Ceuta is one of Europe's gateways to Africa, a place where the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the presence of two continents intertwine to give the city a unique personality, a territory where Christians, Jews, Muslims and Hindus coexist.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 60 – March 2022
Ceuta's location at the northern tip of Africa and at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, being a European territory, offers great advantages for cruise lines, from a tax regime without VAT, to a wide variety of local excursions and in Morocco.
With the capacity to receive vessels up to 300 meters in length and a draft of 8.5 meters, Muelle España is dedicated to receiving cruise ships following improvements in recent years that cleared its surface and installed new fenders and bollards, enabling the reception of larger vessels. The port is protected by two breakwaters, with an entrance 416 meters wide and a depth of 14 meters.
These facilities serve as a gateway to a diverse, historic, and welcoming city with a wide range of possibilities. Its multiculturalism, natural resources, and rich heritage make it a complete and authentic destination unlike any other. Centuries of harmonious coexistence among Christians, Muslims, Jews, and even Hindus make Ceuta an exceptional case in the world.
The city boasts an enviable climate, with warm temperatures for most of the year. In April, the minimum temperature is 14 degrees Celsius and the maximum is already 20, while in July and August, the minimum reaches 21 and the maximum 28. Thanks to this, visitors can enjoy the pleasant weather at the Mediterranean Maritime Park, a leisure complex of approximately 55,000 m² featuring three artificial saltwater lakes, filtered directly from the sea. These are suitable for swimming during the spring and summer months. A posthumous work by the Spanish artist César Manrique, the park was chosen as having one of the "Best Swimming Pools in Spain" by the newspaper El Mundo in 2019.
The monumental complex of the Royal Walls, declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1985, is a must-see.
With this climate, Ceuta is a paradise for nature and sports lovers, where you can practice scuba diving, sailing, hiking, fishing and many other activities.
The Royal Walls and the Caliphal Gate
Just beyond the gate of Muelle España, visitors encounter a must-see in Ceuta: the monumental complex of the Royal Walls, declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1985. Besides being one of the most important tourist and cultural attractions in the city, it offers one of the best views, with unforgettable sunsets and direct views of the Strait of Gibraltar and northern Morocco.
The origin of these walls dates back to the Byzantine era, when Emperor Justinian I conquered Ceuta and ordered their construction as a defense for the city. In 711, the period of Arab rule began, lasting approximately seven centuries, during which time the walls remained standing.
In 1415, the city was conquered by the Portuguese, and a century later, they modified the walls. The Portuguese expanded the fortification, making the walls more robust and transforming the dry moat left by the Moors into a navigable one. Thus, the San Felipe moat is one of the few remaining navigable moats in the world.
Further defensive fortifications would be created on the other side of the moat after the siege of Mulay Ismail for 33 years between 1694 and 1727, making Ceuta an impregnable territory.
Within the Royal Walls lies one of the city's most important archaeological treasures: the Caliphal Gate. This site offers visitors an exceptional historical conglomeration spanning from prehistoric times to the present day within a mere 20 linear meters. This remarkable discovery was the main gateway to the Islamic medina, protected by the walls commissioned by the Umayyad Caliph of Cordoba, Abd al-Rahman III, in the 10th century.
Following the Portuguese conquest of Ceuta in 1415, and due to advances in artillery, the medieval walls became obsolete. The Royal Wall was then built directly in front of the Caliphal Wall, effectively blocking the Caliphal Gate by filling in the space between the two walls with earth from the excavation of the moat directly in front (which was being made navigable). This explains the excellent state of preservation of the Caliphal Gate.
A Monumental and Mythological City:
As you explore the city, visitors will discover many corners of Ceuta where mythological elements transport them to other eras. They will be amazed by dreamlike constructions that are a fundamental part of local history and have become must-see attractions. For example, the two immense bronze Hercules statues, the work of Ceuta artist Ginés Serrán Pagán, stand 7 meters tall and weigh 4 tons each. They are currently the largest bronze sculptures of classical mythology in the world. In Greek mythology, it was Hercules who opened the Strait of Gibraltar, separating the northern pillar, Calpe, identified as the Rock of Gibraltar, from the southern pillar, Abila, identified as Mount Hacho in Ceuta.
Not far from Muelle España, visitors will also find the sculpture of Calypso, installed at the end of 2017. According to mythology, Calypso was the daughter of Atlas and lived on the present-day Ceuta peninsula, and she saved Ulysses' life when he was shipwrecked by a storm on the coasts of Ceuta.
There are dozens of sculptures throughout the city, such as the Monument to Coexistence, the Monument to Holy Week in Ceuta, the sculptures of Gandhi, Henry the Navigator and the busts of Homer and Strabo among many others.
Ceuta boasts an immense architectural heritage, featuring numerous buildings of great cultural value, known to the local population and admired by tourists visiting the territory.
The House of Dragons, a three-story historicist building constructed in the late 19th century as the headquarters of the African Casino, is a great example of contemporary architecture, famous for the large mythological sculptures that adorn its roof.
The Trujillo Building, whose construction began in 1925, is inspired by the neo-Baroque buildings of historicist style that were fashionable on the great Spanish avenues, while the Assembly Palace, inaugurated by Alfonso XIII in 1927, is a great example of classicist style, inside which the imperial staircase, the French-style Throne Room, the Spanish Renaissance-style Session Hall and the Empire-style rotunda stand out.
The House of Pulpits, built in 1934 in a functionalist style, but with neoclassical and baroque elements, is popularly known by that name because of the semi-circular shape of the balconies.
Ceuta has an enviable climate, with warm temperatures for most of the year.
