Melilla la Vieja, Military fortress in Melilla, Spain.
Melilla la Vieja is a fortified complex that rises above the Mediterranean Sea with four distinct levels of defensive structures connected by stairs and passages. The structures display different architectural styles and include areas with museums, caves, and other historical spaces.
Spanish builders constructed this strategic stronghold in the 16th and 17th centuries under orders from the Catholic Monarchs of Spain. The complex was a key control point on the North African coast and underwent several rebuilds to strengthen its defenses.
The fortress walls house several museums displaying objects from Amazigh, Sephardic, and Gitano cultures that shaped this region. These collections reflect the diverse people who settled here across the centuries.
Entry is through Puerta de la Marina, from where visitors can explore multiple levels of fortifications with signs in Spanish, French, and English. The site contains stairs, passages, and interconnected spaces that require some physical movement to navigate properly.
The Conventico Caves within the fortress walls extend down to a secluded beach and historically served as storage spaces and emergency refuges during sieges. These underground passages remain today and offer an unusual look at how defenders managed survival and supplies.
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