Why does Spain own Melilla?
Melilla was the first Spanish town to rise against the Popular Front government in July 1936, thus helping precipitate the Spanish Civil War. Melilla was retained by Spain as an exclave when Morocco attained independence in 1956.
Does Spain own land in Africa?
In Morocco they call them the occupied “Sebtah and Melilah”. The rest of the world knows them as the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa.
What does Melilla mean?
Melilla. / (Spanish melija) / noun. the chief town of a Spanish enclave in Morocco, on the Mediterranean coast: founded by the Phoenicians; exports iron ore.
Why did Spain keep Ceuta?
For centuries, Ceuta and Melilla were vital port cities, offering protection for Spanish ships and acting as trading posts between Europe and Africa. In the 1930s, Spanish troops garrisoned in the two cities played a major role in future dictator Francisco Franco’s uprising against their government.
How do you get to Melilla from Spain?
Melilla ferry port in Spain is served by a number of ferry routes with crossings to Almeria, Malaga & Motril available. With a selection of up to 30 Sailings Weekly, the port of Melilla connects Spain with . Sailing durations range from 4 hours 15 minutes on the Motril service to 8 hours on the Malaga service.
Is Ceuta worth seeing?
Ceuta is the largest Spanish enclave in Morocco and is worth visiting for a few hours. If anything, the experience of going into Spain for a day is fun. I haven’t visited Spain for many years and I found it entertaining to eat the food and listen to the language for a few hours.
Is there a bridge from Morocco to Spain?
Following the Spanish government’s recognition of Morocco’s plan for Western Sahara, ties between the two countries are better than ever. Thanks to this, many experts and media have once again taken up one of the joint projects between the two nations that never became a reality: the Spain-Morocco tunnel.
Where can I find a travel guide for Melilla?
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Melilla. Territories under European sovereignty but closer to or on continents other than Europe (see inclusion criteria for further information).
What is the Melilla border fence and how does it work?
The ‘fluid’ trans-border relations between Melilla and its surroundings are however not free from conflict, as they are contingent upon the ‘tense’ trans-national relations between Morocco and Spain. The Melilla border fence aims to curb irregular immigration into the city.
How do I get from Melilla to Almeria?
In April 2013, a local enterprise set up Melilla Airlines, flying from the city to Málaga. The city is linked to Málaga, Almería and Motril by ferry. Three roads connect Melilla and Morocco but require clearance through border checkpoints.
What does Melilla mean in Arabic?
Melilla (/məˈliːjə/ mə-LEE-yə; Spanish: [meˈliʎa]; Arabic: مليلية, Maliliyyah; Tarifit: ⵎⵔⵉⵜⵛ, Mřitc) is a Spanish autonomous city located on the north coast of Africa, sharing a border with Morocco, with an area of 12.3 km2 (4.7 sq mi).