Melilla, Spain

A surprising Spanish port on the North African coast, Melilla’s origins date back to the era of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. The historic center, Melilla la Vieja, is set inside a walled fortress on the Alboran Sea where museums and churches, like the Capilla de Santiago, the only authentic gothic structure on the continent, are ripe for exploration. Hidden beyond the fortress walls, Ensenada de los Galápagos is an enchanting crescent beach sheltered by a dramatic limestone cove. With Gaudí protégé Enrique Nieto behind Melilla’s early 20th century architecture, the city is home to the largest concentration of Modernist buildings after Barcelona. You’ll discover a fascinating melting pot of North African Berber and Spanish Andalusian cultures here thanks to Melilla’s unique position on Morocco’s border.