mainly to Andalusia. The most commonly hired occupations are low-skilled jobs, such as cleaning staff and waiters. Prospects for 2024 are positive in sectors such as [[retail]] and [[catering]], although mismatches between supply and demand for employment persist due to a lack of proper training.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://www.sepe.es/dctm/informes:09019af480252153/RElTRVdFQg==/4267-1.pdf |title=Labor Market Report of Melilla Data 2023 |journal=Public State Employment Service SEPE}}</ref>{{wide image|Melilla noche, vista general.jpg|770px|Night view of Melilla (centre) and [[Beni Ansar|Beni Ensar]] in [[Morocco]] (right)}}

=== Tertiary sector ===
The economic sector that generates the most wealth and employment is the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|services sector]], which accounts for 80% of the 1.564 billion euros of GDP in 2018, and employs 32% of the population (2021). The principal industry is fishing. Cross-border commerce (legal or smuggled) and Spanish and European grants and wages are the other income sources.

; Business activity

In 2022, there were a total of 4,856 companies in the city, generally small-sized. Of these, 2,617 were dedicated to commerce, transportation, and hospitality, 1,714 to services, 615 to professional and technical activities, and the rest to other services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Melilla - How many companies are there in your municipality? |url=https://www.epdata.es/datos/numero-empresas-municipio-localidad/140/melilla/4494 |accessdate=2025-04-02 |website=www.epdata.es}}</ref>

Melilla is regularly connected to the Iberian peninsula by air and sea traffic and is also economically connected to Morocco: most of its fruit and vegetables are imported across the border. Moroccans in the city's hinterland are attracted to it: 36,000 Moroccans cross the border daily to work, shop or trade goods.<ref name="vk1">English translation of Volkskrant article: [http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/309191-melilla-north-africa-s-european-dream Melilla North-Africa's European dream] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307004142/http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/309191-melilla-north-africa-s-european-dream |date=7 March 2012 }}, 5 August 2010, visited 3 June 2012</ref>

==== Commerce ====
In Melilla, there are various commercial establishments, including the Centro Comercial Parque Melilla, several [[Department store|department stores]], [[hypermarkets]], and [[supermarkets]]. Among the most notable are those belonging to major distribution chains, such as the hypermarket [[Carrefour]], with a branch in the city, [[Mercadona]], with one store, [[DIA (supermarket chain)|Dia]], with three locations, [[Lidl]], with one store, and [[Aldi]], with one store.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Food |first=Financial |date=2020-02-26 |title=Murias Parque Melilla shopping center increased its sales by 16.2% in 2019 |url=https://financialfood.es/el-centro-comercial-murias-parque-melilla-elevo-sus-ventas-un-162-en-2019/ |accessdate=2025-03-22 |website=Financial Food |language=es}}</ref>

Moreover, trade with Morocco has historically been key to the economy of Melilla, especially through the commercial customs office, which facilitated the passage of essential goods for the city. However, in 2018, Morocco closed this customs office, severely affecting Melilla’s merchants and the approximately 5,000 cross-border workers who depended on informal trade. In 2020, the border closure due to the pandemic further exacerbated the situation, limiting commercial exchange.

In 2025, after nearly three years of negotiations, Spain and Morocco agreed to reopen the commercial customs offices, though with new restrictions on the products that could cross and a limit on the number of trucks per day. This agreement, although limited, has allowed a partial recovery of cross-border trade, providing relief to the sectors most affected in Melilla.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Economic sector and province employment (3990) |url=https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Datos.htm?t=3990 |accessdate=2022-02-13 |website=INE |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-21 |title=Morocco considers the end of atypical commerce in Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/marruecos-da-por-finiquitado-el-comercio-atipico-en-melilla/ |accessdate=2022-02-13 |website=El Faro de Melilla |language=es-ES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-07-06 |title=Morocco is considering permanently closing the borders with Ceuta and Melilla |url=https://www.niusdiario.es/internacional/africa/marruecos-plantea-definitivamente-fronteras-melilla_18_3166020487.html |language=es-ES |work=Nius Diario}}</ref>

==== Public administration ====
Melilla is a region where the [[Public Administration of Spain|Public Administrations]], especially the [[Ministry of Defence (Spain)|Ministry of Defense]], have a significant weight in the economy, accounting for a total of 47%, a circumstance it shares with Ceuta. In 2015, a Technology Center was inaugurated with the aim of promoting the development of ICT companies.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 28, 2010 |title=The technology center will open Melilla to join the R&D+i network |url=https://www.diariosur.es/v/20101228/melilla/centro-tecnologico-abrira-melilla-20101228.html |access-date=July 31, 2018 |newspaper=Diario Sur |language=es-ES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Melilla inaugurates its Technology Center for training and employment in R&D+i |url=https://www.diariosur.es/agencias/andalucia/201503/13/melilla-inaugura-centro-tecnologico-337557.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731062110/https://www.diariosur.es/agencias/andalucia/201503/13/melilla-inaugura-centro-tecnologico-337557.html |archive-date=July 31, 2018 |access-date=July 31, 2018 |newspaper=hoy.es |language=es-ES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Inaugurates the Technology Center, which could start operating in May |url=http://www.melillamedia.es/n/5762/inauguran-el-centro-tecnologico-que-podria-empezar-a-funcionar-en-mayo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731062209/http://www.melillamedia.es/n/5762/inauguran-el-centro-tecnologico-que-podria-empezar-a-funcionar-en-mayo |archive-date=July 31, 2018 |access-date=July 31, 2018 |website=melillamedia.es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Melilla gains momentum |url=https://europa.eu/investeu/projects/ict-culture-melilla_es |access-date=July 31, 2018 |website=investEU |language=es}}</ref>

=== Secondary sector ===
The [[Industry (economics)|industry]] in Melilla played a significant role during the 20th century, especially in agricultural and canning production. In the early 20th century, the [[fishing industry]] stood out the most, with fish canning factories such as the one founded in 1907 by Luigi Dassori, the ''San Luis'' cannery. This industry grew rapidly, driven by the export of fish products to other cities in mainland Spain and Mediterranean countries.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Saruel Hernández |first=Fernando |date=2018 |title=Melilla: su pasado industrial |url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=6992377 |journal=II Congreso Internacional de Patrimonio Industrial y de la Obra Pública: Patrimonio Industrial: Pasado, presente y futuro, 2018, ISBN 9788409120383, págs. 79-90 |publisher=Fundación Patrimonio Industrial de Andalucía |pages=79–90 |isbn=978-84-09-12038-3}}</ref>

In addition to fishing, Melilla also developed a processing industry for products such as flour, yogurt, wine, and oil, supported by its agricultural activity. The “Granja Agrícola del Estado” (State Agricultural Farm) played a key role in the development of local production, which remained active until the mid-1990s. However, urbanization and a lack of water resources eventually hindered these productive sectors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://melillahoy.es/melilla-cuando-era-conocida-como-la-amrica-chica/|title=Melilla, cuando era conocida como "La América Chica" - MelillaHoy|access-date=2025-04-11|last=Mohamed|first=Farid|date=2020-08-13|language=es}}</ref>

Despite the industrial importance of fishing and agriculture in the past, industrial activities in Melilla have now significantly declined. Former factories have been replaced with other uses, and the city's economy has shifted toward the [[service sector]], largely due to urban growth and a shortage of natural resources like water.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elalminardemelilla.com/2011/07/04/el-pasado-industrial-de-melilla/|title=El pasado industrial de Melilla|access-date=2025-04-11|last=Hospitalario|date=2011-07-04|website=El Alminar de Melilla|language=es}}</ref>

=== Primary sector ===
Melilla has a small territory, much of which is occupied by urban land, and a significant portion belongs to the [[Ministry of Defence (Spain)|Ministry of Defence]]. This limits the development and use of land, which is essential for the [[primary sector]] and other economic activities. Land management must balance urban, defense, and productive interests.

==== Agriculture and livestock ====
Until the 1980s, [[livestock]] and [[agriculture]] were key sectors of Melilla’s economy, with orchards covering over a third of the territory, producing vegetables, cereals, and animal products that were even exported to mainland Spain. The creation of the “State Agricultural Farm” was essential to local agricultural development. However, from the 1980s onward, urbanization and water scarcity led to the decline of these sectors. Despite efforts to revive agriculture through a 1994 “Irrigation Plan,” the activity faded and is now limited to small-scale subsistence farming.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.planestrategicomelilla.net/f14_01.htm|title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla|access-date=2025-04-11|website=www.planestrategicomelilla.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/el-gobierno-anuncia-la-compra-de-villa-pilar-para-su-recuperacion-agricola-y-medioambiental/|title=El Gobierno anuncia la compra de Villa Pilar para su recuperación agrícola y medioambiental - El Faro de Melilla|access-date=2025-04-13|date=2025-03-17|language=es}}</ref>

==== Fishing ====
[[File:Dársena del puerto de Melilla.jpg|left|thumb|Fishing dock of Melilla]]

[[Fishing]] in Melilla has been significant since ancient times, peaking in the early 20th century. In 1907, the San Luis cannery boosted exports, especially of sardines. From 1914 onward, Andalusian fishing boats arrived for the “Winter Campaign,” increasing production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://melillahoy.es/melilla-cuando-era-conocida-como-la-amrica-chica/|title=Melilla, cuando era conocida como "La América Chica" - MelillaHoy|access-date=2025-04-11|last=Mohamed|first=Farid|date=2020-08-13|language=es}}</ref>

The most common species were [[sardine]]s, [[tuna]] and [[seafood]], much of which was exported to other countries. The fleet was modernized through motorization, with over 100 boats operating by 1930.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/la-darsena-pesquera-de-melilla-un-pasado-un-presente-y-un-futuro-prometedor/|title=La Dársena Pesquera de Melilla: Un pasado, un presente y un futuro prometedor - El Faro de Melilla|access-date=2025-04-11|date=2024-05-11|language=es}}</ref>

More modern fishing facilities were built over the years, such as [[fish markets]] in 1916 and 1921. The [[canning]] and [[Salting (food)|salting]] industries, including San Luis, provided jobs for many locals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/la-pesca-uno-de-los-sectores-mas-olvidados-de-toda-melilla/|title=La pesca, uno de los sectores más olvidados de toda Melilla|access-date=2025-04-11|date=2022-10-25|language=es}}</ref>

However, from the 1980s, the sector began to decline due to overfishing and regulatory restrictions, despite the founding of the Fishermen's Guild in 1945.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elpueblodeceuta.com/200808/20080811/200808116102.html|title=elpueblodeceuta.com|access-date=2025-04-11|website=www.elpueblodeceuta.com}}</ref>

==== Mining ====

===== Melilla–San Juan de las Minas railway line =====
The Melilla–San Juan de las Minas railway line, inaugurated in 1914, was vital to Melilla’s economy by enabling the transport of iron ore from the [[Rif]] region to its port. Operated by the Compañía Española de Minas del Rif, it boosted industrial activity, port trade, and infrastructure investment. Its profitability declined after the [[independence of Morocco]] and the rise of road transport, leading to its closure in 1972. It was one of Melilla’s economic drivers in the 20th century.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spanishrailway.com/ferrocarril-de-la-compana-espanola-de-minas-del-rif-protectorado-de-marruecos/|title=Spanish Railway » Blog Archive » Ferrocarril de la Compañía Española de Minas del Rif – Protectorado de Marruecos|access-date=2025-04-13|language=es}}</ref>[[File:Vista_desde_Melilla_la_Vieja.jpg|thumb|Melilla from [[Melilla la Vieja]]]]

=== Strategic Comprehensive Plan of Melilla ===
Melilla has developed a Strategic Comprehensive Plan with the aim of transforming its production model, focusing on three key sectors: tourism, the digital economy, and the green and circular economy. These sectors currently have a limited impact on the city, but they are considered to offer significant opportunities to diversify the economy and improve employment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Melilla entrusts its future to the tourism sector, digital economy, and green and circular economy - El Faro de Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/melilla-encomienda-su-futuro-al-sector-turistico-a-la-economia-digital-y-a-la-verde-y-circular/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Turismo Melilla |url=https://bonosmelilla.es/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=bonosmelilla.es |language=es}}</ref>

==== Tourism sector ====
{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="float: right; margin-left: 3em; padding-left: 2em; font-size: 90%;"
!colspan=4|Hotel Beds in Melilla in 2023
|-
!colspan=2|Type||Establishments||Beds
|-
| rowspan="4" |Hotels
|4 stars ||2||339
|-
|3 stars ||3||400
|-
|1 star ||1||35
|-
|Total||6||774
|-
| rowspan="3" |Hostels
|2 stars ||1||21
|-
|1 star ||1||21
|-
|Total||2||42
|-
| rowspan="2" |Guesthouses
|1 star ||2||22
|-
|Total||2||22
|-
! colspan="2" |Total||10||838
|}
The tourism sector in Melilla has enormous potential due to its historical heritage and its ties with Morocco, but faces challenges such as high transportation costs and the lack of a clear strategy. The Strategic Plan proposes rehabilitating historical heritage for tourism purposes, developing an international promotion plan, and fostering financing for tourism businesses, as well as implementing a tourism resilience strategy to improve infrastructure and attract more visitors. Currently, Melilla has 10 hotel establishments and 838 beds, which represents a limited capacity. Although occupancy has increased, reaching 58% in 2023, there is a recognized need to improve hotel infrastructure. In this regard, the Autonomous City is working on several projects to expand the offer, such as converting the Governor's House into a hotel, the rehabilitation of the [[Paradores de Turismo de España|Parador]], and the construction of a new hotel in the Explanada de San Lorenzo, in addition to offering subsidies to improve existing hotels, with the aim of strengthening the tourism sector, especially in the areas of conferences and events.<ref>{{cite web|periodical=Patronato de Turismo de Melilla |title=Bonos Melilla |url=https://bonosmelilla.es/}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bonos Turísticos para visitar Melilla |url=https://bonosmelilla.es/}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-03-29 |language=es |title=La Ciudad trabaja en aumentar la oferta hotelera aunque aún hay "margen" - El Faro de Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/la-ciudad-trabaja-en-aumentar-la-oferta-hotelera-aunque-aun-hay-margen/}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

==== Digital economy ====
The plan seeks to strengthen the digital economy by modernizing the industrial fabric and SMEs, investing in digitalization, and improving the capabilities of businesses and workers. This would help diversify the economy, reduce dependence on the public sector, and take advantage of technological market opportunities.<ref>{{Cite news |title=digital economy - MelillaHoy |url=https://melillahoy.es/tag/economia-digital/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |newspaper=MelillaHoy - El Periódico de Melilla |language=es-ES}}</ref>

==== Green and circular economy ====
To promote a sustainable economy, the Plan includes measures to improve waste recycling, boost energy self-consumption (through energy communities), and increase energy efficiency, particularly in the tourism sector. It also highlights projects such as marine conservation and improving the water supply.

The port of Melilla offers several daily connections to [[Almería]] and [[Málaga]]. [[Melilla Airport]] offers daily flights to Almería, Málaga and [[Madrid]]. Spanish operator [[Air Nostrum|Iberia Regional/Air Nostrum]] operate in Melilla's airport.

Many people travelling between Europe and Morocco use the ferry links to Melilla, both for passengers and for freight. Because of this, the port and related companies form an important economic driver for the city.<ref name="vk1" />

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations|1877|1009|1887|5432|1900|10182|1910|40929|1920|53577|1930|69133|1940|69684|1950|76247|1960|72430|1970|60843|1981|53593|1991|63670|2001|66411|2011|81323|2021|86450|source=[[National Statistics Institute (Spain)|National Statistics Institute]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Changes in the municipalities in the population census since 1842|url=https://www.ine.es/intercensal/inicio.do|publisher=[[National Institute of Statistics (Spain)|National Statistics Institute]]|language=es}}</ref>|align=right|cols=1}}[[File:Melilla population pyramid.svg|thumb|Melilla population pyramid in 2022]]

=== Religion ===
[[File:Resucitado (Semana Santa en Melilla 2009).jpg|thumb|[[Holy Week in Spain|Holy Week]] procession in Melilla]]
Melilla has been praised as an example of [[multiculturalism]], being a small city in which one can find Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, and Buddhists represented.<ref name=modernism>{{cite news|title=Melilla: Where Catalan "Modernisme" Meets North Africa|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jennifer-walker/melilla-where-catalan-mod_b_3944043.html|work=[[Huffington Post]]|access-date=19 September 2013}}</ref>

==== Judaism ====
Percentagewise, Melilla may be the most [[Judaism|Jewish]] city in Spain with around 1,000 Jews still living in the city, down from 7,000 around the year 1930 which is mainly due to economic reasons resulting in moving to the Spanish mainland, [[Israel]] or elsewhere. During the second half of the 19th century, many of Sephardic Jews moved from northern Morocco to Melilla. The first ones were traders from the Moroccan cities who came for economic and safety reasons. Later, impoverished Jews from the rural [[Rif|Riffian areas]] joined, also because of safety reasons.<ref name=ElMundo2018Jews>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elmundo.es/papel/cultura/2018/05/30/5b0c31bdca4741d71b8b45a4.html |author=Luis Alemany|title=La última esperanza del barrio judío de Melilla |date=30 May 2018 |access-date=13 January 2024 |language=es}}</ref>

==== Christianity ====
According to the Spanish Center for Sociological Research, [[Roman Catholicism]] is the largest religion in Melilla.<ref name=CIS2019Melilla>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/3260_3279/3263/Marginales/es3263mar_Melilla.pdf |author=''Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas'' (Centre for Sociological Research)|title=Macrobarómetro de octubre 2019, Banco de datos – Document 'Población con derecho a voto en elecciones generales y residente en España, Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla |date=October 2019|page=20 |access-date=4 February 2020 |language=es}}</ref> In 2019, the proportion of Melillans that identify themselves as Roman Catholic was 65.0% (31.7% define themselves as not practising, while 33.3% as practising). 30% identify as followers of other faiths, 2.7% identify as non-believers, and 2.3% identify as atheists.<ref name="CIS2019Melilla" />

The Roman Catholic churches in Melilla belong to the [[Diocese of Málaga]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/malaga/2014/05/31/37-declaraciones-renta-malaga-marcan-28626751.html|website=La Opinión de Málaga|title=El 37% de las declaraciones de la Renta en Málaga marcan la X para la Iglesia|date=31 May 2014|first=José Vicente|last=Rodríguez}}</ref>

==== Islam ====
Some sources indicate that [[Muslim]]s account for roughly half the population in Melilla, which is in conflict with the Spanish Center for Sociological Research reported numbers.{{Sfn|Ponce Herrero|Martí Ciriquián|2019|p=117}}

==== Hinduism ====
There is a small, autonomous, and commercially important Hindu community present in Melilla, which has fallen over the past decades as its members move to the Spanish mainland and numbers about 100 members today.<ref name=modernism />

=== Language ===
Melilla features a [[diglossia]], with [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as the first and official language and [[Tarifit]] as the second language, with limited written codification, and usage restricted to family and domestic relations and oral speech.{{Sfn|Sánchez Suárez|2003|p=190}}

The population can be thus divided into monolingual Spanish speakers of European ethnic origin (without competence in any other language than those formally taught at school); those descended from Tamazight-speaking parents, usually bilingual in Spanish and Tamazight; and Moroccan immigrants and cross-border workers, with a generally dominant Tamazight language (with some also competent in Arabic) and a L2 competence in Spanish.{{Sfn|Montero Alonso|Sayahi|2021|p=56}} The Spanish spoken in Melilla is similar to the [[Andalusian dialect|Andalusian variety]] from [[Cádiz]],{{Sfn|Tilmatine|2011|p=23}} whereas the Berber variant spoken in Melilla is the Tarifit common with the neighbouring [[Nador]] area.{{Sfn|Tilmatine|2011|p=26}} Rather than Berber ({{langx|es|bereber|link=no}}), Berber speakers in Melilla use either the glotonym {{lang|rif-Latn-EA|Tmaziɣt}}, or, in Spanish, {{lang|es-EA|cherja}} for their language.{{Sfn|Tilmatine|2011|p=23}}

The first attempt to legislate a degree of recognition for Berber in Melilla was in 1994, in the context of the elaboration of the Statute of Autonomy, by mentioning the promotion of the linguistic and cultural pluralism (without explicitly mentioning the Berber language). The initiative went nowhere, voted down by PP and PSOE.{{Sfn|Tilmatine|2011|p=19}} Reasons cited for not recognizing Tamazight are related to the argument that the variety is not standardized.{{Sfn|Montero Alonso|Sayahi|2021|p=58}}

=== Urban planning ===
The urban expansion of Melilla began after the [[Treaty of Wad Ras]] in 1860, when the city experienced slow initial growth due to immigration, mainly from the Jewish community and the province of Málaga. In 1861, commercial activity began to drive the population, which that year was only 375 people. In 1868, an expansion plan was approved and executed in 1879, and in 1881, neighborhoods outside the walls, such as the Alcazaba and Mantelete, were built, allowing the population to rise to 3,031 inhabitants in 1893.

