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| Melilla, Spain, on the African continent. |
Ceuta and Melilla are the only two European cities on the African continent. Both of them are autonomous Spanish cities, meaning they have the same political status as Spain's autonomous communities. They were granted such status on 14 March 1995, before that Ceuta was part of the Province of Cádiz, whereas Melilla politically adhered to the Province of Málaga.
Both cities daily draw flocks of migrants who endeavor to enter the European Union through these port cities on the African continent.
Both cities are roughly similar in size with populations of between 85,000 and 90,000 people.
Ceuta has belonged to Spain since 1 January 1668, when it was formally ceded to Spain by Portugal as part of the Treaty of Lisbon, in which Spain recognized the House of Braganza as Portugal's rightful monarchy. Melilla has officially been part of Spain since 1556, although it was conquered from Muslim rulers in 1497. Some of the attractions in Ceuta include a trip to the Enclosing Roman Walls, the Murallas Reales de Ceuta. A visit to the leisure complex Parque Marítimo del Mediterráneo is another worthwhile pastime, not to mention the scenic beach, Playa de la Ribera.
