Melilla: Modernist Architecture of New Town

Who could have thought that Melilla is second in the world only to Barcelona in the amount of Modernist and Art Nouveau Architecture. There are over a hundred buildings designed by the famous Spanish architect Enrique Nieto in the beginning of the 20th century. The buildings are scattered around the city, but the city is small and compact – it’s easy to find most of them. Melilla has a strange feel. The streets and buildings look like Barcelona, but most women wear head scarves and men hang around drinking tea, and Spanish cafes are mixed with kabobs. It ain’t Africa, but it isn’t Europe either. There is also quite heavy police and military presence.