Over the years, the population of Melilla grew rapidly, especially between 1893 and 1909, when the 1893 war and the arrival of troops boosted the population to 6,000. During this time, new neighborhoods were created, and key infrastructures were built. In 1906, the population reached 8,800 people, and by 1909, the expansion intensified even further with new neighborhoods like the Hipódromo and the construction of tall buildings. However, the urbanization plan approved in 1910 was largely ignored, resulting in irregular urban growth.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-04-28 |title=History in summary of the limits of Melilla - MelillaHoy |url=https://melillahoy.es/historia-en-sintesis-de-los-lmites-de-melilla/ |accessdate=2025-03-11 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Modernist Expansion Area of Melilla |url=https://melillamonumental.es/conjuntos-y-propuestas-de-recorridos/conjunto-del-ensanche-modernista-de-melilla/ |accessdate=2025-03-11 |website=Melilla Monumental |language=es}}</ref>

In the following decades, Melilla continued expanding, consolidating urban property and creating informal neighborhoods, such as García Valiño and Virgen de la Victoria, in response to the growing demand for housing, especially after the [[Battle of Annual]] in 1921. The expansion culminated in 1956, with the urbanization of the last available land, consolidating the urban core of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jewish urbanism in Melilla, part of the architectural history of the city |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/el-urbanismo-judio-en-melilla-parte-de-la-historia-arquitectonica-de-la-ciudad/ |accessdate=2025-03-11 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Autonomous City of Melilla, as unknown as valuable {{!}} 2.0Viajes |url=http://2.0viajes.com/la-ciudad-autonoma-de-melilla-tan-desconocida-como-valiosa/ |accessdate=2025-03-11 |website=2.0viajes.com}}</ref>

This process of urban growth was accompanied by the evolution of the [[Plan General de Ordenación Urbana|Plan General de Ordenación Urbana (PGOU)]] of Melilla, which aims to regulate land use and building conditions. The original PGOU was approved in 1986 and revised in 1995. Since then, the plan has undergone various modifications, such as the reclassification of barracks in 2014 and a specific modification in 2015 for the execution unit E.U.-34 Valenzuela Barracks. More recently, in 2023, a temporary suspension of construction licenses was approved due to the coexistence of the 1995 PGOU and its current revision. This process aims to ensure appropriate urban planning that adapts to the current needs of the city and promotes controlled and balanced growth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autonomous City of Melilla - General Urban Planning Plan of Melilla |url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_fdoc_d4_v1.jsp&contenido=8547&nivel=1400&tipo=5&codResi=1&language=es&codMenu=696&codMenuPN=602 |accessdate=2025-04-05 |website=www.melilla.es}}</ref>

== Infrastructure ==

=== Transport ===
==== Airport ====
{{Main|Melilla Airport}}
[[File:Melilla Airport.jpg|thumb|Melilla Airport]]
The city is served by Melilla Airport. In 2024, it handled 507,957 passengers. The airport has a daily link with eleven cities in Spain. It's serviced by [[Air Nostrum]], flying to the Spanish cities of [[Málaga]], [[Madrid]], [[Barcelona]], [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]], [[Palma de Mallorca]], [[Granada]], [[Sevilla]], [[Santiago de Compostela]], [[Tenerife]], [[Asturias]] and [[Almería]].<ref>{{cite web |date=28 April 2013 |title=Una nueva compañía aérea comunica Melilla con Málaga tras la marcha de Helitt – Transporte aéreo – Noticias, última hora, vídeos y fotos de Transporte aéreo en lainformacion.com |url=http://noticias.lainformacion.com/economia-negocios-y-finanzas/transporte-aereo/una-nueva-compania-aerea-comunica-melilla-con-malaga-tras-la-marcha-de-helitt_al7DnrF8EzxoNwqW64osF6/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216050159/http://noticias.lainformacion.com/economia-negocios-y-finanzas/transporte-aereo/una-nueva-compania-aerea-comunica-melilla-con-malaga-tras-la-marcha-de-helitt_al7DnrF8EzxoNwqW64osF6/ |archive-date=16 December 2013 |access-date=28 May 2014 |publisher=Noticias.lainformacion.com}}</ref>

{{Airport-Statistics|iata=MLN}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%"
! rowspan="1" |Cities
! rowspan="1" |Airport name
! style="width:170px;" |Airlines
! style="width:80px;" |Aircraft
! style="width:80px;" |Frequencies
|-
! colspan="6" |Spain
|-
|Almería
|Almeria Airport
|Air Nostrum
| align="center" |ATR 72-600
| align="center" |'''Daily'''
|-
|Asturias
|Asturias Airport
|Air Nostrum (Seasonal: July to August)
|ATR 72-600
| '''Tu'''  
|-
|Barcelona
|Barcelona-El Prat Airport
|Air Nostrum
| align="center" |ATR 72-600
| align="center" | '''Th  Sa''' 
|-
|Granada
|Granada-Jaen Airport
|Air Nostrum
| align="center" |ATR 72-600
| align="center" |'''Daily'''
|-
|Gran Canaria
|Gran Canaria Airport
|Air Nostrum
| align="center" |ATR 72-600
| align="center" | '''Tu  Th  Sa''' 
|-
|Madrid
|Madrid-Barajas Airport
|Air Nostrum
| align="center" |ATR 72-600
| align="center" |'''Daily'''
|-
|Málaga
|Malaga Airport
|Air Nostrum
| align="center" |ATR 72-600
| align="center" |'''Daily'''
|-
|Palma de Mallorca
|Palma de Mallorca Airport
|Air Nostrum
| align="center" |ATR 72-600
| align="center" |'''M Tu Th''' 
|-
|Santiago de Compostela
|Santiago de Compostela Airport
|Air Nostrum (Seasonal: July to August)
| align="center" |ATR 72-600
| align="center" | '''Sa''' 
|-
|Seville
|Seville Airport
|Air Nostrum
| align="center" |ATR 72-600
| align="center" |'''M F Su'''
|-
|Tenerife
|Tenerife South Airport
|Air Nostrum (Seasonal: July to August)
|ATR 72-600
|            '''Th''' 
|-
|}

==== Seaport ====
{{Main|Port of Melilla}}
[[File:(Puerto de Melilla) Aterrizando en Melilla (16668390111) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Port of Melilla]] 
The Port of Melilla is the city's seaport, operating continuously at least since 1908. The port is one of the busiest ports on the Mediterranean Sea, with  646,836 passengers in 2023.<ref>[http://www.puertomalaga.com/dlfile.jsp?./memorias/memoria_2008.pdf Memoria 2008, Annual Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709054300/http://www.puertomalaga.com/dlfile.jsp?.%2Fmemorias%2Fmemoria_2008.pdf|date=9 July 2011}}, Port of Málaga site</ref> The port has a [[ferry]] connection to the [[Port of Málaga]], playing a role in the so-called ''[[:es:Operación paso del estrecho|Operación paso del estrecho]]'' ("Operation Pass of the Strait"), the planned seasonal transit of passengers during the summer months from Europe to North-Africa (and back to Europe).<ref>{{cite web |date=2019-06-24 |title=El Puerto de Málaga refuerza desde este martes sus conexiones con Melilla |url=https://www.diariosur.es/malaga-capital/puerto-malaga-refuerza-20190624133242-nt.html |access-date=2020-02-02 |website=Diario Sur |language=es}}</ref>

The city is linked to [[Málaga]], [[Almería]] and [[Motril]] by ferry.
{| class="wikitable" align="center" width="650" style="font-size: 85%"
! rowspan="1" |City
! rowspan="1" |Port Name
! rowspan="1" |Shipping company
|-
! colspan="5" |Nationals
|-
|Málaga
|Port of Malaga
|[https://www.trasmediterranea.es/es Trasmediterránea]/ [https://www.balearia.com/es Baleària]
|-
|Almería
|Port of Almeria
|[https://www.trasmediterranea.es/es Trasmediterránea]/ [https://www.balearia.com/es Baleària]
|-
|Motril
|Port of Motril
|[https://www.balearia.com/es Baleària]
|}

==== Evolution of passengers ==== 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; margin: auto 16px 16px auto; float:left;" |+ ! colspan="5" | Passengers Melilla |- 
|Year 
|Ship 
|Plane 
|Total 
|Change
|-
|2010
|633,044
|292,608
|925,652
|-
|2011
|642,733
|286,701
|929,434
|{{Increase}} 0.41 %
|-
|2012
|810,883
|315,850
|1,126,733
|{{Increase}} 21.23 %
|-
|2013
|783,930
|289,551
|1,073,481
|{{Decrease}} -4.73 %
|-
|2014
|772,124
|319,603
|1,091,653
|{{Increase}} 1.69 %
|-
|2015
|844,260
|317,806
|1,162,066
|{{Increase}} 6.45 %
|-
|2016
|{{Increase}} 889,348
|330,116
|1,219,464
|{{Increase}} 4.94 %
|-
|2017
|833,033
|324,366
|1,157,399
|{{Decrease}} -5.09 %
|-
|2018
|828,659
|348,121
|1,176,782
|{{Increase}} 1.67 %
|-
|2019
|842,983
|434,660
|{{Increase}} 1,277,639
|{{Increase}} 8.57 %
|-
|2020
|234,536
|195,636
|430,172
|{{Decrease}} -66.33 %
|-
|2021
|265,903
|332,446
|598,349
|{{Increase}} 39.10 %
|-
|2022
|641,263
|447,450
|1,088,713
|{{Increase}} 81.95 %
|-
|2023
|646,836
|501,069
|1,147,905
|{{Increase}} 5.43 %
|-
|2024
|711,900
|{{Increase}} 507,957
|1,219,857
|{{Increase}} 6.27 %
|}
Between 2010 and 2019, Melilla saw a steady increase in passenger numbers, with an 8.57% rise in 2019, mainly driven by air travel. However, maritime transport consistently carried more passengers, although air travel showed notable growth, particularly from 2017 onward, with significant increases of 5.09% in 2016 and 8.57% in 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted passenger numbers in 2020, resulting in a 66.33% drop, particularly in maritime transport due to restrictions. Despite the health crisis, maritime transport retained its status as the dominant mode of transport by passenger volume.

Melilla experienced a strong recovery in 2021 and 2022, with growth rates of 39.10% in 2021 and 81.95% in 2022. During this period, air travel led the rebound, though maritime transport continued to be the primary mode of transport in terms of passenger volume. While air travel numbers increased, the ferry remained more popular due to its capacity and the option to travel with vehicles.

In 2023 and 2024, the growth trend slowed with increases of 5.43% and 6.27%, respectively. Air travel continued to grow, but maritime transport maintained its lead in total passengers. This preference for ships can be attributed to their greater capacity and the ability to transport vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-04-05 |date=2025-01-13 |language=es |last=M.R |title="Récord histórico" de vehículos e incremento de pasajeros en el puerto de Melilla en 2024 - MelillaHoy |url=https://melillahoy.es/record-historico-de-vehiculos-e-incremento-de-pasajeros-en-el-puerto-de-melilla-en-2024/}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

==== Public transportation ====
{{See also|Transport in Melilla}}
; Urban bus

The city has a good bus network managed by the ''Cooperativa Ómnibus de Automóviles'', which connects all districts of the city. The price of a single ticket is €0.90, paid directly to the driver upon boarding. For frequent travellers, a more economical option is to purchase a rechargeable Bonobús card, available at kiosks and tobacconists. This card allows you to take ten trips for approximately €8.50.
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|+Lines
!Line
!Route
!Frequency
|-
| style="text-align: center;" |<span style="font-size:95%; padding:1px;background-color:RoyalBlue;color:white;">Line 1</span>
|Plaza de España - Real
|20 - 30 min
|-
| style="text-align: center;" |<span style="font-size:95%; padding:1px;background-color:Crimson;color:white;">Line 2</span>
|Mercado Central - Plaza de España - Frontera Beni Enzar
|15 min (Monday to Saturday) - 20 min (Sundays and holidays)
|-
| style="text-align: center;" |<span style="font-size:95%; padding:1px;background-color:Lime;color:white;">Line 3</span>
|General Marina - Alfonso XIII - Real
|20 - 30 min
|-
| style="text-align: center;" |<span style="font-size:95%; padding:1px;background-color:DeepPink;color:white;">Line 5</span>
|Torres Quevedo - Cabrerizas
|30 min
|-
| style="text-align: center;" |<span style="font-size:95%; padding:1px;background-color:Aqua;color:white;">Line 6</span>
|Torres Quevedo - Reina Regente - Frontera Mariguari
|40 min
|-
| style="text-align: center;" |<span style="font-size:95%; padding:1px;background-color:Gold;color:white;">Line 7</span>
|Mercado Central - Frontera de Farjana
|20 min (Monday to Saturday) - 40 min (Sundays and holidays)
|-
|}
Prices vary depending on the rate accessed:
{| class="wikitable" border="2"
!Rate type
!Price
|-
|Single/regular ticket
|90 cents
|-
|-
|Wallet card
|75 cents
|}

==== Land transport ====
Three roads connect Melilla and [[Morocco]] but require clearance through border checkpoints.

==== Taxi ====
[[File:1989_Mercedes-Benz_190E_White_HCC21.jpg|thumb|[[Mercedes-Benz W201]], a typical taxi in Melilla]]
Melilla also has a large fleet of taxis with permanent stops in the city center and near border areas (the latter during peak hours). However, most of the vehicles are quite old, second- or fourth-hand, with more than thirty years of age and not particularly comfortable or safe. Many of these taxis do not have seat belts in the rear seats and lack other safety features.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2021-08-17 |date=2021-08-17 |language=es-ES |title=The Environment offers subsidies to the taxi sector to renew its fleet of vehicles |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/medio-ambiente-ofrece-subvenciones-sector-taxi-renovar-flota-vehiculos/ |website=El Faro de Melilla}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite news|access-date=2021-08-12 |date=2018-08-11 |language=es-ES |medium=El Faro de Melilla |title=Taxi drivers propose an average fare increase of 15 to 20 cents in Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/taxi-melilla-plantea-subida-media-precio-viaje/}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

==== Electric vehicle ====
The push for electric mobility is on the rise, driven by various initiatives both locally and nationally. The local government has started taking measures to promote the adoption of electric vehicles in the city, especially through funds and programs such as the [[Instituto para la Diversificación y Ahorro de la Energía|MOVES III Plan]].

Melilla will benefit from a fund of €800,000 from the MOVES III Plan, which aims to incentivize the purchase of electric vehicles and the installation of charging infrastructures. This fund is part of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PRTR), and its management will be entrusted to the public company 'Proyecto Melilla' (Promesa). The subsidies will cover the purchase of electric vehicles, with an incentive of up to 7,000 euros per electric car, as long as an old vehicle is retired.

In addition to electric cars, Melilla is also focusing on the development of renewable energy, especially photovoltaic energy. The installation of solar panels is being promoted, which will not only contribute to the energy transition but also improve energy efficiency in the city.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-04-05 |title=Melilla will receive around €800,000 for the MOVES III Plan and photovoltaic energy |url=https://melillahoy.es/melilla-recibira-en-torno-a-800-000-euros-para-el-plan-moves-iii-y-energia-fotovoltaica/ |website=melillahoy.es|date=3 April 2025 }}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

=== Energy ===
The energy supply to the city of Melilla aligns with the objectives established in the Action Plan for Climate and Energy (PACES) of the Autonomous City of Melilla.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaPortal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_fdoc_d4_v1.jsp&codbusqueda=910&language=es&codResi=1&layout=contenedor.jsp&codAdirecto=512|title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla - Plan de Acción para el Clima y la Energía (PACES) de la Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla|access-date=2025-03-09|website=www.melilla.es}}</ref>

; Electricity
[[File:Chimeneas_de_Endesa,_Melilla.jpg|alt=Melilla Power Plant|thumb|Melilla Power Plant]]
The Melilla Power Plant, built between 1920 and 1925 by the Compañía Española de Minas del Rif (CEMR), initially provided electricity to the mineral loading dock, later selling power to Gaselec.<ref name="AKROS">{{cite magazine |last=Sanmartín Solano |first=Ginés |url=http://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/RecursosWeb/DOCUMENTOS/1/1_784_1.pdf |title=Historia del cargadero de mineral de Melilla |year=2006 |pages=33–42 |issn=1579-0959 |number=5 |magazine=Akros: Revista de Patrimonio}}</ref><ref name="Aldaba">{{cite magazine |last=Sanmartín Solano |first=Ginés |url=http://e-spacio.uned.es/fez/view/bibliuned:Aldaba-1985-5-2050 |title=La Compañía Española de Minas del Rif (1907-1984) |year=1985 |pages=55–74 |issn=0213-7925 |number=5 |magazine=Aldaba}}</ref> It closed in 1963, was acquired by [[Endesa]], and underwent several expansions over the years, including the installation of diesel engines in 1980 and a gas turbine in 1991. The plant's most recent upgrades include the addition of advanced [[MAN SE|MAN]] engines and Aggreko generators, boosting its power supply capacity. Since 2002, the plant has maintained an [[ISO 14001]] certified environmental management system.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Vidal Pérez |url=http://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/RecursosWeb/DOCUMENTOS/1/0_13111_1.pdf |title=El último embarque de CEMR-ETSA |year=2011 |pages=60–65 |issn=1579-0959 |magazine=Akros 10 |access-date=3 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="barrios2">{{Cite book |last= |first= |title=Historia de Melilla a través de sus calles y barrios |publisher=Asociación de Estudios Melillenses |year=1997 |language= |chapter=}}</ref>

In 2020, the plant became the center of an innovative circular economy project involving the reuse of electric vehicle batteries for energy storage. The "Second Life Battery Energy Storage System" project, which won the BASF award for the best circular economy practice in Spain, allows the plant to store energy and ensure a stable power supply to the city in the event of failures. The plant uses fuel oil and diesel for its operations and sources water from the sea and the city's water supply network, with a wastewater treatment system in place.<ref name="barrios2" /><ref name="M">{{cite web |title=Ficha del Ministerio de la central |url=http://www.prtr-es.es/informes/fichacomplejo.aspx?id_complejo=5193 |access-date=22 October 2017 |website=prtr-es.es}}</ref><ref name="Guía del Modernismo">{{Cite book |last1=Bravo Nieto |first1=Antonio |title=Guía del Modernismo en Melilla |last2=Bendahán |first2=Marcelo |publisher=MAESTRO BOOKS |year=2008 |isbn=978-90-809396-4-6 |language=es, en |chapter=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-10 |title=La central de Endesa en Melilla recibe el premio Basf por su sistema con baterías de coches eléctricos |url=https://www.europapress.es/economia/noticia-central-endesa-melilla-recibe-premio-basf-sistema-baterias-coches-electricos-20201110174011.html |access-date=2021-03-02 |website=www.europapress.es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-19 |title=Endesa, a la vanguardia de la economía circular en España |url=https://www.elindependiente.com/economia/2020/11/19/endesa-a-la-vanguardia-de-la-economia-circular-en-espana/ |access-date=2021-03-11 |website=El Independiente |language=es}}</ref>

'''Fuels'''