But Ceuta also boasts important religious buildings, such as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and the Church of Our Lady of Africa, known as the Sanctuary of Africa, inside which we can admire the statue of the city's patron saint. There is also the Mosque of Muley el-Mehdi and the Mosque of Sidi Embarek, which preserves an old shrine, possibly from the 18th century, that some link to the Serrallo Palace. Jewish culture is represented by the Bet El Synagogue, while Hindu culture has its temple in the "modern Neo-Vedic" style, which follows the canons of the Hindu sacred architecture manual.
The Ceuta Museum, the Late Roman Basilica, the Arab baths, and the Legion Museum are other great examples of how the city offers a different way of discovering the past and present of the territory.
And amidst all this leisure, Ceuta offers a gastronomy that surprises visitors' palates. A cuisine with strong Mediterranean and Arabic influences, resulting in recipes and dishes that can't be found elsewhere, with restaurants serving traditional fare, bars for tapas, and avant-garde dishes to suit all tastes. One of the most deeply rooted culinary traditions is the salting and drying of flying fish and bonito. Every summer, the popular "volaeras"—small huts for salting flying fish and bonito—are set up on the Chorrillo esplanade. These fish are dried in the sun by the sea, following ancient maritime traditions, creating a colorful and traditional landscape.
Viewpoints:
Climbing along winding roads and steep paths through pine and cork oak forests, you reach the small hermitage of San Antonio on Mount Hacho, considered one of the two Pillars of Hercules. From this vantage point, you can enjoy a spectacular, almost 360º panoramic view of the entire Ceuta peninsula.
The Isabel II viewpoint, in the western hills, offers a panoramic view of the entire city, with Mount Hacho in the background and the Moroccan coast to the south. During the ascent to the Isabel II viewpoint, the ruined and abandoned neo-medieval fortifications, built after the Rif War to defend the area, gradually appear, partially hidden among the woods. Don't be alarmed if the silence from this vantage point is broken by gunfire, as it is very close to the firing range where the legionnaires of the 4th Battalion train.
Excursions,
Ceuta Tourist Services, and the Port Authority offer cruise ships every convenience to organize a unique trip: coaches, transportation discounts, and personalized guided tours for groups, as well as a wide range of activities so passengers can make the most of their stay and receive the best service. Ceuta is a destination that captivates all who visit, a place for all types of tourists to enjoy, with all amenities just a short walk away.
In the
panoramic city of Ceuta: a bus tour that visits the Isabel II viewpoint, the Plaza de África, where the three powers converge: civil, religious and military, that is, the City Hall, the Cathedral and the General Command of Ceuta, ending at the San Antonio viewpoint, which is on Mount Facho, one of the Pillars of Hercules.
Thanks to its tax regime, it is an ideal scale for shopping at very competitive prices.
City tour: excursion through the city center and its pedestrian areas, passing through the main street, the Mediterranean park, the casino and the beautiful Sanctuary of Africa temple, before ending at the San Antonio viewpoint.
The four cultures: on this excursion cruise passengers will be able to learn about the religious and cultural heritage of Ceuta, visiting the Christian cathedral, the Hindu temple, the Jewish synagogue and one of the Muslim mosques.
Historic Ceuta: a walking tour that visits the Royal Walls, the moat, the Caliphal gate, the Plaza de África, the Sanctuary of Africa, as well as the Phoenician remains and the Roman basilica, tracing history from prehistory to Muslim domination and the present day.
Active excursions
The most adventurous visitors can get to know Ceuta through excursions in kayaking, stand up paddle, diving, snorkeling, horse riding routes, sailing to see whales and dolphins, fishing and even visiting the tuna traps.
in
Morocco can be arranged.
Tetouan, just 41 kilometers to the south, is perhaps the most appealing destination in terms of its historical monuments; it was declared a World Heritage Site for its medina, the most complete in Morocco and one of the most authentic, with almost no external influences. Nearby, the Spanish Quarter (Ensanche Español) is an area with important examples of Spanish colonial architecture.
Tangier is 77 kilometers to the west, with a historic center dating back to the Phoenicians, divided into two distinct areas. On one side is the medina with its kasbah, and on the other, the new city. The kasbah is the old walled fortification with defensive functions, containing a neighborhood of narrow alleyways where palatial buildings are hidden, some of which have been converted into charming riads. The new city surprises visitors with its tall buildings, glass facades, newly built mosques, and even a high-speed rail connection to Casablanca.
From the viewpoints we can see the strait separating Europe from Africa, and the Mediterranean from the Atlantic.
Chefchaouen, 105 kilometers away, is known as the Blue City for the striking color of the houses in its medina. For centuries, Chefchaouen was considered a sacred city, where foreigners were forbidden entry. For this reason, its medieval character has been preserved with few alterations. Located near the Rif Mountains, it boasts many attractions, including the kasbah (or citadel), the 15th-century mosque, the hammam, the caravanserai, and the public washhouses, as well as the distinctive carpet shops of Chefchaouen.
Ceuta is only 69 miles from Málaga, 239 miles from Cartagena, and 298 miles from Alicante. To the west, it is only 84 miles from Cádiz, or 313 miles from Lisbon. A Ceuta-Cádiz-Lisbon route, or vice versa, would be ideal .
Regarding the Canary Islands, it is 720 miles from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, or 703 miles from Las Palmas, which requires two days of sailing, but with an intermediate stop in Casablanca, for example, it would form a very attractive route.
In 2022, between 3 and 5 stopovers are expected depending on how the pandemic evolves and the health restrictions for tourists in a market in this current, very changing environment.
In 2023, MSC Cruises has scheduled 10 calls by the MSC Lirica in Ceuta. Calls by the P&O Arcadia and the Seadream I are also planned.
