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Autonomous City
Ciudad de Melilla is one of two Spanish autonomous cities located on the northern coast of Morocco, facing the Mediterranean Sea, alongside Ceuta. A Spanish enclave since 1497, it is one of the oldest European settlements on African soil. Today it is a multicultural city of around 85,000 inhabitants, where Spanish, Berber, Arabic, and Hebrew communities have coexisted for centuries. Its coat of arms embodies its layered identity as a fortress city, an ancient trade port, and the westernmost point of Spain on the African continent.
| Official name | Ciudad de Melilla |
|---|---|
| Status | Autonomous City of Spain |
| Statute of Autonomy | 13 March 1995 (Organic Law 2/1995) |
| Location | Northern coast of Morocco, Mediterranean |
| Under Spanish sovereignty since | 1497 |
| EU membership | Yes (but outside Schengen customs area) |
Azure, a fortified tower Argent masoned Sable, set upon waves of the sea Azure and Argent, between two columns Or; on a chief Or, a royal crown Gules between two stars of six points Gules. The whole ensigned with a royal crown Or.
The central element of the coat of arms is a fortified tower representing the old citadel of Melilla — the Melilla la Vieja — the original walled enclosure that served as the nucleus of the Spanish settlement from 1497. The tower is shown rising from waves, evoking the city's position on the sea coast. Flanking the tower are two columns, traditionally identified with the Pillars of Hercules, recalling Melilla's position at the entrance to the Mediterranean and its role as a gateway between Europe and Africa since antiquity. The chief bears a royal crown, affirming the city's direct link to the Spanish crown, flanked by two six-pointed stars. The overall composition communicates Melilla's identity as a fortified enclave of the Spanish crown on African soil.
Melilla was captured by a Castilian expedition led by Pedro de Estopiñán, under the orders of Juan Alonso de Guzmán, Duke of Medina Sidonia, on 2 September 1497. It was one of the first North African strongholds seized as part of the Spanish push to control the Maghrebi coastline. Melilla remained a presidio (fortified garrison) for centuries, and its coat of arms reflects this military and maritime character. In 1995, Melilla received its Statute of Autonomy (Organic Law 2/1995), becoming an autonomous city with its own assembly and president.
Melilla uses the Spanish national flag as its primary official flag. It also flies its own city flag, which displays the coat of arms on a white field.
The city flag is used in civic and municipal contexts and reinforces the visual identity of the enclave. Because Melilla is a Spanish territory on the African continent, the display of the Spanish flag carries particular symbolic weight, asserting sovereignty in a geopolitically sensitive location directly bordering Morocco.
Both the Spanish national flag and the city flag of Melilla are flown at public buildings throughout the enclave, as required by law for all Spanish autonomous territories.
Ciudad de Melilla is one of two Spanish autonomous cities located on the northern coast of Morocco, along with Ceuta. It has been under Spanish sovereignty since 1497 and became an autonomous city in 1995 under Organic Law 2/1995.
The coat of arms features a fortified tower rising from waves, flanked by two columns (the Pillars of Hercules), with a royal crown and stars in chief. It reflects Melilla's identity as an ancient fortress city and Spain's gateway on the Moroccan coast.
Spain took control of Melilla on 2 September 1497, when a Castilian expedition led by Pedro de Estopiñán, under the orders of the Duke of Medina Sidonia, captured the city. It has remained under Spanish sovereignty ever since.
Melilla is an autonomous city (ciudad autónoma) of Spain, not an autonomous community. It has its own statute of autonomy, a local assembly and a president. It is part of the European Union but outside the Schengen Area customs territory.
Melilla uses the Spanish national flag as its official flag. It also has its own city flag displaying the coat of arms on a white field, used in municipal and civic contexts.
Last reviewed by the Emblema Mundi editorial team on June 29, 2026.