The supply of petroleum-derived [[fuels]] to Melilla comes from the storage facilities located in the city's port by the company [[Moeve]]. The transportation of fuel from the port to its [[gas stations]] is carried out by tanker trucks.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-04-02 |language=es |title=Gasolineras en Melilla - Moeve, antes Cepsa |url=https://www.moeve.es/es/cerca-de-ti/gasolineras/melilla |website=www.moeve.es}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

'''Butane and propane gas'''

The company [[Moeve]] has logistics facilities for [[butane gas]] and [[propane]] in the city to meet the demand for these types of fuels. They also distribute butane gas in the city with a lighter type of gas cylinder.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-04-02 |language=es |last=META_AUTORES_CREADORES_DEL_SITIO |title=META_NOMBRE_DEL_PROYECTO_70 |url=https://www.moeve.es/es/centro-de-ayuda |website=www.moeve.es}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

=== Water supply ===
[[File:Planta desaladora de Melilla.jpg|thumb|View of the Melilla's desalination plant]]
Melilla's water supply primarily came from a network of dug wells (which by the turn of the 21st century suffered from overexploitation and had also experienced a degradation of the water quality and the intrusion of [[seawater]]),<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 February 2008 |title=El trabajo de la desalinizadora mejora la calidad del agua y la sitúa en los parámetros exigidos por Sanidad y Consumo |url=https://www.diariosur.es/20080220/local/melilla/trabajo-desalinizadora-mejora-calidad-200802200802.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F}}</ref> as well as the capture of the [[Río de Oro (Melilla)|Río de Oro]]'s underflow.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 July 2014 |title=Melilla ahorrará un 6% de agua a partir de la segunda fase de planificación hidrológica |url=https://www.europapress.es/impulsamos/consumo-sostenible/noticia-melilla-ahorrara-agua-partir-segunda-fase-planificacion-hidrologica-20140514092711.html |website=[[Europa Press (news agency)|Europa Press]]}}</ref> Seeking to address the water supply problem, works for the construction of a [[desalination plant]] in the Aguadú cliffs, projected to produce {{convert|22000|m3|cuyd|abbr=on}} a day, started in November 2003.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ronda |first=Javier |date=January 2004 |title=Adiós al problema del agua en Melilla |url=https://www.mapa.gob.es/ministerio/pags/Biblioteca/Revistas/pdf_AM%2FAM_2004_29_15_19.pdf |journal=Ambienta}}</ref> The plant entered operation in March 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 September 2009 |title=Espinosa anuncia una inversión de 10 millones para ampliar la desalinizadora de Melilla |url=https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-espinosa-anuncia-inversion-10-millones-ampliar-desalinizadora-melilla-20090929170054.html |website=[[Europa Press (news agency)|Europa Press]]}}</ref> Its daily operation is partially funded by the central government.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 September 2013 |title=El Gobierno financia con 3,9 millones el funcionamiento de la desalinizadora |url=https://www.diariosur.es/v/20130924/melilla/gobierno-financia-millones-funcionamiento-20130924.html |website=[[Diario Sur]]}}</ref> Relative to the Spanish average (and similarly to the [[Canary Islands|Canary]] and [[Balearic Islands|Balearic]] Islands), the city's population spends a comparatively larger amount of money on [[bottled water]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Villarreal |first1=Antonio |last2=Ojeda |first2=Darío |date=9 April 2021 |title=Las dos Españas del agua: al oeste se tira más del grifo y en el resto aprecian la embotellada |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/tecnologia/ciencia/2021-04-09/dos-espanas-agua-embotellada-consumo_3025615/ |website=[[El Confidencial]]}}</ref>

Funded by the [[European Regional Development Fund]] and the {{ill|Confederación Hidrográfica del Guadalquivir|es}}, works for the expansion of the plant's production capabilities up to {{convert|30000|m3|cuyd|abbr=on}} a day started by September 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 September 2020 |title=Arrancan los trabajos para la ampliación de la desaladora de Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/arrancan-trabajosampliacion-desaladora-melilla/ |website=El Faro de Melilla}}</ref>

=== Waste and public street cleaning ===
Valoriza (part of the [[Sacyr]] Group) is the municipal public cleaning company of the Melilla City Council. Founded in 1985, it is responsible for managing urban solid waste and cleaning public streets. The company employs 354 workers, operates 100 vehicles, has a central machinery park, six auxiliary cleaning parks, four [[Clear Point|clear points]], a transfer station, a pneumatic waste collection system, and a comprehensive waste treatment center, in addition to its central offices. The annual budget of Valoriza exceeds 50 million euros.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lipasam.es/index.php?id=3|title=Recursos de Lipasam|access-date=9 December 2008|publisher=Lipasam|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706100855/http://www.lipasam.es/index.php?id=3|archive-date=6 July 2013}}</ref>

=== Feeding supply ===
[[File:Mercado_Central_de_Melilla.jpg|alt=Mercado Central de Melilla|thumb|Mercado Central (Central Market)]]
The food supply in Melilla is primarily based on imports from the [[Iberian Peninsula]] and, to a lesser extent, on agreements with [[Morocco]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elmercantil.com/2025/02/19/armas-mueve-cerca-de-300-camiones-en-el-primer-mes-de-su-linea-motril-melilla/|title=Armas moves nearly 300 trucks in the first month of its Motril-Melilla line|access-date=2025-03-09|last=Mercantil|first=El|date=2025-02-19|website=EL MERCANTIL {{!}} News on the logistics business|language=es}}</ref>

The supply of fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat in Melilla is mainly carried out through the Mercado Central (Central Market), as well as through large commercial retailers. This market is a key point for local trade and the daily supply of essential food for the population.

=== Education ===
[[File:CEIP_Reyes_Católicos_(5256594425).jpg|alt=CEIP Reyes Católicos|thumb|CEIP Reyes Católicos]]
Education in Melilla falls under the jurisdiction of the [[Ministry of Education (Spain)]], which assumes regional and autonomous education responsibilities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/educacion|title=Consejería de Educación de la Junta de Andalucía|access-date=2 April 2017}}</ref>

Melilla has a good number of nurseries, both public and private, and primary schools, which fall under the authority of the Melilla Autonomous City. Secondary schools are overseen by the [[Ministry of Education (Spain)]] through the Territorial Directorate of Education of Melilla, which includes the following schools: IES Leopoldo Queipo, IES Juan Antonio Fernández Pérez, IES Miguel Fernández, IES Enrique Nieto, IES Russadir, IES Virgen de la Victoria, and CIFP Reina Victoria Eugenia. In addition, there is the [[Special education|Special Education Center]] [[Sofía de Grecia|Reina Sofía]], the [[Adult education center|Adult Education Center]] Carmen Conde Abellán, the Miguel Marmolejo Art School, and the concerted schools La Salle El Carmen, Enrique Soler, and Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo (HH. Franciscanas de los SS.CC.).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.educacionyfp.gob.es/contenidos/ba/ceuta-melilla/melilla/portada/oferta-educativa/centros-secundaria.html|title=Centros de enseñanza secundaria y FP|access-date=12 August 2021|website=www.educacionyfp.gob.es|language=es}}</ref>

==== Early childhood, primary, and secondary education ====
Melilla has numerous educational centers for different educational levels, including public, concerted, and private institutions.

In the public school network, Melilla has 13 centers for [[Early childhood education|early childhood]] and [[Primary education|primary]] education, 7 [[secondary education]] centers, and 5 adult education centers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.educacionfpydeportes.gob.es/contenidos/ba/ceuta-melilla/melilla/portada/oferta-educativa.html|title=Oferta educativa en Melilla}}</ref>
[[File:Uned-_melilla.jpg|alt=UNED|thumb|[[National University of Distance Education]]]]

==== University education ====
The [[University of Granada]] is present in the city, with faculties in Education and Sport Sciences, Social and Legal Sciences, and Health Sciences. There is also an associated center of the [[National University of Distance Education]] and a Professional Music Conservatory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.educacionyfp.gob.es/va/contenidos/ba/ceuta-melilla/melilla/portada/oferta-educativa.html|title=Oferta educativa|access-date=4 February 2022|website=Ministerio de Educación|language=es}}</ref>

=== Healthcare ===
[[File:Logo Instituto Nacional de Gestión Sanitaria.png|thumb|National Institute of Health Management]]
Melilla is equipped with the [[Comarcal Hospital of Melilla]], inaugurated in 1988. It also has four [[Health center|health centers]], which are Centro, Zona Norte (Cabrerizas), Zona Oeste (Alfonso XIII), and Zona Este (Polavieja). The healthcare centers in the Health Area of Melilla are managed by [[Ingesa]] (National Institute of Health Management). Construction of the new University Hospital of Melilla began in 2009, with its inauguration scheduled for 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Health Area of Melilla |url=http://www.areasaludmelilla.es/asm/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804015449/http://www.areasaludmelilla.es/asm/ |archive-date=4 August 2018 |access-date=3 August 2018 |website=www.areasaludmelilla.es }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Europa Press |date=2021-07-04 |title=The construction of the new hospital in Melilla could end by the end of 2022 after ten years of delays |url=https://www.europapress.es/ceuta-y-melilla/noticia-obras-nuevo-hospital-melilla-podrian-acabar-finales-2022-diez-anos-retrasos-20210704172140.html |access-date=2022-02-04 |website=www.europapress.es}}</ref> The healthcare centers in Melilla are insufficient as they are overcrowded due to the high demand for medical assistance from Moroccan citizens. Melilla has the highest emergency room usage rate in Spain due to the Moroccan citizens who cross [[Melilla border fence|the border]] daily, between 25,000 and 30,000,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. Renewal and Expansion of the National Health System. |url=https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/temas/fondos-recuperacion/Documents/16062021-Componente18.pdf}}</ref> which overload the emergency services due to the legislation on [[Universal health care|universal healthcare]] in the [[National Health System of Spain|National Health System]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-09 |title=Melilla, diagnosis of a sick healthcare system |url=https://www.medicosdelmundo.org/Melilla-diagnostico-de-una-sanidad-enferma |access-date=2022-02-04 |website=www.medicosdelmundo.org |language=es}}</ref> Despite the presence of hospitals in [[Nador]], [[Berkane]], [[Al Hoceima|Alhucemas]], and [[Oujda]] in Morocco, they prefer the Comarcal Hospital in Melilla due to the free healthcare provided. Additionally, as children born in Spanish territory to Spanish parents obtain Spanish nationality, there is a significant influx of pregnant women, who sometimes travel recklessly. As a result, Melilla has the demographic peculiarities of being the city with the highest birth rate per capita and the youngest average age in Spain.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Hospital Collapse in Melilla: Patients admitted to prison rooms. News from Spain |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2017-07-14/hospital-melilla-habitaciones-presos_1415135/ |access-date=4 August 2018 |newspaper=El Confidencial |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Spanish Nationality |url=http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/es/ServiciosAlCiudadano/InformacionParaExtranjeros/Paginas/Nacionalidad.aspx |access-date=3 August 2018 |website=www.exteriores.gob.es |language=es-ES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Melilla's Prosecution opens an investigation into the death of a pregnant woman after a cesarean section at the hospital |url=http://www.elmundo.es/espana/2018/04/23/5add976222601dfe468b4642.html |access-date=3 August 2018 |newspaper=ELMUNDO |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 April 2018 |title=A woman dies in the hospital of Melilla after a cesarean section |url=https://elpais.com/politica/2018/04/11/actualidad/1523433617_611011.html |access-date=3 August 2018 |newspaper=El País |language=es |issn=1134-6582}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=29 October 2018 |title=Why are there more cesarean sections in Melilla than in the rest of Spain? |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/por-que-mas-cesareas-melilla-resto-espana/ |access-date=8 November 2018 |newspaper=El Faro de Melilla |language=es-ES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The number of babies dying before one year in Ceuta and Melilla triples the Spanish average |url=https://www.melillahoy.es/noticia/113640/sociedad/el-numero-de-bebes-fallecidos-antes-del-ano-en-ceuta-y-melilla-triplica-la-media-espanola.html |access-date=8 January 2019 |website=Melilla Hoy |date=7 January 2019 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Europa Press |date=2018-10-07 |title=Ingesa negotiates for the Carlos Haya Hospital in Málaga to be the reference center for Melilla |url=https://www.europapress.es/ceuta-y-melilla/noticia-ingesa-negocia-hospital-carlos-haya-malaga-sea-centro-referencia-melilla-20181007174457.html |access-date=2022-02-04 |website=www.europapress.es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Links of interest |url=http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/NADOR/es/VivirEn/Paginas/EnlacesDeInteres.aspx |access-date=2022-02-04 |website=www.exteriores.gob.es}}</ref> These and other medical interventions in Melilla and [[Ceuta]] caused losses of 105 million euros in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Melilla Hoy |title=Healthcare for foreigners in the hospitals of Ceuta and Melilla is a massive financial drain on the system |url=https://www.melillahoy.es/noticia/113589/economia/la-atencion-a-extranjeros-en-los-hospitales-de-ceuta-y-melilla-es-una-sangria-millonaria-para-el-sistema.html |access-date=8 January 2019 |website=Melilla Hoy |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 April 2019 |title=Médicos del Mundo denounces that public healthcare in Melilla is "overwhelmed" and "underfunded" |url=https://www.cope.es/actualidad/sociedad/noticias/medicos-del-mundo-denuncia-que-sanidad-publica-melilla-esta-desbordada-infrafinanciada-20190409_391243 |access-date=10 April 2019 |website=COPE |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 April 2019 |title=Melilla's healthcare system is sick and underfunded |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/la-sanidad-de-melilla-esta-enferma-y-no-cuenta-con-suficiente-financiacion/ |access-date=11 April 2019 |website=El Faro de Melilla |language=es-ES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 April 2019 |title=Keys to cure Melilla's healthcare |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/claves-para-curar-la-sanidad-de-melilla/ |access-date=11 April 2019 |website=El Faro de Melilla |language=es-ES}}</ref>

=== Security ===
==== Public safety ====
[[File:112 logo.jpg|thumb|[[112 (emergency telephone number)|112 Emergency]]]] In Melilla, the [[112 (emergency telephone number)|112 Emergency]] system is operational. Through the free phone number 112, it addresses any emergency situation related to health emergencies, [[disasters]], [[Firefighting|fire extinguishing]], rescue, public safety, and civil protection.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_fact_d4_v1.jsp&contenido=29841&nivel=1400&tipo=2&codResi=1&evento=1|title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla - Emergency Phone 112|access-date=2025-03-09|website=www.melilla.es}}</ref>

The public safety strategy established in Melilla for large events involving the mobilization and gathering of people, such as the spring festivals of Holy Week and the Fair, or high-risk football matches such as those with the highest local rivalry, or other high-tension and interest events, is planned by an organization called the Center for Operational Coordination of the Melilla City Hall (Cecop). Its contact number is 112, and it includes the participation of the security forces of the [[National Police Corps (Spain)|National Police]], [[Municipal police|Local Police]], [[Civil Protection]], and [[Firefighters]]. In addition to the members of Cecop, the maintenance of public safety involves other entities in their specific competencies and responsibilities, such as the [[Civil Guard (Spain)|Civil Guard]], [[Red Cross]], and the emergency medical service known as 061.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.epes.es/cocoon/index.html|title=061 Andalucía|access-date=8 December 2008|editor=Junta de Andalucía. Consejería de Salud. Empresa Pública de Emergencias Sanitarias (EPES)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724035443/http://www.epes.es/cocoon/index.html|archive-date=24 July 2010}}</ref> Additionally, the [[National Police Corps#Superior Police Headquarters|Superior Police Headquarters]] of Melilla of the [[National Police Corps]] and the Melilla Command, the Melilla Rural Company, and the C.O.S. of the [[Civil Guard (Spain)|Civil Guard]] play key roles in public safety.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.guardiacivil.es/es/institucional/directorio/index.html?buscar=true&query=&codPos=&provinces=melilla |title=Main Home Template |access-date=2022-07-07 |author=General Directorate of the Civil Guard |website=www.guardiacivil.es| language=es}}</ref>

==== Defense ====
[[File:Coat of Arms of the of the 52nd Regulares Light Infantry Group.svg|thumb|Coat of Arms of the [[Regulares|Regulares Group of Melilla No. 52]]]] The Melilla General Command is a unit of the [[Spanish Army]], responsible for the defense and security of the autonomous city of Melilla and its area of influence. It is made up of the following military units: 

* [[Regulares|Regulares Group of Melilla No. 52]]
* First Gran Capitán Tercio of the [[Spanish Legion]]
* Armored Cavalry Regiment Alcántara No. 10
* Mixed Artillery Regiment No. 32
* Engineers Regiment No. 8
* Transmissions Battalion XVIII
* Logistics Group
* Artillery Group G.A.A.A.L. VII
* Melilla Marine Company (the oldest body in Spain)<ref>{{Cite web |title=La Compañía de Mar de Melilla: marinos en la unidad más antigua del Ejército de Tierra |url=https://www.outono.net/elentir/2015/09/02/la-compania-de-mar-de-melilla-marinos-en-la-unidad-mas-antigua-del-ejercito-de-tierra/ |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Defensa y Aviación |language=es}}</ref>
* Military Airport of the Air Force

=== Social services ===
The [[social services]] provided in the city of Melilla include the provision of protection, [[guardianship]], and social promotion services for individuals or groups in disadvantaged situations, both from local, autonomous community, or private charitable entities, such as [[Caritas Spain|Caritas]], [[Red Cross]], or other [[NGOs]]. The Autonomous City classifies social services into community and specialized services.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Consejería para la Igualdad y Bienestar Social |title=What are community social services? |url=http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/igualdadybienestarsocial/export/Servicios_Sociales_Comunitarios/HTML/Respuesta1.html |access-date=14 June 2011}}</ref>

The Community Social Services in Melilla are managed by the Social Welfare and Solidarity Department of the City Hall. The social services offered are divided into four distinct action groups: the Social Information, Orientation, and Evaluation Service (SIVO), the Social Coexistence and Reintegration Service (CORE), the Home Assistance Service, the Social Cooperation Service, and the Dependency Care Service.

The Specialized Social Services address more specific and detailed needs and are developed in three lines of action: homelessness and immigrants (COIS), slum population, and emergency situations. These specialized services are divided into the care of the following population groups: [[elderly]], [[disabled]], [[children]] and [[families]], homeless individuals, [[drug addicts]], and [[immigrants]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla - Servicios Sociales |url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=distribuidor_menus_texto.jsp&language=es&codResi=1&codMenuPN=601&codMenuSN=2&codMenu=145&layout=contenedor.jsp |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=www.melilla.es}}</ref>

=== Wi-fi zones ===
The ''Melilla en Red'' project consists of the establishment of 5 [[Wi-Fi|Wi-fi]] zones providing free and wireless access to [[Internet]]. Currently, 21 Wi-Fi points are operational, available in eleven public buildings (the assembly, library, cultural classrooms for seniors, the Exhibition and Congress Palace, or the Javier Imbroda Pavilion) and ten public spaces in the city (Lobera Park, Hernández Park, San Lorenzo Multifunctional Square, Noray Port, Spain Square, or the Plaza de las Culturas). The navigation speed is slow, but in Melilla, access to all pages is available.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/melilla-habilitara-cinco-nuevas-zonas-con-wi-fi-gratis-este-ano-en-la-ciudad/|title=Melilla will enable five new zones with free Wi-Fi in the city this year - El Faro de Melilla|access-date=2025-03-11|language=es}}</ref>
== Heritage ==
{{Too many photos}}

=== Melilla la Vieja ===
{{Main|Melilla la Vieja}}
[[File:Frente_de_Trápana_desde_el_baluarte_de_la_Concepción.jpg|thumb|[[Melilla la Vieja]]]]
[[Melilla la Vieja]] is the fortified [[citadel]] of Melilla, located on a [[Promontory|rocky promontory]] by the sea. It is the original historic core of the city and one of the best-preserved defensive complexes of Spanish [[military architecture]] from the 16th to the 19th centuries. It was built over the remains of ancient [[phoenician]] and [[Ancient Carthage|punic]] fortifications and was expanded in successive stages by military engineers of the [[Spanish Monarchy]].

