Melilla, Spanish Morocco, Spain

Melilla is one of Spain’s two enclaves on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco, a remnant of the colonial past. As a pocket of Europe on the African continent, its border is rather heavily watched. But the town exists as a resort community and serves visitors well. Overlooking the harbor is Melilla La Vieja, a 15th century fortress converted to a holiday destination. Among its restored fortifications, the site hosts a number of museums, churches, memorials and a multi-storey complex of manmade caves that lead down to the beach. The town also holds the second largest trove of architecture in the modernist style, after only Barcelona, many by the prominent architect Enrique Nieto. It is a fascinating city much praised for its tradition of multiculturalism.