It is divided into four fortified enclosures, which house notable elements such as the Chapel of Santiago (the only Gothic building in continental Africa), the [[conventico Caves]], the Forts of the Victories, and a network of underground defensive tunnels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Puerta y Capilla de Santiago |url=https://melillamonumental.es/museos-espacios-y-colecciones/puerta-y-capilla-de-santiago/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Melilla Monumental |language=es}}</ref>

Today, it is part of the Historic Complex of Melilla and is declared a [[Bien de Interés Cultural|cultural heritage site]], being one of the city's main tourist and heritage attractions.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Moreno Peralta |first1=Salvador |url=http://abravo.es/publicaciones/Melilla%20la%20Vieja-Plan%20Especial%20de%20los%20Cuatro%20Recintos%20Fortificados.pdf |title=Melilla la Vieja Plan Especial de los Cuatro Recintos Fortificados |last2=Bravo Nieto |first2=Antonio |last3=Saéz Cazorla |first3=Jesús Miguel |publisher=EDICIONES SEYER |year=1990 |isbn=84-87291-95-3 |pages=252–253}}</ref><gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed">
File:Frente_de_Tierra_de_Melilla_la_Vieja.JPG|Land Front
File:Frente_de_la_Marina,_Melilla_la_Vieja.jpg|Sea Front
File:Puerta_de_la_Marina,_Melilla.jpg|Sea Gate
File:Calle_de_San_Miguel.jpg|San Francisco Hospital and Apothecary
File:Hospital_del_Rey,_Melilla.jpg|Hospital del Rey
File:Ensenada_de_"Los_Galápagos".jpg|Galápagos Cove Beach
File:Foso_del_Hornabeque2.jpg|Hornabeque Moat
</gallery>

==== Gate and Chapel of Santiago ====
[[File:Puerta_santiago_melilla_vieja.jpg|thumb|Santiago Gate]]
The Santiago Gate and Chapel are part of the first fortified enclosure of [[Melilla la Vieja]] and are key elements of the city's historical heritage. The Santiago Gate was built in 1549 by engineer Miguel de Perea and was remodeled several times. It features an angled design flanked by towers and is topped with an [[Coat of arms of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|imperial coat of arms of Charles V]].

Next to it is the Chapel of Santiago, built in 1551, considered one of the few examples of [[gothic architecture]] in Africa. Its rectangular layout is topped with a ribbed vault. It has undergone several restorations and currently also provides access to the citadel’s underground galleries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Puerta y Capilla de Santiago |url=https://melillamonumental.es/museos-espacios-y-colecciones/puerta-y-capilla-de-santiago/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Melilla Monumental |language=es}}</ref>

In 2025, it became the starting point of the ''Vía Rusadir'', the first official [[way of Saint James]] route originating in Africa. A [[milestone]], marked with Jacobean symbols such as the ''yellow arrow'' and the ''Pilgrim’s shell'', was installed in front of the gate to indicate the 972.09 km that separate Melilla from [[Santiago de Compostela]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Debate |first=El |date=2025-03-19 |title=Melilla already has its first milestone on the African Way of Saint James |url=https://www.eldebate.com/religion/20250319/melilla-tiene-primer-hito-camino-santiago-africano_280331.html |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=El Debate |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Melilla inaugurates the first African Way of Saint James, the Vía Rusadir |url=https://www.g24.gal/-/melilla-estrea-o-primeiro-camino-de-santiago-africano-a-via-rusadir |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=G24 |language=gl-ES}}</ref>

==== Conventico Caves ====
{{Main|Conventico Caves}}
[[File:Playa_de_Trápana,_Melilla.jpg|thumb|[[Conventico Caves]]]]
The [[Conventico Caves]] are a set of artificial grottos located in the first fortified enclosure of [[Melilla la Vieja]], carved into the sandstone rock. Their origin dates back to the 18th century, when they were expanded to serve as shelter and storage during the [[siege of Melilla (1774–1775)]]. Over time, they were also used as places of worship and refuge for boats in earlier periods.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Conventico Caves |url=https://melillamonumental.es/museos-espacios-y-colecciones/cuevas-del-conventico/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Melilla Monumental |language=es}}</ref>

==== Forts of the Victories ====
The Forts of the Victories are located in the Fourth Fortified Enclosure of [[Melilla la Vieja]], and were built between 1735 and 1736 to prevent the placement of enemy artillery. They were renovated in 1778 after the [[siege of Melilla (1774–1775)]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-07 |title=Forts of the Victories |url=http://www.melillamedioambiente.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1628&Itemid=115 |access-date=2025-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407185822/http://www.melillamedioambiente.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1628&Itemid=115 |archive-date=7 April 2016 }}</ref>

The complex includes the Fort of Rosario, the Fort of Victoria Grande, and the Fort of Victoria Chica.<ref>{{Cite web |last=García |first=Juan |title=Fort of Rosario - CastillosNet |url=https://www.castillosnet.org//monumento.php?r=ML-CAS-004-ROS&seo= |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=www.castillosnet.org |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fort of Victoria Grande |url=https://melillamonumental.es/museos-espacios-y-colecciones/fuerte-de-victoria-grande/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Melilla Monumental |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-01 |title=The Fort of Victoria Chica, the great unknown - El Faro de Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/el-fuerte-de-victoria-chica-el-gran-desconocido/#:~:text=El%20Fuerte%20de%20Victoria%20Chica,%20que%20data%20del%20siglo%20XVIII,un%20bien%20de%20inter%C3%A9s%20cultural. |access-date=2025-04-18 |language=es}}</ref><gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed">
File:Fuerte_del_Rosario_(Melilla).jpg|Fort of Rosario
File:Fuerte_de_Victoria_Grande.jpg|Fort of Victoria Grande
File:Vista_del_Gurugú_desde_el_fuerte_de_Victoria_Chica,_Melilla.jpg|Fort of Victoria Chica
</gallery>

=== External forts ===
They are built with local stone for the walls and brick for the arches and vaults, using outdated fortification techniques, incapable of withstanding modern artillery. The [[Riffians|riffian]] tribes, the enemy from which they were supposed to defend Melilla, did not have artillery.

These are a set of fortifications, [[fort]]s not connected to each other and separated by considerable distances, built in the second half of the 19th century in a [[Neo-medieval architecture|neomedieval]] style that is more graceful than threatening, overflowing with beauty. In some cases, they are painted in bright colors, like orange, making them seem more like game elements than defensive structures.
<gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed">
Fuerte de Camellos, Melilla 7.jpg|alt=Fuerte de Camellos|Camel Fort
Fortín de Reina Regente 7.jpg|Queen Regent Fort|alt=Fortín de Reina Regente
Fuerte de Cabrerizas Altas, Nevada del 2005 (2) (7085316031).jpg|alt=Fuerte de Cabrerizas Altas|Cabrerizas Altas Fort
Fuerte de Rostrogordo.jpg|alt=Fuerte de Rostrogordo|Rostrogordo Fort
</gallery>

=== Expansion ===
{{Main|New Melilla}}
From the end of the 19th century, a period of splendor began, resulting in a modern city.

Melilla is, after [[Barcelona]], the city with the greatest representation of [[Modernist architecture]] in Spain and the greatest representation of Modernism on the African continent. Hundreds of buildings (more than 500 are cataloged) are spread across the central expansion and its neighborhoods. This modern area is also protected as a Cultural Heritage site and contains numerous buildings by an architect from the School of Barcelona based in Melilla, [[Enrique Nieto (architect)|Enrique Nieto y Nieto]], who created a large modernist work, following the architect [[Lluís Domènech i Montaner]]. His floral modernist buildings stand out. Other modernist authors in Melilla include Emilio Alzugaray Goicoechea and Tomás Moreno Lázaro.
<gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed">
EDIFICIO DEL ANTIGÜA REDACCIÓN EL TELEGRAMA DEL RIF.jpg|alt=Old editorial office of El Telegrama del Rif|Former editorial office of El Telegrama del Rif 
CAMARA DE COMERCIO MELILLA.jpg|Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Navigation|alt=Cámara Oficial de Comercio, Industria y Navegación
Economato Militar.jpg|alt=Antiguo Economato Militar|Former Military Commissary
Grandes Almacenes La Reconquista, Melilla 7.jpg|alt=Antiguos Grandes Almacenes la Reconquista|Former La Reconquista Department Store
Melul2.jpg|alt=Casa David J. Melul|David J. Melul House
Edificio El Acueducto.jpg|alt=Casa de José García Álvaro|José García Álvaro House
CASA DE MIGUEL GÓMEZ MORALES.jpg|alt=Casa de Miguel Gómez Morales|Miguel Gómez Morales House
Edificio La Pilarica.jpg|alt=Casa de Juan Montes Hoyo|Juan Montes Hoyo House
</gallery>
In the 1930s, [[Art Deco]] took hold in Melilla's architecture, with architects such as Francisco Hernanz Martínez and Lorenzo Ros Costa creating spectacular buildings in the city's neighborhoods.<ref>{{cite book|first=Antonio |last=Bravo Nieto |title=Modernismo y Art Decó en la arquitectura de Melilla}}</ref><gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed">
Teatro-Cine Monumental, Melilla.jpg|Monumental Cinema Sport
Palacio de la Asamblea de Melilla.jpg|alt=Palace of the Assembly|Assembly Palace
Edificio Avenida de la Democracia 8.jpg|alt=Edificio Rojo|Red Building
Casa enrique nieto.jpg|alt=Casa de Enrique Nieto|Enrique Nieto's House
</gallery>

It also features historicist and eclectic buildings.<gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed">
Mezquita central melilla.jpg|alt=Mezquita Central|Central Mosque
FUENTE DEL BOMBILLO.jpg|Bombillo Fountain|alt=Fuente del Bombillo
CASA DE LOS CRISTALES.jpg|alt=Casa de los Cristales|Crystal House
Casino Militar, Melilla.jpg|alt=Casino Militar de Melilla|Melilla Military Casino
</gallery>

=== Municipal Cemetery of Purísima Concepción ===
It is the main cemetery of the Spanish city of Melilla. Located in the Plaza del Cementerio, at the end of Cañada del Agua, it began construction in 1890, under the project of Commander of Engineers Eligio Suza and contractor Manuel Fernández. It was inaugurated on January 1, 1892, and blessed by Vicar Juan Verdejo.

The first corpse buried there was that of Francisco López López, a four-month-old child.<ref name="barrios">{{cite book|date=1997 |publisher=Asociación de Estudios Melillenses |title=Historia de Melilla a través de sus calles y barrios}}</ref>
<gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed">
Entrada al Cementerio Municipal de la Purísima Concepción, Melilla.jpg|alt=Entrance to the Municipal Cemetery of La Purísima Concepción
Cementerio de Melilla, 2008.jpg|alt=Cemetery of Melilla
Panteón Margallo.jpg|alt=Panteón Margallo
Panteón de los Héroes2.jpg|alt=Panteón de los Héroes
Melilla a los que sucumbieron por la Patria.jpg|alt=Panteón de los Héroes
Panteón Regulares número 5.jpg|alt=Panteón Regulares número 5
</gallery>

=== Parks and gardens ===
==== Plazas ====
There are the [[plaza de España (Melilla)|Plaza de España]], Plaza de las Culturas, Plaza Heroes de España, Plaza Menéndez Pelayo, Plaza Comandante Benítez and Plaza de San Lorenzo.
<gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed">
File:Melilla - Plaza de España - Centro.jpg|[[Plaza de España (Melilla)|Plaza de España]]
File:Plaza de las Culturas.jpg|Plaza de las Culturas
File:Plaza Héroes de España.jpg|Plaza Heroes de España
File:Antiguos almacenes La Reconquista, Melilla.jpg|Plaza Menéndez Pelayo
File:Plaza Comandante Benítez, Manzana de la Concordia Melilla.jpg|Plaza Comandante Benítez
File:Plaza Multifuncional San Lorenzo, Melilla (2).jpg|Plaza de San Lorenzo
</gallery>
==== Henandez Park ====
{{Main|Hernandez Park}}
It is the most important park in Melilla, created in 1902 in a trapezoidal shape according to the design of engineer Vicente García del Campo, and is located in [[Plaza de España (Melilla)|Plaza de España]].
<gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed">
Parque Hernández, puerta principal.jpg|[[Hernandez Park]]
Parque Hernández, Melilla (2).jpg|[[Hernandez Park]]
Parque Hernández de Melilla. Kiosko (2009).jpg|[[Hernandez Park]]
Parque Hernández, Melilla (3).jpg|[[Hernandez Park]]
Calles del parque.jpg|[[Hernandez Park]]
</gallery>

==== Parque Lobera ====
It is named after its founder, Cándido Lobera Girela, who, when he was president of the Junta de Arbitrios, created this park to prevent the construction of shanties on his land.
<gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed">
Parque Lobera.jpg
Jugando con el agua (Parque Cándido Lobera).jpg
Parque_Cándido_Lobera.jpg
</gallery>
==== Parque Forestal Juan Carlos I Rey ====
It is a natural space of six hectares considered a botanical lung of the city. It is a popular place for walking, exercising, and enjoying family time, known for its rich Mediterranean flora and diverse fauna, especially birds and reptiles. Historically, the park was an agricultural farm used to experiment with species suitable for cultivation in the [[Spanish Protectorate of Morocco|protectorate]]. Although it has undergone changes over time, the park remains an important space for biodiversity conservation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/el-parque-forestal-juan-carlos-i-rey-un-pulmon-botanico-en-melilla/|title=El parque forestal Juan Carlos I Rey, un pulmón botánico en Melilla|access-date=2025-03-31|last=Fuad|first=comentó|language=es}}</ref>
<gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed">
File:Parque Forestal de Melilla.jpg
File:Parque Forestal, Melilla (3).jpg
File:Lago del Parque Forestal, Melilla.jpg
File:Parque Forestal Juan Carlos I Rey.jpg
</gallery>

==== Parque Agustín Jerez ====
It was inaugurated in 1992 in honor of Agustín Jerez Rodríguez. Covering an area of half a hectare, it is known for its collection of [[Phoenix canariensis|Canary palm trees]], [[Phoenix dactylifera|date palms]], and [[Washingtonia robusta|washingtonias]]. The [[Phoenix canariensis|Canary palms]], considered a unique heritage of the city, have high ornamental value and are threatened by the [[Rhynchophorus ferrugineus|red palm weevil]], an invasive species. In addition to its flora, the park is home to wildlife such as [[Sturnus unicolor|black starlings]] and [[Sturnus vulgaris|common starlings]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/el-parque-de-agustin-jerez-un-espacio-verde-de-palmeras-canarias/|title=El Parque de Agustín Jerez, un espacio verde de palmeras canarias - El Faro de Melilla|access-date=2025-03-31|language=es}}</ref><gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed">
Parque Agustín Jerez, Melilla.jpg
La fuente del Parque Agustín Jerez (7397074388).jpg
</gallery>

==== Water Gardens ====
Inaugurated in 2006, they span 0.6 hectares near the mouth of the [[Río de Oro (Melilla)|Río de Oro]]. The park features rows of [[Phoenix canariensis|Canary palm trees]], fountains with lighting effects, and a variety of plants such as [[Cactaceae|cacti]], [[Succulent|succulents]], and [[Agavoideae|agaves]]. A central fountain with a sculpture of a woman who is half human and half mermaid stands out, illuminated at night, making it a visual attraction both during the day and at night.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guiarepsol.com/es/fichas/parque-urbano/jardines-del-agua-10069/|title=Jardines del Agua in Melilla {{!}} Guía Repsol|access-date=2025-03-31|website=REPSOL|language=es-ES}}</ref><gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed">
Meerjungfrau Melilla 2024-05-17 1.jpg|alt=Water Gardens File:Meerjungfrau Melilla 2024-05-17 2.jpg
Meerjungfrau Melilla 2024-05-17 2.jpg
</gallery>

=== Archaeological sites ===
Excavations at the Governor's House have uncovered significant [[Archaeological site|archaeological remains]] since the early 20th century, revealing an occupation dating back to the 7th century BC in [[Melilla la Vieja|Melilla La Vieja]]. Over the years, various teams have worked in the area, highlighting discoveries such as houses from the 2nd century and 1st century BC associated with the ancient [[Phoenicia|Phoenician]] city of ''Rusaddir''. Additionally, other important sites have been discovered, such as ''Huerta de Reyes'', with remains from the [[Iberomaurusian]] population, and the [[Chafarinas Islands]], with traces from the <span style="font-variant:small-caps;text-transform:lowercase">5th</span> millennium BC. Rusaddir was a key port in the region and underwent various phases of occupation, including the [[Western Roman Empire|Roman]] rule. Despite the current abandonment and deterioration of some remains, there are plans to restore the site as part of a restoration project for the former Military Government building.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-04-05 |title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla - Secciones del Museo |url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_fdes_d4_v1.jsp&contenido=2883&tipo=6&nivel=1400&layout=contenedor.jsp |website=www.melilla.es}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-04-05 |title=Museums |url=https://museomelilla.es/romanos_A3_8.php |website=museomelilla.es}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed">
File:Casa del Gobernador, Melilla.jpg|Governor's House
File:Chafarinas NWW.png|[[Chafarinas Islands]]
</gallery>

== Culture ==
=== Arts ===
==== Architecture ====
The dome of the Chapel of Santiago, built in the mid-16th century by Miguel de Perea with help from Sancho de Escalante, is a rare instance of [[Gothic architecture]] in the African continent.{{Sfn|Bravo Nieto|2002|p=37}}

Parallel to the urban development of Melilla in the early 20th century, the new architectural style of ''[[Modernisme|modernismo]]'' (irradiated from [[Barcelona]] and associated to the bourgeois class) was imported to the city, granting it a ''modernista'' architectural character, primarily through the works of the prolific Catalan architect [[Enrique Nieto (architect)|Enrique Nieto]].{{Sfn|Cantón Fernández|Riaño López|1984|pp=15–19}}

Accordingly, Melilla has the second most important concentration of ''Modernista'' works in Spain after Barcelona, Mainly concentrated in the city's [[New Melilla|ensanche]].{{Sfn|Cantón Fernández|Riaño López|1984|pp=15–19}} Nieto was in charge of designing the main Synagogue, the Central Mosque and various Catholic Churches.<ref>{{cite web |title=Melilla Modernista |url=http://www.melillaturismo.com/modernismo.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501221012/http://www.melillaturismo.com/modernismo.html |archive-date=1 May 2013 |access-date=25 March 2013 |work=Melilla Turismo |quote=Nieto was in charge of designing the main Synagogue, the Central Mosque and various Catholic churches}}</ref>
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Capilla de Santiago3.jpg|Dome of the Chapel of Santiago
File:EDIFICIO DEL ANTIGÜA REDACCIÓN EL TELEGRAMA DEL RIF.jpg|''Modernista'' building, former headquarters of ''El Telegrama del Rif'' newspaper.
File:Sinagoga Orr Zoruah, Ruta de los Templos (6) (5446069722).jpg|Or Zaruah Synagogue
File:Mezquita central melilla.jpg|Melilla's central mosque
</gallery>

==== Sculpture ====
Also notable are sculptural elements, such as those erected to commemorate the heroes of the campaigns in Morocco: Monumento a los Héroes de Taxdirt (1910) and the Monumento a los Héroes y Mártires de las Campañas (1927-1931), those from the Francoist regime, like the Monumento a los Héroes de España (1941) or the [[Statue of Francisco Franco, Melilla|Statue of Francisco Franco]] and other contemporary pieces, Homenaje al Modernismo Melillense, Monumento a Pedro de Estopiñán y Virués, Encuentros, and Homenaje a Fernando Arrabal.<gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed">
Monumento a los Héroes de Taxdirt.jpg|alt=Monumento a los Héroes de Taxdirt
Plaza de España, Melilla (3).jpg|alt=Monumento a los Héroes y Mártires de las Campañas
Monumento_al_Ej%C3%A9rcito_de_la_Victoria,_Melilla_(2).jpg||alt=Monumento a los Héroes de España
Estatua de Pedro de Estopiñán en Melilla.jpg|alt=Monumento a Pedro de Estopiñán y Virués
Estatua de Franco en Melilla.jpg|alt=Estatua del comandante de la Legión Francisco Franco Bahamonde
Encuentros (Melilla).jpg|alt=Encuentros
Homenaje al Modernismo Melillense (cropped).jpg|alt=Homenaje al Modernismo Melillense
CRONOS (ESCULTURA).jpg|alt=Reloj Solar
Mustafa arruf- fernando arrabal.jpg|alt=Homenaje a Fernando Arrabal
</gallery>

==== Painting ====
The painting of Melilla has been strongly influenced by its multicultural environment, with a variety of artistic styles. Notable among its artists is ''Eduardo Morillas'', renowned for his connection to the city's history and landscape, capturing the light, colours, and modernist architecture of Melilla. His work blends contemporary art with local traditions, contributing to the recognition of Melilla as an artistic hub. Also noteworthy is the work of ''Carlos Baeza'', particularly his series ''La Ciudad de las Cúpulas'', which highlights the modernist architecture. Furthermore, the ''Museum of Contemporary Art'' houses a representative collection of the city's artistic evolution by Victorio Manchón.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Unas 60 obras de arte puro melillense - El Faro de Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/unas-60-obras-de-arte-puro-melillense/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |language=es}}</ref>

=== Literature ===
The most prominent authors from Melilla include Miguel Fernández González, [[Fernando Arrabal]], Juan Guerrero Zamora, [[Carmen Conde]], among others.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Redacción |date=2025-01-15 |title=El escritor melillense Fernando Arrabal recibe el Premio Zenda de Honor 2023-2024 - MelillaHoy |url=https://melillahoy.es/el-escritor-melillense-fernando-arrabal-recibe-el-premio-zenda-de-honor-2023-2024/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |work=MelillaHoy - El Periódico de Melilla |language=es-ES}}</ref>

Each year, the Melilla City Council awards the ''[[Premio Internacional de Poesía Ciudad de Melilla]]'', which was established in 1979 in honour of Miguel Fernández, the city's most distinguished poet.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Japon |first=Lorena |date=2018-07-11 |title=La 40 edición del premio Internacional de Poesía y la beca Miguel Fernández se fallarán en el Instituto Cervantes de Madrid - MelillaHoy |url=https://melillahoy.es/la-40-edicin-del-premio-internacional-de-poesa-y-la-beca-miguel-fernndez-se-fallarn-en-el-instituto-cervantes-de-madrid/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |work=MelillaHoy - El Periódico de Melilla |language=es-ES}}</ref>

=== Museums ===
In Melilla, there are several museums including the [[Melilla Museum]], located in the Almacenes de las Peñuelas, the Archaeological and Historical Museum and the Sephardic and Berber Museum, the [[Historical Military Museum of Melilla (Spain)|Melilla Military Museum]], at the Baluarte de la Concepción Alta, the Sacred Art Museum with access to the [[Conventico Caves]], the Museo Casa del Reloj, at the Torre de la Vela, the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions of Melilla, at the Association of Melilla Studies, the Gaselec Electricity Museum, the Melilla Automobile Museum.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Del Campo |first=Paula |date=August 26, 2018 |title=Melilla's Museums, Not So Forgotten This Summer |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/museos-melilla-asistencia-verano-2018/ |access-date=November 12, 2018 |newspaper=El Faro de Melilla |language=es-ES}}</ref>

==== History, Archaeology, and Ethnography Museum ====
{{Main|Melilla Museum}}[[File:Museo_de_Melilla.jpg|alt=History, Archaeology, and Ethnography Museum|thumb|History, Archaeology, and Ethnography Museum]]
The History, Archaeology, and Ethnography Museum of Melilla, located in the Almacenes de las Peñuelas, is divided into two main sections: one dedicated to the cultures of the gypsy, Sephardic, and Amazigh peoples, and the other to the history of the city from prehistory to the modern era. Its origins date back to the 20th century, with the collection of archaeological pieces, and it has changed locations several times before settling into its current site in 2011. Among its collections are objects from the Berber, Sephardic, and Gypsy cultures, as well as archaeological findings like Carthaginian and Nasrid coins, and a model of Melilla La Vieja.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inspain.org/es/melilla/melilla/museo-de-arqueologia-e-historia/|title=Museo de Arqueología e Historia |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=InSpain |language=es}}</ref>

==== Military History Museum ====
[[File:Baluarte_de_la_Concepción_Alta,_Melilla.jpg|alt=Military History Museum|thumb|Military Museum]]
The Military Museum of Melilla, inaugurated in 1997, is located in the Baluarte de la Concepción Alta in [[Melilla la Vieja|Melilla La Vieja]]. It originated from an exhibition on military history held during the city's Fifth Centennial, and its collection includes military uniforms, models, dioramas, an [[Enigma (machine)|Enigma machine]], and a [[saddle]] of [[Isabel II of Spain|Queen Isabel II]]. It also features cannons and mortars on its artillery platforms, along with temporary exhibits in its upper gallery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.melillaturismo.com/museos/museo-historico-militar/|title=Military History Museum – Melilla Tourism|access-date=2025-03-28|date=2017-10-27|archive-date=27 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027232310/http://www.melillaturismo.com/museos/museo-historico-militar/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Sacred Art Museum ==== 
The Sacred Art Museum of Melilla, located in the former Franciscan Convent in the First Walled Enclosure of Melilla La Vieja, was created with the collaboration of the City of Melilla, the [[Diocese of Málaga]], the Episcopal Vicariate of Melilla, the city's brotherhoods and fraternities, and the Melilla Monumental Foundation. The museum also provides access to the [[Conventico Caves]]. Among its notable pieces is the Custodia del Sol.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.melillamonumental.org/index.php/recinto-amurallado/museos|title=Museums {{!}} Melilla Monumental Foundation|access-date=2025-03-28|date=2018-07-16|archive-date=16 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716054655/http://www.melillamonumental.org/index.php/recinto-amurallado/museos|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>

==== Clock House Museum ====
[[File:TORRE_DE_LA_VELA_(MELILLA_LA_VIEJA).jpg|alt=Clock House Museum|thumb|Clock House Museum]]
The Clock House Museum of Melilla, located in the Tower of the Vela, in the First Walled Enclosure of [[Melilla la Vieja|Melilla La Vieja]], was established through the donation of part of the collection of the Almerian artist Andrés García Ibáñez to the City of Melilla. It also showcases part of his own art collection.

The museum has six rooms covering various periods, starting from the 18th century, and presents styles such as 19th-century Realism, New Figuration, and Spanish Photographic Documentarism. It also features sculptures by artists like Juan López, Emilio Manescau Baccarelli, Félix Alonso, and [[Mustafa Arruf]], as well as paintings by Vicente Maeso Cayuela, Victorio Manchón, Carlos Monserrate, Eduardo Morillas, and Francisco Hernández.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/el-24-de-septiembre-se-inaugura-la-pinacoteca-de-la-casa-del-reloj/|title=On September 24, the Pinacotheca of the Clock House Opens - El Faro de Melilla|access-date=2025-03-28|language=es}}</ref>

==== Egyptian Museum of Melilla ====
[[File:Fundación_Gaselec,_Melilla,_Sueños_y_Luz_(1)_(7119624337).jpg|alt=Egyptian Museum of Melilla|thumb|Egyptian Museum]]
The Egyptian Museum of Melilla is a museum dedicated to Egyptian art located in the Spanish city of Melilla. Opened in 2021, it is one of only two Egyptian art museums in Spain, alongside the one in Barcelona. The museum is spread over three floors, where various collections related to Ancient Egyptian civilization are displayed, including pieces of great historical and cultural value. This space offers a detailed view of Egyptian history, culture, and art, making it an important cultural reference in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fundaciongaselec.es/home-fundacion-gaselec/home-mem/|title=Home MEM|access-date=2025-03-31|website=Fundacion Gaselec|language=es}}</ref>

==== Gaselec Electricity Museum ==== 
[[File:Gaselec (5257201574).jpg|Gaselec Electricity Museum|left|alt=Gaselec Electricity Museum|thumb]] The Gaselec Electricity and Industry Museum was founded in 1997 by Gustavo Cabanillas, president of the Hispano-Moroccan Gas and Electricity Company, renamed in 2003 as Melillense de Gas y Electricidad (GASELEC). In 2004, the museum was integrated into the Gaselec Foundation.

The museum consists of several sections: the Technical Room and Warehouse, the Office, which displays early 20th-century furniture, and the Industry Museum, which shows the company's forging process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elretohistorico.com/museo-melilla/|title=Electricity and Industry Museum of the Gaselec Foundation in Melilla|access-date=2025-03-28|last=Miguel Ángel|first=Ferreiro|date=2015-05-26|website=El Reto Histórico|language=es}}</ref>

==== Automobile Museum ====
[[File:Chevrolet_(Museo_Historia_del_Automóvil_en_Melilla).jpg|alt=Automobile Museum|thumb|Automobile Museum]]
The Automobile Museum of Melilla is open by appointment only. It was created by collector Miguel Ángel Hernández, who had a great interest in cars since 1970, with the collaboration of historian Juan Díez Sánchez and other contributors such as José Nieto Egea, José Miguel Fernández, and Federico Navajas.

The museum houses an exhibition of 35 cars, 12 motorcycles, and 2 with sidecars, showcasing an important collection of historic vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latribunadeautomocion.es/?option=com_content&view=article&id=2018%3Amelilla-abre-su-museo-del-automovil-un-recorrido-historico-del-ultimo-siglo&catid=29%3Aespana|title=La Tribuna de Automoción: Leading Motor Information|access-date=2025-03-28|date=2025-03-27|website=La Tribuna de Automoción|language=es}}</ref>

==== Fossils and Minerals Museum ====
The Fossils and Minerals Museum is an institution dedicated to the exhibition and study of fossils and minerals, located at the "Ingeniero Ramón Gavilán" Nature Interpretation Center in Melilla. Opened in 2015, it houses a collection of approximately 130 specimens, including marine animal fossils, invertebrates, and vertebrates such as shark teeth and other notable examples.

The museum offers educational activities such as workshops and guided tours, and has been awarded the UNE-EN [[ISO 9001:2015]] quality certification. It is currently undergoing expansion, with projects including the creation of a Petrology Hall and a Natural Science Museum of Melilla.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://granjamelilla.es/mapa/museo/|title=Museo de fósiles|access-date=2025-04-13|last=admin|date=2016-04-13|language=es}}</ref>

=== Exhibition halls ===
The exhibition halls at the Hospital del Rey of the Gaselec Foundation, the Vicente Manchón at the Federico García Lorca Cultural Center, and the Royal Maritime Club of Melilla.
<gallery style="margin:0;" mode="packed">
Hospital del Rey, Melilla 7.jpg|Hospital del Rey
Uned- melilla.jpg|Former Colegio del Buen Consejo
CLUB MARÍTIMO (MELILLA).jpg|Royal Maritime Club of Melilla
</gallery>

=== Archives ===
* Historical Archive of Melilla: Contains documentary holdings including notarial protocols from the War Notary Offices of the Melilla, Vélez de la Gomera, Alhucemas, and Chafarinas Islands, mostly dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaPortal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_fdes_d4_v1.jsp&contenido=2913&tipo=6&nivel=1400|title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla - Archivist Services|access-date=2025-03-29|website=www.melilla.es}}</ref>
* General Archive of Melilla: Created in 2012, its mission is to preserve, safeguard, and provide access to the city's documentary holdings for future use.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://censoarchivos.mcu.es/CensoGuia/archivodetail.htm?id=52832|title=Cover of the National Historical Archive|access-date=2025-03-29|website=censoarchivos.mcu.es|language=es}}</ref>
* Military Intermediate Archive of Melilla: Contains over 4000 units of installation, with records spanning from the 18th century to the present day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patrimoniocultural.defensa.gob.es/es/centros/archivo-intermedio-militar-melilla/portada|title=Cover of the Military Intermediate Archive of Melilla {{!}} Cultural Heritage of Defense|access-date=2025-03-29|website=patrimoniocultural.defensa.gob.es|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125164845/https://patrimoniocultural.defensa.gob.es/es/centros/archivo-intermedio-militar-melilla/portada|archive-date=25 January 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Ecclesiastical Archives of Melilla: Contains documentary holdings from various parishes in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://censoarchivos.mcu.es/CensoGuia/archivodetail.htm?id=39167|title=Cover of the National Historical Archive|access-date=2025-03-29|website=censoarchivos.mcu.es|language=es}}</ref>

=== Libraries ===

* Public Library of Melilla.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_floc_d4_v1.jsp&codbusqueda=207&language=es&codResi=1&codMenuPN=601&codMenuSN=9&codMenu=159&layout=contenedor.jsp|title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla - Public Library|access-date=2025-03-29|website=www.melilla.es}}</ref>
* Historical Military Library of Melilla.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patrimoniocultural.defensa.gob.es/es/centros/biblioteca-militar-melilla/portada|title=Cover of the Military History Library of Melilla {{!}} Cultural Heritage of Defense|access-date=2025-03-29|website=patrimoniocultural.defensa.gob.es|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119133256/https://patrimoniocultural.defensa.gob.es/es/centros/biblioteca-militar-melilla/portada/|archive-date=19 January 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Cultural institutions ===

* Cultural Classes for Seniors in Melilla.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_fdes_d4_v1.jsp&codbusqueda=446&language=es&codResi=1&codMenuPN=601&codMenuSN=9&codMenuTN=488&codMenu=510&layout=contenedor.jsp|title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla - Cultural Classes for Seniors|access-date=2025-03-29|website=www.melilla.es}}</ref>
* Islamic Board of Melilla.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://maper.mjusticia.gob.es/Maper/DetalleEntidadReligiosa.action?numeroInscripcion=024454|title=Search for Religious Entities - Ministry of Justice|access-date=2025-03-29|website=maper.mjusticia.gob.es}}</ref>
* Sociocultural Association: Mem Guímel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://memguimel.es/|title=Promoting Jewish-Sefardic culture since 2007|access-date=2025-03-29|website=Mem Guímel|language=es}}</ref>

=== Music ===

* Melilla Professional Conservatory of Music.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cpmusicamelilla.educacion.es/|title=Home - Digital Education System|access-date=2025-03-29|website=cpmusicamelilla.educacion.es}}</ref>
* City of Melilla Music Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Choir Association.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asbanormelilla.com/banda-orquesta-y-coro-ciudad-de-melilla|title=Band, Orchestra, and Choir "City of Melilla" – AsbanorMelilla|access-date=2025-03-29|language=es}}</ref>
* Music Unit of the Melilla General Command.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://melillahoy.es/la-unidad-de-musica-de-la-comandancia-de-melilla-ofrecera-un-repertorio-de-marchas-de-la-pasion-de-cristo/|title=The Music Unit of the Melilla Command will offer a repertoire of Passion of Christ marches - MelillaHoy|access-date=2025-03-29|last=Redacción|date=2025-03-28|language=es}}</ref>

=== Theatres ===
[[File:Kursaal, 2 día (3) (5547973648).jpg|thumb|[[Theatre Kursaal-Fernando Arrabal|Kursaal Theatre - Fernando Arrabal]]]]
In Melilla, there is the [[Theatre Kursaal-Fernando Arrabal]], under the Ministry of Culture of the Autonomous City of Melilla, and the Exhibition and Congress Palace, under the Melilla Tourism Board, which hosts the main theater, dance, musical performances, and shows in the city. The ''Perelló Theater-Cinema'' is the only commercial cinema in Melilla, operating since 1932. In the summer, concerts are held in [[Melilla la Vieja]], the ''Carvajal Auditorium'', and the fairgrounds, featuring both national and international artists. Throughout the year, there is a lot of activity from local musical groups, mainly in private venues and bars.

=== Cultural events ===
==== Melilla Film Week ====
{{Main|Melilla Film Week}}
The Melilla Film Week is an annual film festival held in the autonomous city of Melilla, Spain. First organized in 2009, it is coordinated by the Department of Culture of the Autonomous City, with the aim of promoting cinema and audiovisual culture in the region.

Each edition takes place in May and features a program including national and international feature films, short films, and children’s cinema. Screenings are mainly held at the [[Theatre Kursaal-Fernando Arrabal]]  and the Perelló Cinema-Theatre.

The festival also hosts parallel events such as panel discussions, presentations, and concerts. One of its main awards is the [[José Sacristán|José Sacristán Prize]] (formerly “Ciudad de Melilla Prize”), which honors prominent figures in [[Spanish cinema]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://melillahoy.es/el-premio-semana-de-cine-de-melilla-pasar-a-denominarse-a-partir-de-ahora-jos-sacristn/|title=El Premio Semana de Cine de Melilla pasará a denominarse, a partir de ahora, José Sacristán - MelillaHoy|access-date=2025-03-09|last=Melendez|first=Angel|date=2017-01-17|language=es}}</ref>

==== Route of the Temples ====
{{Main|Route of the Temples}}
The Route of the Temples is a tourist circuit visiting Melilla’s main places of worship, reflecting the city's religious diversity. It begins at the Church of the Purísima Concepción (1657), a building in late Romanesque and Baroque styles, dedicated to [[Our Lady of the Rosary]]. The route continues to the Or Zaruah Synagogue (1924), a modernist building representing the Jewish community. Next is the Hindu Temple of Melilla, also modernist in style, showcasing the city’s Hindu tradition. The tour ends at the Central Mosque of Melilla (1950), a key site for Muslim worship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spain.info/es/descubrir-espana/melilla-conocer-rutas/|title=Modernist architecture in Melilla and Route of the Temples|access-date=2025-04-13|website=Spain.info|language=es}}</ref>

==== Renaissance Market of Charles V ====
{{Main|Charles V Renaissance Market}}
[[File:Carpa gastronomíca del Mercado Renacentista de Melilla, 2024.jpg|thumb|Charles V Renaissance Market]]

The Renaissance Market of Charles V is an annual cultural event held in Melilla that aims to recreate the atmosphere of the 16th century and promote the city’s historical heritage. Launched in 2016, it takes place in [[Melilla la Vieja]], transforming the old town into a Renaissance-themed market.

The event includes over 60 stalls selling crafts and period-style food, along with live performances, theater acts, fencing displays, music, and interactive activities. The market is divided into themed areas representing different cultures such as Castilian, Amazigh, Sephardic, and Indo-Gypsy.

The market attracts thousands of visitors each year, promoting cultural tourism and boosting the local economy. It is usually held in June, with the next edition scheduled for 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://melillamonumental.es/mercado-renacentista-de-carlos-v/|title=Mercado Renacentista de Carlos V|access-date=2025-04-13|website=Melilla Monumental|language=es}}</ref>

==== Music Under the Moon ====
This is a cultural event held on summer nights, offering open-air concerts in emblematic locations across the city. Featuring a variety of music genres—from classical to flamenco—the event is open to all audiences and includes both local and international performers. It promotes arts and culture and is one of the city’s major summer attractions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/musica-a-la-luna-una-gran-iniciativa/|title='Música a la Luna', una gran iniciativa - El Faro de Melilla|access-date=2025-04-13|date=2024-07-07|language=es}}</ref>

==== Melilla Jazz Days ====
The Melilla Jazz Days is an annual event dedicated to jazz music, featuring concerts by both national and international musicians at various venues across the city. The festival showcases a wide range of jazz styles, from traditional to contemporary, and encourages participation by local artists. In addition to concerts, it includes educational activities such as workshops and masterclasses. This event enhances the cultural and touristic appeal of Melilla, positioning it as a notable destination for music lovers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.unedmelilla.es/nuevo/index.php/extension-cultural/noticias/278-xxix-jornadas-sobre-jazz-juan-claudio-cifuentes|title=XXIX Jornadas sobre Jazz Juan Claudio Cifuentes|access-date=2025-04-13|last=Díaz|first=Raul|website=Unedmelilla|language=es-es}}</ref>

==== Singer-Songwriter Contest ====
The Singer-Songwriter Contest of Melilla is an annual event that promotes original music, offering emerging singer-songwriters—both local and from outside—the chance to showcase their original compositions. The contest supports local culture and provides visibility for new talent, with prizes that include recordings and concert opportunities. It has also become a significant cultural meeting point, featuring additional activities that enrich the musical experience.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/el-cantautor-tontxu-actua-este-miercoles-en-la-uned-de-melilla/|title=El cantautor Tontxu actúa este miércoles en la Uned de Melilla - El Faro de Melilla|access-date=2025-04-13|date=2025-04-01|language=es}}</ref>

=== Feasts and festivals ===
* [[Christmas]]: The public holidays are Christmas (December 25), New Year's Eve (December 31), New Year's Day (January 1), and the celebration of the Three Kings (January 6).

* [[Easter]]: with Holy Thursday and Good Friday.<ref>{{Cite web |title=COFRADÍAS MELILLA 2020 by Carlos Rubiales Morales - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/carlosrubiales/docs/cofrad_as_melilla_2020.indd |access-date=2022-02-10 |website=issuu.com |date=11 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Ramadan]]: [[Eid al-Fitr]]
* [[Eid al-Adha|Eid al Adha]]: July 11<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla Festive Calendar 2022 |url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_fact_d4_v1.jsp&contenido=30529&nivel=1400&tipo=2&codMenu=291&evento=1}}</ref>
* [[Assumption of Mary]]: August 15.
* [[Patron Saint Festivals|Patron Saints' Festival]]: the celebration of [[Our Lady of the Rosary]], September 8.
* Melilla Day, September 17. It commemorates the [[conquest of Melilla]] in 1497 by Pedro de Estopiñán, when Melilla became part of the [[Crown of Castile]].
* [[National Day of Spain]]: October 12
* [[All Saints' Day]]: November 1
* [[Constitution of Spain|Constitution Day]]: December 6
* [[Feast of the Immaculate Conception]]: December 8

==== Melilla Fair ====
{{Main|Melilla Fair}}
[[File:Feria de Melilla 2008.jpg|thumb|[[Melilla Fair]].]]
During the celebration of the ''Melilla Fair'' in September, the streets are transformed into traditional symbols of Spanish culture and history, with sweet wine, tapas, and live flamenco shows. The day events consist of dancing, live music (such as [[flamenco]]) and bullfights at [[Plaza de Toros de Melilla]], while the night fair is moved to the Recinto Ferial, consisting of restaurants, clubs, and an entire fair ground with rides and games.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-07 |title=Penúltimo día de la Feria de Melilla en imágenes |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/penultimo-dia-feria-melilla-imagenes/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |language=es}}</ref>

==== Holy Week in Melilla ====
[[File:Procesión de Semana Santa en Melilla..jpg|thumb|Holy Week Procession: "La Pollinica" on Holy Monday in [[Hernandez Park|Hernández Park]]]]
[[Holy Week in Spain|Holy Week]] in Melilla is one of the city’s main religious festivities, celebrated with deep-rooted tradition and strong popular participation. Its documented origins date back to 1498, with the procession of the Christ of the True Cross (''Cristo de la Vera Cruz''), currently under the care of the ''Cofradía del Nazareno'', the oldest brotherhood in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-29 |title=Melilla: el secreto mejor guardado de la Semana Santa Española |url=https://www.abc.es/viajar/melilla-secreto-mejor-guardado-semana-santa-espanola-20250319191754-nt.html |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Diario ABC |language=es}}</ref>

During Holy Week, five brotherhoods — ''Flagelación'', ''Nazareno'', ''Jesús Cautivo'', ''Soledad'', and ''Humillado'' — organize processions from [[Palm Sunday]] to [[Easter|Easter Sunday]], passing through the streets of both the historic center and the modern parts of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodríguez |first=Víctor A. Lafuente Sánchez, Francisco Sangorrín Perdices y David Rodríguez |title=Semana Santa en Melilla en Melilla |url=https://www.cofradiasyhermandades.es/semanasantae.php?cc=588400 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Cofradias y Hermandades |language=es-ES}}</ref>

One of the most significant events is the [[Lamentation of Christ]] procession, held on [[Good Friday]]. It is considered the official ''station of penance'' and is attended by both civil and military authorities. Another distinctive tradition is the presence of women wearing black [[Mantilla|mantillas]], a symbol of respect and solemn reflection.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-14 |title=Recorridos y horarios para las procesiones del Viernes Santo |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/recorridos-horarios-procesiones-viernes-santo/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |language=es}}</ref>
[[File:Día de Melilla (5) Melilla.jpg|thumb|Melilla Day]]

==== Melilla Day ====
Melilla Day is celebrated on [[September 17th]], commemorating the incorporation of the city into the [[Crown of Castile]] in 1497. During this festivity, commemorative events and official ceremonies are held.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla - ¡FELICITACIÓN DÍA DE MELILLA 2024! |url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_fact_d4_v1.jsp&contenido=37527&nivel=1400&tipo=2&codResi=1&language=es&codMenu=156&codMenuPN=600&codMenuSN=261 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.melilla.es}}</ref>

==== Other celebrations ====
[[File:Virgen_del_Carmen_en_Melilla.jpg|thumb|[[Our Lady of Mount Carmel]] in Melilla]]
The Festivity of [[Our Lady of Mount Carmel]] is celebrated on July 16 and consists of a land procession followed by a maritime procession of images under the invocation of [[Our Lady of Mount Carmel]], patron saint of sailors. One of the images, the "Virgen del Carmen Coronada del Perchel", goes out on the Sunday following her feast day, starting in the morning heading towards the Church of San Agustín, and returning in the afternoon after being embarked at the [[Port of Melilla]] and later processed back to the temple.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Monumental |first=Melilla |date=2020-07-16 |title=Conociendo nuestro patrimonio Virgen del Carmen |url=https://melillamonumental.es/conociendo-nuestro-patrimonio-virgen-del-carmen/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Melilla Monumental |language=es}}</ref>

The last weekend of June marks the celebration of the ''Carlos V Renaissance Market'', a festival held in [[Melilla la Vieja|Melilla La Vieja]], recreating a medieval market for three days.<ref>{{Cite web |title=En junio regresa el Mercado Medieval a Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/junio-regresa-mercadop-medieval-melilla/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |language=es}}</ref>
[[File:Patrona_de_Melilla_(3).jpg|thumb|[[Our Lady of the Rosary|Patroness of Melilla]]]]
Every September 8 marks the celebration of the day of [[Our Lady of the Rosary]], Patron Saint of Melilla.

Additionally, the observance of [[Ramadan]] is official, including [[Eid al-Fitr]] and [[Eid al-Adha]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla Calendario de Festivos 2022 |url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_fact_d4_v1.jsp&contenido=30529&nivel=1400&tipo=2&codMenu=291&evento=1}}</ref>

Each community celebrates its own holidays, such as the Jewish [[Hanukkah]],<ref>[http://www.elfarodigital.es/ceuta/sociedad/112160-hoy-quedara-inaugurada-la-iluminacion-con-motivo-de-la-fiesta-hebrea-januca.html Today the lighting will be inaugurated on the occasion of the Jewish holiday 'Hanukkah'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728190845/http://www.elfarodigital.es/ceuta/sociedad/112160-hoy-quedara-inaugurada-la-iluminacion-con-motivo-de-la-fiesta-hebrea-januca.html}}. El Faro Digital, November 3, 2013.</ref> the Hindu [[Diwali]],<ref>[http://www.elfarodigital.es/especiales-diario-impreso/diwali.html Diwali] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129170640/http://www.elfarodigital.es/especiales-diario-impreso/diwali.html}}. El Faro Digital, December 3, 2012.</ref> or the [[Eid al-Adha|Aid-al Kebir]], also known as the Feast of the Sacrifice or Festival of the Lamb. This is the only non-Christian community celebration officially recognized in the labor calendar since 2010.<ref>[http://www.antena3.com/noticias/espana/ceuta-melilla-celebran-fiesta-musulmana-sacrificio-cordero_2010111700092.html Ceuta and Melilla celebrate the Muslim Feast of the Sacrifice]. [[Antena 3 (Spanish TV channel)|Antena 3]], November 17, 2010.</ref>

=== Sport ===
==== Sports facilities ====
The city has an extensive network of sports centers managed by the Department of Education, Youth, and Sports, many of which are operated by private companies under administrative concession. Many of these centers offer a variety of sports activities such as [[swimming]] and provide access to the rental of indoor pavilions, multi-sport courts, fields, fitness rooms, and sports campuses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla - Instalaciones Deportivas |url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_lloc_d10_v1.jsp&layout=contenedor.jsp&codbusqueda=268&codResi=1&language=es&codMenu=226&codMenuPN=601&codMenuSN=5&numeroPagina=2 |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=www.melilla.es}}</ref>

===== Álvarez Claro Municipal Stadium =====
{{Main|Estadio Municipal Álvarez Claro}}
The [[Estadio Municipal Álvarez Claro|Álvarez Claro Municipal Stadium]] is Melilla’s main sports venue and home to the [[UD Melilla]]. It was inaugurated on September 29, 1945, by then-mayor Rafael Álvarez Claro, after whom the stadium is named. It has a capacity of 10,000 spectators.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-15 |title=MelillaEsDeporte.es - La inauguración del Estadio Álvarez Claro |url=http://www.melillaesdeporte.es/noticia/4101/la-inauguracion-del-estadio-alvarez-claro |access-date=2025-04-16 |archive-date=15 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815024003/http://www.melillaesdeporte.es/noticia/4101/la-inauguracion-del-estadio-alvarez-claro |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Throughout its history, it has hosted major matches, including games against clubs such as [[Atlético Madrid]], [[Athletic Bilbao|Athletic Club]], [[Levante UD]], and [[Real Madrid CF]], as well as international fixtures for the [[Spain national under-21 football team|Spain U21 national team]]. It also hosted the final of the [[2015 Copa de la Reina de Fútbol]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Do you remember the excitement of the 2015 Copa de la Reina? {{!}} www.rfef.es |url=https://rfef.es/es/noticias/recuerdas-la-emocion-de-la-copa-de-la-reina-2015 |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=rfef.es |language=es}}</ref>

Since 2021, the stadium has been undergoing transformation into a municipal multi-sport complex, with new facilities such as a [[climbing wall]], [[paddle tennis]] courts, and a [[shooting range]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-06 |title=Álvarez Claro Stadium to become a municipal multi-sport complex |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/estadio-alvarez-claro-pasa-convertirse-complejo-polideportivo-municipal/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-04-16 |language=es}}</ref>

===== Javier Imbroda Ortiz Pavilion =====
The Javier Imbroda Ortiz Pavilion has a capacity of 2,900 spectators and is the home venue for [[Club Melilla Baloncesto|Melilla Basketball Club]] ([[LEB Oro]]), Melilla Fútbol Sala ([[Liga Nacional de Fútbol Sala|LNFS]]), and Melilla Volleyball Club ([[Superliga de Voleibol Masculina]]).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baloncesto |first=Melilla |title=Melilla Basketball Club – Official Website |url=https://clubmelillabaloncesto.org/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Club Melilla Baloncesto |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CD Melistar FS: Club Information {{!}} LNFS |url=https://www.lnfs.es/equipo/cd-melistar-fs/100/info |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=www.lnfs.es |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Melilla Volleyball Club {{!}} Official Site |url=https://clubvoleibolmelilla.com/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Melilla Volleyball Club |language=es}}</ref>

It was inaugurated on February 17, 1995, as the ''Ciudad de Melilla Sports Pavilion''. In 2007, it was renamed in honor of Melilla-born coach [[Javier Imbroda]], a key figure in Spanish basketball and runner-up in the [[Liga ACB]] with [[CB Málaga]] in the 1993–94 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=acb.com |url=https://www.acb.com/entrenador/trayectoria-logros/id/20300073 |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=www.acb.com |language=es}}</ref>

The pavilion has hosted major sporting events, including three editions of the [[Copa Princesa de Asturias]] and three [[Liga ACB]] playoff finals. In 2025, improvements to the climate control system were announced following high temperatures recorded during events such as the 1st Javier Imbroda Memorial, held in August 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-06-07 |title=€87,985 invested to make the Javier Imbroda Pavilion "more human" - El Faro de Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/invierten-87-985-para-hacer-mas-humano-el-pabellon-javier-imbroda/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The 2022 Princess of Asturias Cup Final breaks its first record |url=https://www.feb.es/2022/3/10/baloncesto/final-copa-princesa-asturias-2022-bate-primer-record/89545.aspx |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=FEB |language=ES}}</ref>

===== General Bañuls Sociocultural Sports Center =====
The General Bañuls Sociocultural Sports Center was founded in 1914 as the Melilla Equestrian Society. It was recognized as the Royal Equestrian Society by [[Alfonso XIII of Spain]] in 1920 and adopted its current name in 2014, in honor of General Francisco Bañuls.<ref>{{Cite web |title=General Bañuls Sociocultural Sports Center, Melilla Club - Melilla |url=https://fabs.es/centro-deportivo-sociocultural-hipica-general-banuls-club-en-melilla-melilla/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |language=es}}</ref>

The center offers a wide variety of sports and cultural activities, with a focus on its [[List of equestrian sports|equestrian]], [[tennis]], and [[paddle tennis]] schools, along with modern facilities. It has hosted numerous tournaments and social events over the years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sociocultural sports centers - DIAPER - Liferay DXP |url=https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/diaper/centros-deportivos-socio-culturales |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305225717/https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/diaper/centros-deportivos-socio-culturales |archive-date=5 March 2025 |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=DIAPER |language=es-ES |url-status=live }}</ref>

Among its most notable alumni is tennis player [[Feliciano López]], who trained at the center during his time in Melilla between the ages of 5 and 12, taking his first steps in tennis before beginning his successful professional career.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Calderay |first=Antonio |date=2023-07-02 |title=Melilla was key in the development of Feliciano López as a tennis player - MelillaHoy |url=https://melillahoy.es/melilla-fue-clave-en-la-formacion-de-feliciano-lopez-como-tenista/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Serras |first=Manel |date=2002-06-30 |title=Feliciano López, the unknown survivor |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2002/06/30/deportes/1025388023_850215.html |access-date=2025-04-16 |newspaper=El País |language=es |issn=1134-6582}}</ref>

===== Royal Maritime Club of Melilla =====
The Royal Maritime Club of Melilla (RCMM) is a nautical organization founded on March 6, 1944, as the Maritime Club of Melilla. It was officially inaugurated on August 13, 1944, and received the "Royal" designation from [[King Juan Carlos I of Spain]] in 2006. It has more than 6,000 members.<ref>{{Cite web |last=RCMMelilla |title=Royal Maritime Club of Melilla |url=https://www.realclubmaritimomelilla.es/clmar/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Real Club Marítimo de Melilla |language=es}}</ref>

The RCMM excels in sports, especially sailing, organizing the Melilla Nautical Week since 1997, and has a strong basketball section with 18 teams. It also offers a wide range of facilities and activities, including a nautical activity area, swimming pool, gym, pétanque court, sauna, restaurant, café, and exhibition hall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Club Marítimo de Melilla |url=https://www.rcmarsc.es/nacional-e-internacional/club-maritimo-de-melilla |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=rcmarsc.es |language=es}}</ref>

Culturally, the club organizes the Cultural Days, focused on maritime themes, along with other social and educational activities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=RCMMelilla |date=2025-02-21 |title=The XI Cultural Days begin |url=https://www.realclubmaritimomelilla.es/clmar/arrancan-las-xi-jornada-culturales-club-maritimo-melilla-rcmm/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Real Club Marítimo de Melilla |language=es}}</ref>

===== Other facilities =====
Melilla also features several [[association football|football]] and [[seven-a-side football]] fields, a [[motocross]] track, a [[radio-controlled car]] circuit, paddle tennis and pétanque clubs, the El Fuerte sports club, Melilla’s [[golf]] course, Lázaro Fernández and García Pezzi sports pavilions, municipal swimming pools, and Álvarez Claro courts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla. Sports Facilities. |url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_lloc_d10_v1.jsp&layout=contenedor.jsp&codbusqueda=268&codResi=1&language=es&codMenu=226&codMenuPN=601&codMenuSN=7&numeroPagina=2}}</ref>

==== Sporting clubs ====
===== Football =====
{{Main|UD Melilla}}
The city's football club, [[UD Melilla]], plays in the third tier of Spanish football, the [[Segunda División B]]. The club was founded in 1943 and since 1945 have played at the 12,000-seater [[Estadio Municipal Álvarez Claro]]. Until the other club was dissolved in 2012, UD Melilla played the Ceuta-Melilla derby against [[AD Ceuta]]. The clubs travelled to each other via the Spanish mainland to avoid entering Morocco.<ref name="chameleon">{{cite book |last=Hawkey |first=Ian |title=Feet of the chameleon: the story of African football |publisher=Portico |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-906032-71-5 |location=London}}</ref> The second-highest ranked club in the city are [[Casino del Real CF]] of the fourth-tier [[Tercera División]]. The football's governing institution is the [[Melilla Football Federation]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=UD Melilla |url=https://udmelilla.es/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |language=es}}</ref>

===== Basketball =====
{{Main|Club Melilla Baloncesto}}
[[Club Melilla Baloncesto]] is the main basketball team in the city. Founded in 1984, the team competes in [[LEB Oro]], the second tier of Spanish basketball, just below the [[Liga ACB|ACB League]]. Melilla Baloncesto has been a competitive team within this league, having played several promotion phases to the ACB over the years. The team plays its home games at the Pabellón Municipal de Deportes Javier Imbroda, which has a capacity of around 5,000 spectators. This pavilion is the heart of the Melilla fanbase, who passionately support the local team at every game. Although the club has not yet achieved promotion to the ACB, it has been a constant contender in the LEB Oro, regularly participating in the playoffs and demonstrating a high level of play. Additionally, Melilla Baloncesto has been successful in developing young players and providing a platform for talents who have later excelled in other competitions. Similar to football, matchups against other LEB Oro teams, such as [[Club Ourense Baloncesto]] or [[Cáceres Ciudad del Baloncesto]], often generate significant excitement due to the rivalry and the competitive nature of both clubs in the league.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baloncesto |first=Melilla |title=Club Melilla Baloncesto – Web del Club Melilla Baloncesto |url=https://clubmelillabaloncesto.org/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Club Melilla Baloncesto |language=es}}</ref>

==== Sporting events ====

===== African Race of the Legion =====
The African Race of the Legion (Carrera Africana de la Legión) is an endurance competition held annually in Melilla, organized by the [[Spanish Legion|1st Tercio “Gran Capitán” of the Spanish Legion]]. It includes several categories: a 50 km foot race, a 25 km march, mountain biking (BTT), and electric bike race (75 km), along with a children's version known as the MiniAfricana.

The route crosses natural landscapes, beaches, and the historic city center, and is known for its physical demands and scenic appeal. Participation is limited to 3,500 athletes, and the event features refreshment stations, medical support, and side activities such as the traditional African Dinner. It is considered one of the most emblematic sporting events in the city and a symbol of the connection between athletics and Legion values.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://carreraafricana.com/marcha-carrera/|title=Marcha – Carrera – Carrera Africana|access-date=2022-02-05|language=es}}{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===== Melilla Sailing Week =====
The Melilla Sailing Week (Semana Náutica de Melilla) is an annual event held in August at the Noray Marina, organized by the Royal Maritime Club of Melilla. It combines competitive sailing events—such as dinghy and offshore regattas—with recreational, cultural, and educational activities.

The event features the highlight Two Continents Offshore Regatta, linking Melilla with Motril. In addition, it includes workshops, guided tours, concerts, and family-friendly activities under the motto “A Sea Without Barriers,” promoting inclusion and universal access to nautical sports. It is a key event for sports tourism and the cultural life of the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/vii-semana-nautica-vela-ligera-entra-escena/|title=La VII Semana Náutica de Vela Ligera entra en escena - El Faro de Melilla|access-date=2025-03-09|date=2019-08-10|language=es}}</ref>

=== Traditional clothing ===
[[File:Traje típico de Melilla.jpg|left|thumb|Traditional women's outfit of Melilla]]
The traditional women's outfit of Melilla has a relatively recent history, dating back to 1994 when Joaquín Callejón and Diego Piñero designed the regional attire that would be worn by the Melilla contestant in the [[Miss Spain]] competition. The outfit was meant to represent the four cultures present in the city, be blue (like the flag of Melilla), and incorporate typical elements. Fishing nets with white madroños were included in the skirt, floral embroidery on the apron and sleeves, and details such as organza, representing Berber and Hindu influences. The fringes of the neckline formed the Star of David, symbolizing Jewish culture. The design was later adapted into a male version for Mister Melilla.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-28 |title=El traje regional de Melilla: la representación de las culturas en un vestido |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/traje-regional-melilla-representacion-culturas-vestido/ |accessdate=2025-04-05 |language=es}}</ref>

=== Bullfighting ===
[[File:Plaza de toros de Melilla (4956255397).jpg|thumb|[[Plaza de Toros de Melilla|Melilla Bullring]]]]
The importance of bullfighting in Melilla dates back to 1946, the year of the first bullfight in the city, when the construction of the [[Plaza de Toros de Melilla|Melilla Bullring]] was still unfinished. The official inauguration of the bullring took place a year later.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heras |first=Mario de las |date=2023-08-31 |title=La única corrida de toros en África: vuelve la Feria de Melilla con Talavante, de Justo y Caballero |url=https://www.eldebate.com/cultura/20230831/unica-corrida-toros-africa-vuelve-feria-melilla-talavante-justo-caballero_136763.html#:~:text=1946%20fue%20el%20a%C3%B1o%20en,de%20construcci%C3%B3n%20de%20la%20plaza. |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=El Debate |language=es}}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
The traditional cuisine of Melilla is very diverse. It is part of the [[Mediterranean diet]], based on [[olive oil]], [[Cereal|cereals]], [[Legume|legumes]], [[Vegetable|vegetables]], [[fish]], [[Nut (food)|nuts]], and [[meat]], as well as a long-standing tradition of [[wine]] consumption. Additionally, it has a unique blend of [[Spaniards|Spanish]], [[Riffians|Riffian]], [[Andalusians|Andalusian]], [[Maghrebis|Maghrebi]], and [[Sephardic Jews|Sephardic]] influences, resulting in a rich and varied cuisine full of intense flavours and traditions from different cultures. Some of the most representative dishes of Melilla are:

* Rape a la Rusadir: A typical dish of Melilla, known for its preparation with monkfish and a variety of local ingredients.[[File:El Pimpi Pescaíto frito (5782407641).jpg|thumb|[[Pescado frito]]]]
* [[Paella]]: A classic Spanish dish, also adopted in the Riffian region.
* [[Olla gitana]]: A traditional Andalusian dish made with legumes, meats, and vegetables.
* Pollo a la moruna: Spiced and marinated chicken in the Riffian style, one of the most prominent specialties.
* [[Harira]]: A Maghrebi soup made with meat, lentils, chickpeas, and spices, ideal to start a meal.
* Cazuela de pescados: A traditional Spanish fish stew prepared with fresh seafood.[[File:Pinchitos de cordero.jpg|thumb|[[Pinchitos]]]]
* [[Pescado frito]]: A typical Andalusian and Riffian dish, where the fish is fried in hot oil until crispy.
* [[Shellfish]]: Especially [[Clam|clams]], [[Shrimp and prawn as food|shrimp and prawns]], cooked with garlic or grilled, highlighting their freshness and flavour.
* [[Pinchitos]]: Skewers of spiced meat, a popular dish on Melilla's grills.
* [[Tagine]]: A traditional Maghrebi stew made with fish, chicken, beef, lamb, or kefta (minced meat), slowly cooked in a clay tagine.
* Ensalada cocha (Matbuja): A Sephardic dish made with vegetables and fresh seasonings, light and refreshing in taste.
* [[File:Cortadillo de Melilla (1).jpg|thumb|Cortadillo]][[Couscous]]: A classic Maghrebi dish, made from semolina wheat and served with a variety of stews.
* [[Msemmen|Msemen]]: Flaky, layered flatbreads typical of Riffian cuisine, similar to pancakes or crepes.
* [[File:Moroccan Mint Tea - 1.jpg|thumb|[[Maghrebi mint tea]]]][[Pastilla]]: A traditional Maghrebi pie filled with meat, dried fruits, and spices, wrapped in puff pastry.
* [[Chebakia]]: A traditional Maghrebi sweet, made of fried dough soaked in honey and sprinkled with sesame seeds.
* Cortadillo: A Spanish sweet, similar to sponge cake, made with flour, sugar, and oil.
* [[Maghrebi mint tea]]: A refreshing drink, very popular in the Riffian region, typically enjoyed after meals.

This culinary diversity reflects the rich cultural heritage of Melilla, blending ingredients and techniques from both Mediterranean and African cuisines.

=== Melilla in popular culture ===
==== Novels ==== 
Some of the most notable novels set in Melilla include:<ref>{{cite book|access-date=2022-02-22 |first=HOYOS RAGEL María del |date=2015-05-07 |isbn=978-84-362-6949-9 |language=es |last=Carmen |publisher=Editorial UNED |title=MELILLA Y LA POESÍA ESPAÑOLA DESDE 1900 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9k79CAAAQBAJ&dq=generacion+27+melilla&pg=PT208}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|access-date=2022-02-23 |date=1909 |first=Carmen de |language=es |last=Burgos |title=En la guerra: (Episodios de Melilla) |journal=El Cuento Semanal |volume=3 |issue=148 |url=https://www.cervantesvirtual.com/obra/en-la-guerra-episodios-de-melilla-1053849/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2022-02-23 |language=es-ES |title=Novelas para viajar a Melilla |url=https://www.hoteles.net/melilla/rutas-literarias-melilla.html |website=Hoteles}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2022-02-24 |language=es |last=Colaboraciones |title="Melilla 1921, crónicas de guerra" |url=https://elpueblodeceuta.es//art/57653/melilla-1921-cronicas-de-guerra |website=El Pueblo de Ceuta|date=7 April 2021 }}<!-- auto-translated from unknown (Italian or Spanish) by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=María Gajate Bajo |title=Lo que ocurre es que él es ella: un análisis de las crónicas de Teresa de Escoriaza durante el Desastre de Annual |journal=Pasado y Memoria |issue=23 |date=2021 |doi=10.14198/PASADO2021.23.09 |doi-access=free|hdl=10045/116897 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

* Cuando leas esta carta by Vicente Gramaje
* Demiurgo: El despertar de los necios by Francisco Elipe Torné and Ferrán Cubells Tomeo
* Corsarios de Levante and [[The Queen of the South (novel)|The Queen of the South]] by [[Arturo Pérez Reverte]]
* Mi Melilla Entrevista (1949) by Vicente Aleixandre
* Canto a Melilla (1920) by Alberto Álvarez de Cienfuegos
* Empezando la Vida. Memorias de una Infancia en Melilla (1914-1920) by [[Carmen Conde]]
* En la Guerra: Episodios de Melilla (1909) and her work as a war correspondent during the [[Second Melillan campaign]] by [[Carmen de Burgos]]
* Una mujer en la guerra de España by [[Carlota O'Neill]]
* La Buena Reputación by [[Ignacio Martínez de Pisón]]
* La Hija del Coronel by Martín Casariego
* El Novio del Mundo by [[Felipe Benítez Reyes]]
* La Hija de Marte by Francisco Carcaño
* Melilla la codiciada by Juan Berenguer
* Murillo 11: Melilla by Juan Guerrero Zamora
* La Reina del Azúcar by Dolores García Ruíz
* Crónicas de Guerra: Melilla 1921 by [[Indalecio Prieto]]
* Del Dolor de la Guerra (1921) by Teresa de Escoriaza

==== TV series ==== 
The most important TV series filmed and set in Melilla include:<ref>{{cite web|access-date=25 April 2019 |archive-date=2019-04-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424040420/https://melillahoy.es/noticia/117845/cultura/la-unidad-una-serie-de-movistar-que-estara-de-rodaje-en-distintos-lugares-de-la-ciudad-de-melilla-durante-tres-semanas.html |first=Luisa María |language=es |last=Sánchez Ballesteros |title='La Unidad', a Movistar + series that will be filmed in different locations of the city of Melilla for three weeks |url=http://www.melillahoy.es/noticia/117845/cultura/la-unidad-una-serie-de-movistar-que-estara-de-rodaje-en-distintos-lugares-de-la-ciudad-de-melilla-durante-tres-semanas.html |website=Melilla Hoy|date=23 April 2019 }}<!-- auto-translated from unknown (Italian or Spanish) by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=25 April 2019 |date=24 April 2019 |language=es-ES |title=Melilla, the setting for the 'La Unidad' series by Movistar+ |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/melilla-escenario-serie-unidad-movistar/ |website=El Faro de Melilla}}<!-- auto-translated from unknown (Italian or Spanish) by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

* [[La Reina del Sur (TV series)|La Reina del Sur]] (2011)
* [[Morocco: Love in Times of War]] (2017)
* [[La unidad]] (2020)
* [[Sagrada familia]] (2022)

==== Films ==== 
Melilla has been the setting for several films:<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-03-28 |language=es |title=Melilla, a city of cinema - El Faro de Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/melilla-una-ciudad-de-cine/}}<!-- auto-translated from unknown (Italian or Spanish) by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

* En Ghentar se muere fácil (1967)
* [[Golden Balls (film)|Golden Balls]] (1993)
* [[You Shall Die in Chafarinas]] (1995)
* [[The Man Who Knew Infinity]] (2015)
* [[Chavela (film)|Chavela]] (2017)
* [[Adú]] (2020)
* [[Alegría (2021 film)|Alegría]] (2021)
* [[The Jump (2020 film)|The Jump]] (2024)

==== Songs ==== 
Some of the most well-known songs dedicated to Melilla include:<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-03-28 |language=es |title=Melilla lyrics - Ismael Serrano |url=https://www.cancioneros.com/letras/cancion/8612/melilla-ismael-serrano |website=CANCIONEROS.COM/LETRAS}}<!-- auto-translated from unknown (Italian or Spanish) by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-03-28 |language=es |title=VIVA MELILLA - Emilio El Moro |url=https://www.letras.com/emilio-el-moro/viva-melilla/ |website=Letras.com}}<!-- auto-translated from unknown (Italian or Spanish) by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-03-28 |language=en |title=Leo Rubio - Pasodoble a Melilla |url=https://letsloop.com/artist/leo-rubio/song/pasodoble-a-melilla |website=LetsLoop}}<!-- auto-translated from unknown (Italian or Spanish) by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-03-28 |title=Joaquín Díaz, complete works • Songs |url=https://funjdiaz.net/joaquin-diaz-canciones-ficha.php?id=471 |website=funjdiaz.net}}<!-- auto-translated from unknown (Italian or Spanish) by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

* Viva Melilla (1969) by [[Emilio el Moro]]
* Para Melilla embarcamos (1979) by Joaquín Díaz
* Pasodoble a Melilla (1993) by Leo Rubio
* Melilla (2003) by [[Ismael Serrano]]

=== Media ===

==== Newspapers ====
In addition to the national newspapers, there are two local newspapers: ''Melilla Hoy''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-29 |title=Melilla Hoy - Actualidad y noticias de Melilla |url=https://melillahoy.es/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |language=es}}</ref> and ''El Faro.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-24 |title=El Faro de Melilla - Diario digital |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |language=es}}</ref>

==== Public television ====
[[File:Televisión Melilla.svg|thumb|Televisión Melilla]]
All national television channels are broadcast, including the public Andalusian channel, Canal Sur Televisión. The city also has two local channels, Televisión Melilla<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inicio - |url=https://playmelilla.es/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=playmelilla.es |language=es}}</ref> and Popular TV,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-29 |title=Popular TV Melilla – Hacemos la televisión pensando en ti |url=https://populartvmelilla.es/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |archive-date=29 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629002431/https://populartvmelilla.es/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> as well as a studio of [[RTVE|Radio Televisión Española]], which broadcasts news.

==== Radio ====
All national radio stations can be tuned in, which have local editions, including COPE,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-18 |title=Cope Melilla – 98.4 FM |url=http://copemelilla.com/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |language=es}}</ref> Onda Cero,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.ondaceromelilla.net/ml/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=www.ondaceromelilla.net}}</ref> and others.

==== Internet ====
With the spread of the internet and social media, several media outlets and portals emerged, of which only ''MelillaMedia'' remains,<ref>{{Cite web |title=MelillaMedia |url=https://www.melillamedia.es/ |access-date=July 3, 2019 |language=es |archive-date=2 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702091802/https://www.melillamedia.es/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> which is dependent on the autonomous city.

In October 2022, a personal documentary archive of digital files with open access about Melilla and the Rif region in northern Morocco was launched, offering abundant material for researchers or students.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Personal Documentary Archive on the History of Melilla and the Rif Region in Northern Morocco |url=https://calentamientoglobalacelerado.net/fondo_documental_Melilla_Riff/ |access-date=November 11, 2022 |language=es}}</ref>

=== Amateur radio ===
The [[ISO 3166-1]] standard reserves the extension EA as the country code for [[Ceuta]] and Melilla. The call sign used by [[Amateur radio|amateur radio operators]] in these two cities is EA9, and each is considered a separate "entity."

=== Honorary distinctions granted by the city council ===
The titles, honors, and decorations officially awarded by the [[Assembly of Melilla|City Council of Melilla]], in order to recognize special merits, notable benefits, or extraordinary services, are as follows: the title of Favored Son or Adoptive Child of Melilla, the Medal of Honor of Melilla, and the Medal of the City of Melilla in its three categories: Gold, Silver, and Bronze.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Europa |date=2012-09-15 |title=Margallo receives the distinction of 'Adoptive Son' of Melilla, praising the recognition of Spain's military heroes |url=https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-margallo-recibe-distincion-hijo-adoptivo-melilla-elogiando-reconocimiento-heroes-militares-espana-20120915173623.html |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=www.europapress.es}}</ref>

The first and highest distinctions granted by the City Council of Melilla are those of Favored Son, for distinguished citizens born in Melilla ([[Fernando Arrabal]] or [[Javier Imbroda]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=News about Favored Son in El Faro de Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/etiquetas/hijo-predilecto/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |language=es}}</ref> among others), and Adoptive Child, for notable individuals not born in Melilla ([[José Manuel García-Margallo]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Autonómico |first=Confidencial |date=2012-06-21 |title=The UCD seat that earned García Margallo the title of 'Favored Son' of Melilla |url=https://autonomico.elconfidencialdigital.com/articulo/muy-confidencial/UCD-Predilecto-Melilla-Garcia-Margallo/20120621030000013885.html |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Confidencial Autonómico |language=es}}</ref> or [[Carlota O'Neill]]).

== Border security ==
=== Defence and Civil Guard ===
The defence of the enclave is the responsibility of the [[Spanish Armed Forces]]' General Command of Melilla.<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url=https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/en/unidades/Melilla/comgemel/Organizacion/index.html | title=Comandancia General de Melilla |website=Ministerio de Defensa}}</ref> The [[Spanish Army]]'s combat components of the command include:

* [[Regulares|52nd ''Regulares'' Infantry Regiment]];
* [[Tercio "Gran Capitán" No. 1 of the Legion|1st Tercio ''Gran Capitán'' Regiment]] of the [[Spanish Legion]];
* 10th 'Alcántara' Cavalry Regiment<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/en/unidades/Melilla/rcac10/ | title=REGIMIENTO DE CABALLERIA "ALCÁNTARA"10 |website=Ministerio de Defensa}}</ref> equipped with [[Leopard 2|Leopard 2 main battle tanks]] and [[ASCOD|Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles]];<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/unidades/Melilla/rcac10/Noticias/2021/03_ejercicio_de_tiro.html | title=Ejercicio de tiro del vehículo VCIC Pizarro - Ejército de tierra }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/unidades/Melilla/rcac10/Organizacion/index.html | title=Contenido - Ejército de tierra }}</ref>
* 32nd Mixed Artillery Regiment with ''Grupo de Artillería de Campaña I/32'' equipped with [[Santa Bárbara Sistemas 155/52|155/52mm towed howitzers]] and ''Grupo de Artillería Antiaérea II/32'' equipped with [[Oerlikon GDF|35/90 SKYDOR/35/90 GDF-007 anti-aircraft guns]];<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/en/unidades/Melilla/ramix32/Historial/index.html | title=Regimiento Mixto de Artillería 32 |website=Ministerio de Defensa }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/en/unidades/Melilla/ramix32/Noticias/2022/10_El_GAAA_II32_realiza_ejercicios_de_colaboracion_aerea_y_tiro_AAA_en_el_CMT_de_Rostrogordo.html | title=El GAAA II/32 realiza ejercicios de colaboración aérea y tiro AAA en el CMT de Rostrogordo. - Spanish army }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://uklandpower.com/2020/12/08/learning-from-how-our-allies-armies-are-organized/ | title=Learning from how our Allies' armies are organized | date=8 December 2020 }}</ref> and,
* 8th Engineer Regiment

The command also includes its headquarters battalion as well as logistics elements.<ref name="auto"/>

In addition to the defence of Melilla, the garrison is also responsible for [[Plazas de soberanía|the defence of islands and rock formations claimed by Spain]] off the coast of Morocco. Units of the garrison are deployed to these rock formations to secure them against Moroccan incursions and did so notably during the [[Perejil Island crisis]] in 2002.<ref name="auto"/> To enhance coastal security, the [[Spanish Navy]] based a dedicated patrol boat (''Isla Pinto'') in Melilla from mid-2023.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Entregado a la Armada española el patrullero "Isla Pinto" (P-84) |url=https://www.defensa.com/defensa-naval/entregado-armada-espanola-patrullero-isla-pinto-p-84|website=infodefensa.com |date=28 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=La Armada recibe el patrullero 'Isla Pinto' para vigilar las aguas de Melilla |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/nacional/20230621/9058347/armada-recibe-patrullero-isla-pinto-vigilar-aguas-melilla.html |website=Lavanguardia |date=21 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=La Armada incrementará su presencia en Melilla con un patrullero de vigilancia costera|url=https://www.infodefensa.com/texto-diario/mostrar/4192258/armada-incrementara-presencia-melilla-patrullero-vigilancia-costera |website=infodefensa.com |date=27 February 2023}}</ref> Melilla itself is about {{convert|350|km}} distant from the main Spanish naval base at [[Naval Station Rota|Rota]] on the Spanish mainland while the [[Spanish Air Force]]'s [[Morón Air Base]] is within {{convert|300|km}} proximity.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

The [[Civil Guard (Spain)|Civil Guard]] is responsible for border security and protects both the territory's [[Melilla border fence|fortified land border]] against frequent, and sometimes significant, migrant incursions.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/38932/melilla-thousands-of-migrants-attempt-to-scale-fence-into-spanish-enclave | title=Melilla: Thousands of migrants attempt to scale fence into Spanish enclave | date=3 March 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Guerraoui|first=Saad|date=2021-06-12|title=Spanish report warns of Morocco's 'hybrid strategies' to annex Ceuta, Melilla &#124; Saad Guerraoui|url=https://middle-east-online.com/en/spanish-report-warns-morocco%25E2%2580%2599s-%25E2%2580%2598hybrid-strategies%25E2%2580%2599-annex-ceuta-melilla|access-date=2023-01-14|website=MEO|language=en}}</ref>

=== Trans-border relations ===
Melilla forms a sort of trans-border urban conurbation with limited integration together with the neighbouring Moroccan settlements, located at one of the ends of a linear succession of [[urban sprawl]] spanning southward in Morocco along the [[National Route 19 (Morocco)|R19]] road from [[Beni Ensar]] down to [[Nador]] and [[Selouane]].{{Sfn|Ponce Herrero|Martí Ciriquián|2019|p=115}} The urban system features a high degree of hierarchization, specialization and [[division of labour]], with Melilla as chief provider of services, finance and trade; Nador as an eminently industrial city whereas the rest of Moroccan settlements found themselves in a subordinate role, presenting [[agro-town]] features and operating as providers of workforce.{{Sfn|Ponce Herrero|Martí Ciriquián|2019|p=115}}

The asymmetry, as reflected for example in the provision of healthcare, has fostered situations such as the large-scale use of the Melillan health services by Moroccan citizens, with Melilla attending a number of urgencies more than four times the standard for its population in 2018.{{Sfn|Ponce Herrero|Martí Ciriquián|2019|p=116}} In order to satisfy the workforce needs of Melilla (mainly in areas such as [[domestic service]], construction and cross-border bale workers, often under informal contracts), Moroccan inhabitants of the [[province of Nador]] were granted exemptions from visa requirements to enter the autonomous city.{{Sfn|Ponce Herrero|Martí Ciriquián|2019|p=109}} This development in turn induced a strong flux of [[internal migration]] from other Moroccan provinces to Nador, in order to acquire the aforementioned exemption.{{Sfn|Ponce Herrero|Martí Ciriquián|2019|p=109}}

The 'fluid' trans-border relations between Melilla and its surroundings are however not free from conflict, as they are contingent upon the [[Morocco–Spain relations|'tense' trans-national relations between Morocco and Spain]].{{Sfn|Ponce Herrero|Martí Ciriquián|2019|p=118}}

=== Border securitization ===
[[File:Verjamelilla.jpg|thumb|The [[Melilla border fence]] aims to curb illegal immigration into the city.]]
Following the increasing influx of Algerian and sub-Saharan irregular migrants into Ceuta and Melilla in the early 1990s,{{Sfn|Ferrer Gallardo|2008|p=140}} a process of border [[fortification]] in both cities ensued after 1995 to reduce the border's permeability,<ref name=ser>{{Cite web|url=https://cadenaser.com/ser/2018/06/14/sociedad/1529011916_374813.html|website=[[Cadena Ser]]|title=Preguntas y respuestas sobre 20 kilómetros de cuchilas en Ceuta y Melilla|date=14 June 2016|first=Nicolás|last=Castellano}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|page=134|url=https://ddd.uab.cat/pub/dag/02121573n51/02121573n51p129.pdf|title=Acrobacias fronterizas en Ceuta y Melilla. Explorando la gestión de los perímetros terrestres de la Unión Europea en el continente africano|first=Xavier|last=Ferrer Gallardo|year=2008|journal=Documents d'anàlisi geogràfica|issue=51|<!--|pages=129–149-->issn=2014-4512|location=Bellaterra|publisher=[[Autonomous University of Barcelona|Servei de Publicacions de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona]]}}</ref> a target attained to some degree by 1999,{{Sfn|Ferrer Gallardo|2008|p=140}} although peak level of fortification was reached in 2005.<ref name=ser />

Melilla's border with Morocco is secured by the [[Melilla border fence]], a {{convert|6|m}} tall double fence with watch towers; yet migrants (in groups of tens or sometimes hundreds) storm the fence and manage to cross it from time to time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27601215 |title=BBC News – Hundreds breach Spain enclave border |work=BBC News |access-date=28 May 2014}}</ref> Since 2005, at least 14 migrants have died trying to cross the fence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.es/espana/20140206/abci-menos-inmigrantes-fallecido-desde-201402061712.html|website=[[ABC (Spain)|ABC]]|title=Al menos 27 inmigrantes han fallecido desde 2005 tras los asaltos a la valla|date=6 February 2014}}</ref> The Melilla migrant reception centre was built with a capacity of 480.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26382589|title=African migrants storm into Spanish enclave of Melilla|access-date=3 March 2014|date=28 February 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> In 2020 works to remove the barbed wire from the top of the fence (meanwhile raising its height up to more than {{convert|10|m}} in the stretches most susceptible to breaches) were commissioned to {{ill|Tragsa|es}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2020-08-16/nuevas-vallas-ceuta-melilla-mas-altas-muro-trump-mexico_2713268/|website=[[El Confidencial]]|title=La nueva valla de Ceuta y Melilla será un metro más alta que el muro de Trump|date=16 August 2020|first=Alejandro|last=Mata}}</ref>

In June 2022, at least 23 sub-Saharan migrants and two Moroccan security personnel were killed when around 2,000 migrants stormed the border. The death toll has been estimated to be as high as 37 by certain NGOs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-26 |title=Calls for investigation over deaths in Moroccan-Spanish border crossing |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/26/calls-investigation-deaths-moroccan-spanish-border-melilla-enclave-crossing |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> Around 200 Spanish and Moroccan law enforcement officers and at least 76 migrants were injured. Hundreds of migrants succeeded in breaching the fence, and 133 made it across the border.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-26 |title=Death toll rises to 23 in Melilla border-crossing stampede |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/death-toll-23-melilla-border-crossing-stampede/ |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=POLITICO |language=en-US}}</ref> Widely circulated footage showed dozens of motionless migrants piled together.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Eljechtimi |first1=Ahmed |last2=Keeley |first2=Graham |date=2022-06-25 |title=Dozens of migrants piled together at Melilla border fence |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/dozens-migrants-piled-ground-melilla-disaster-rights-group-says-2022-06-25/ |access-date=2022-07-27}}</ref> It was the worst such incident in Melilla's history.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-27 |title=Melilla migrant deaths spark anger in Spain |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-61956104 |access-date=2022-07-27}}</ref> The United Nations, the African Union and a number of human rights groups condemned what they deemed excessive force used by Moroccan and Spanish border guards, although no lethal weapons were employed, and the deaths were later attributed to "mechanical asphyxiation".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Moroccan probe finds 23 Melilla border dead likely 'suffocated' |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/13/moroccan-probe-says-melilla-migrants-likely-suffocated-to-death |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref>

Morocco has been paid tens of million euros by both Spain and the European Union to outsource the EU migration control.<ref name=publico>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publico.es/sociedad/melilla-ceuta-concertinas-altura-colectivos-melilla-ceuta-denuncian-nuevas-vallas-continuan-vulnerando-derechos-humanos.html|website=[[Público (Spain)|Público]]|title=Menos concertinas y más altura: colectivos de Melilla y Ceuta denuncian que las nuevas vallas continúan vulnerando los derechos humanos|first=Lucía|last=Muñoz Medina|date=29 August 2020}}</ref> Besides the double fence in the Spanish side of the border, there is an additional {{convert|3|m}} high fence entirely made of [[razor wire]] lying on the Moroccan side as well as a moat in between.<ref name=publico />

{{See also|Fortress Europe#Postwar usage|2022 Melilla incident}}

== Dispute with Morocco ==
{{see also|Greater Morocco}}

The [[Cabinet of Morocco|Moroccan government]] has repeatedly called for Spain to transfer the sovereignty of Melilla, [[Ceuta]] and the ''[[plazas de soberanía]]'' to Morocco, with Spain's refusal to do so serving as a major source of tension in [[Morocco–Spain relations]]. In Morocco, Ceuta is frequently referred to as the "[[Military occupation|occupied]] Sebtah", and the Moroccan government has argued that the city, along with other Spanish territories in the region, are [[Colony|colonies]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-57305882 | title=Ceuta and Melilla: Spain's enclaves in North Africa | work=BBC News | date=4 June 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Europe or Africa? A contemporary study of the Spanish North African exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla|publisher=Liverpool University Press|isbn=0-85323-985-1|year=2000|pages=XII–XIII|first=Peter|last=Gold}}</ref> One of the major arguments used by Morocco in their attempts to acquire sovereignty over Melilla refers to the geographical position of the city, as Melilla is an [[Enclave and exclave|exclave]] surrounded by Moroccan territory and the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and has no territorial continuity with the rest of Spain.<ref>{{ cite book | last=Castan Pinos | first= J. |date=2014 | chapter=The Spanish-Moroccan relationship: combining bonne entente with territorial disputes | editor=K. Stoklosa |title= Living on the border. European Border Regions in Comparison |page= 103 | place=Abingdon | publisher= Routledge}}</ref> This argument was originally developed by one of the founders of the Moroccan [[Istiqlal Party]], Alal-El Faasi, who openly advocated for Morocco to invade and occupy Melilla and other North African territories under Spanish rule.<ref>{{ cite book | last=Castan Pinos|first= J. |date=2014 | title= La Fortaleza Europea: Schengen, Ceuta y Melilla|place= Ceuta|publisher= Instituto de Estudios Ceutíes|page= 61 |isbn=978-84-92627-67-7}}</ref> Spain, in line with the majority of nations in the rest of the world, has never recognized Morocco's claim over Melilla. The official position of the [[Government of Spain|Spanish government]] is that Melilla is an integral part of Spain, and has been since the 16th century, centuries prior to Morocco's independence from Spain and France in 1956.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/jun/12/worlddispatch.gibraltar |title=A rocky relationship  |work=The Guardian|date= 12 June 2003|access-date=17 June 2009 | location=London | first=Giles | last=Tremlett}}</ref> The majority of Melilla's population support continued Spanish sovereignty and are opposed to Moroccan control over the territory.<ref>{{cite thesis| author= François Papet-Périn | title=La mer d'Alboran ou Le contentieux territorial hispano-marocain sur les deux bornes européennes de Ceuta et Melilla | id= 2 volumes  | degree= doctorat d'histoire contemporaine soutenue | date= 2012 |institution= Paris 1-Sorbonne }}</ref>

In 1986, Spain joined [[NATO]]. However, Melilla is not under NATO protection since Article 6 of the [[North Atlantic Treaty]] limits such coverage to Europe and North America and islands north of the [[Tropic of Cancer]]. However, [[French Algeria]] was explicitly included in the treaty upon France's entry. Legal experts have claimed that other articles of the treaty could cover Spanish territories in North Africa but this interpretation has not been tested in practice.<ref name="Newtral">{{cite web |title=¿Están Ceuta y Melilla bajo el paraguas de la OTAN? |url=https://www.newtral.es/ceuta-melilla-otan-expertos/20211002/ |website=Newtral |access-date=25 February 2022 |language=es |date=2 October 2021 |author=Thess Móstoles}}</ref> During the [[2022 Madrid summit]], the issue of the protection of Melilla was raised by Spain, with NATO Secretary General [[Jens Stoltenberg]] stating: "On which territories NATO protects and Ceuta and Melilla, NATO is there to protect all Allies against any threats. At the end of the day, it will always be a political decision to invoke Article 5, but rest assured NATO is there to protect and defend all Allies".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Heads of State and Government (2022 NATO Summit)|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_197301.htm|access-date=2023-01-14|website=NATO|language=en | date= 30 June 2022 | author1= Jens Stoltenberg | author1-link=Jens Stoltenberg | type=transcript}}</ref> On 21 December 2020, following statements made by Moroccan Prime Minister [[Saadeddine Othmani]] that Melilla is "Moroccan as the [[Sahara]]", the Spanish government summoned the Moroccan ambassador, Karima Benyaich, to convey that Spain expects all its partners to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its territory in Africa and asked for an explanation for Othmani's words.<ref>{{Cite web|work=elDiario.es|date=21 December 2020|title=España convoca a la embajadora de Marruecos por unas declaraciones de su primer ministro sobre Ceuta y Melilla|url=https://www.eldiario.es/politica/espana-convoca-embajadora-marruecos-declaraciones-ceuta-melilla_1_6523031.html|access-date=22 December 2020|language=es}}{{pb}}{{cite web|date=22 December 2020|title=Moroccan Ambassador to Spain summoned over calls for territorial sovereignty talks|url=https://www.africanews.com/2020/12/22/moroccan-ambassador-to-spain-summoned-over-calls-for-territorial-sovereignty-talks/|access-date=22 December 2020|website=AfricaNews|language=en}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
{{Main|Category:People from Melilla}}<!--
== Notable people ==
{{Main|Category:People from Melilla}}
* [[Joaquín García Morato|Joaquín García-Morato y Castaño, 1st Count of Jarama]] (1904 in Melilla – 1939 in Griñón) was the leading Nationalist [[fighter ace]] of the [[Spanish Civil War]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Beevor |first=Antony |author-link=Antony Beevor |title=The Spanish Civil War |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Get7QgAACAAJ |location=New York |publisher=[[Cassell (publisher)|Cassell]] |year=1983 |page=461 |isbn=0-911745-11-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Logoluso |first=Alfredo |title=Fiat CR.32 Aces of the Spanish Civil War |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kNpkvgAACAAJ |location=Oxford |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |year=2010 |page=96 |isbn=978-1-84603-983-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Shores |first=Christopher |title=Air Aces |url=https://archive.org/details/airaces0000shor_d5v1 |url-access=registration |location=Greenwich, CT |publisher=[[Presidio Press]] |year=1983 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/airaces0000shor_d5v1/page/192 192] |isbn=0-86124-104-5}}</ref>
* [[Luis Prendes]] (1913 in Melilla – 1998 in Madrid) was a Spanish film actor. He appeared in 75 films between 1936 and 1998.
* [[Anselmo Pardo Alcaide]] (1913 in Melilla – 1977) was a Spanish entomologist, a world authority on [[Melyridae]] [[Meloidae]]- [[Malachiinae]].<ref>{{cite book |last=López-Colón |first=José Ignacio |last2=Baena |first2=Manuel |year=2005 |title=Anselmo Pardo Alcaide. Una vida dedicada a la entomología: (biografía y obra científica) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivUKOgAACAAJ |publisher=[[Ministry of Culture (Spain)|Consejería de Cultura]] |location=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla |page=196}}</ref>
* [[Mustafa Arruf]] (born 1958 in Melilla) is a Spanish sculptor.
* [[Mercedes Vecino]] (1916 in Melilla– 2004 in Alicante) was a Spanish film actress.<ref>{{cite book |last=Goble |first=Alan |title=The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yyqc0Qa6b60C |publisher=[[Walter de Gruyter]] |date=January 1, 1999 |page=34 |isbn=978-3-11-095194-3}}</ref>
* [[Emilio el Moro]] (1924 in Melilla – 1987) was a Spanish guitarist, singer and comedian.
* [[Lucinda Urrusti]] (born 1929 in Melilla) is a Mexican artist, born to a Spanish family which came to Mexico in 1939 to escape the Spanish Civil War and has remained in Mexico since
* [[Fernando Arrabal]] Terán (born 1932 in Melilla) is a Spanish playwright, film director, novelist and poet, settled in France in 1955
* [[Juan José Imbroda]] Ortiz (born 1944 in Melilla) is a politician who was the mayor-president of the Spanish enclave of Melilla from 2000 to 2019.
* [[Ignacio Velázquez Rivera]] (born 1953 in Ceuta) is a Spanish politician who served as mayor of Melilla from 1991 and the first Mayor-President in 1995
* [[Palmolive (musician)|Paloma McLardy]] (born 1955 in Melilla), known as ''Palmolive'', is a Spanish-born songwriter and drummer for influential punk groups
* [[Mustafa Aberchán]] (born 1959 in Melilla) is a Spanish politician from Melilla, leader of ''[[Coalition for Melilla]]'' and was the Mayor-President of the city 1999/2000.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1999/07/06/espana/931212009_850215.html |title=Coalición por Melilla, un partido de mayoría musulmana y moderado en sus reivindicaciones |language=es |newspaper=[[El País]] |publisher=Edicíones El País |date=July 6, 1999 |last=Ramos |first=Toñy |last2=Cué E. |first2=Carlos |access-date=August 11, 2010 |location=Melilla}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1999/07/04/espana/931039205_850215.html |title=Un musulmán gobernará la ciudad autónoma de Melilla con apoyo socialista y del GIL |language=es |newspaper=[[El País]] |publisher=Edicíones El País |date=July 4, 1999 |last=Ramos |first=Toñy |access-date=August 11, 2010 |location=Melilla}}</ref>
* [[Arly Jover]] (born 1971 in Melilla) is a Spanish actress, now lives in Paris
* [[Farid Bang]] (born 1986 in Melilla) is a German rapper of Moroccan descent.

=== Sport ===
* [[Ramón Martínez Pérez]] (1929 in Melilla – 2017) also known as ''Ramoní'', was a Spanish footballer.
* [[Enrique González (fencer)|Enrique González]] (born 1933 in Melilla) is a Spanish fencer, he competed in the individual foil event at the [[1960 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Al-Lal Mohamed Amar]] (born 1957 in Melilla) known as Álex, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a defender.
* [[Chota (footballer)|Chota]] (born 1975 in Melilla) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a striker, mostly for [[UD Melilla]]
* [[Mohamed Hamed Al-lal]] (born 1979 in Melilla) known as ''Aloisio'', is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender.
* [[Munir Mohand Mohamedi]] (born 1989 in Melilla) is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays for [[CD Numancia]] as a goalkeeper.
* [[Ezequiel Calvente]] Criado (born 1991 in Melilla) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Hungarian club [[Békéscsaba 1912 Előre]]
* [[David Sánchez (weightlifter)|David Sánchez]] (born 1994 in Melilla) is a Spanish weightlifter, competed in  the [[2016 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Yusef Abdeselam Kaddur]] (born 1985 in Melilla). Grappling world champion
-->

== Twin towns – sister cities ==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain}}
Melilla is [[town twinning|twinned]] with:
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* {{flagicon|Venezuela}} [[Caracas]] (Venezuela).<ref>{{cite web |title=Melilla y Venezuela, más cerca que nunca |url=https://www.diariosur.es/prensa/20070210/melilla/melilla-venezuela-cerca-nunca_20070210.html |website=Diario Sur |date=10 February 2007 |access-date=18 October 2020}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Philippines}} [[Cavite City]] (Philippines).{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
* {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Ceuta]] (Spain).<ref>{{cite news |title=Ceuta, Melilla profile |work=BBC News |date=14 December 2018 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14114627 |access-date=18 October 2020}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Toledo, Spain|Toledo]] (Spain).{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
* {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Málaga]] (Spain).{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
* {{flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Montevideo]] (Uruguay).<ref>{{cite web|title=Melilla se hermana con Montevideo para unir lazos y promocionar valores |url=http://www.infomelilla.com/noticias/index.php?accion=1&id=7899 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226134115/http://www.infomelilla.com/noticias/index.php?accion=1&id=7899 |archive-date=2008-12-26 |website=InfoMelilla |access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Motril]] (Spain); since January 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.diariosur.es/20080118/melilla/presidente-melilla-alcalde-motril-20080118.html|website=[[Diario Sur]]|title=El presidente de Melilla y el alcalde de Motril hermanan a las dos ciudades y firman un convenio|first=Begoña|last=Rubio Cano|date=18 January 2008}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Almería]] (Spain)<!--; since 2010-->.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.diariodealmeria.es/almeria/Almeria-hermana-Emiratos-Arabes-negocio_0_416058715.html|first=María Victoria|last=Revilla|date=19 October 2010|website=[[Diario de Almería]]|title=Almería se hermana con los Emiratos Árabes y abre nuevas vías de negocio}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Mantua]] (Italy); since September 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/mantua-hermana-e-invitada-de-honor/|website=El Faro de Melilla|title=Mantua, hermana e invitada de honor|date=17 September 2013}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Vélez-Málaga]] (Spain); since January 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.diariosur.es/v/20130110/axarquia/velez-melilla-ciudades-hermanadas-20130110.html|website=[[Diario Sur]]|date=10 January 2013|title=Vélez y Melilla, dos ciudades hermanadas}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Antequera]] (Spain); as of 2016, in process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/melilla-y-antequera-comienzan-los-tramites-de-hermanamiento-el-proximo-septiembre/|website=El Faro de Melilla|date=1 July 2016|title=Melilla y Antequera comienzan los trámites de hermanamiento el próximo septiembre}}</ref>
{{div col end}}
== See also ==
{{portal|Spain}}
* [[Fuerte de Cabrerizas Altas]]
* [[European enclaves in North Africa before 1830]]
* [[Melilla (Congress of Deputies constituency)]]

== References ==
===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
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== External links ==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* {{in lang|es}} {{Official website|http://www.melilla.es}}
* [http://www.todocodigospostales.com/52/ Postal Codes Melilla]
{{Melilla}}
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[[Category:Melilla| ]]
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