Plaza de España (Melilla)

Plaza de España
Plaza de España
TypePark and Sculpture garden
LocationMelilla, Spain
Coordinates35°17′32″N 02°56′16″W / 35.29222°N 2.93778°W / 35.29222; -2.93778
Area1,16 ha
Opened1914
Managed byDepartment of Environment and Nature of the Autonomous City of Melilla
WaterYes
VegetationYes
DesignationJardín histórico and Bien de Interés Cultural
ParkingYes
TypeNon-movable
CriteriaJardín histórico and Bien de Interés Cultural
Designated11 August 2007

The Plaza de España is a square located in the center of the autonomous city of Melilla, Spain. It is part of the urban expansion developed in the early 20th century and constitutes one of the most significant public spaces in the city from an administrative, architectural, and social standpoint.

Designed as part of a modernization and urban expansion project, the square connects the old town of Melilla (Melilla la Vieja) with the new neighborhoods that emerged during the city's growth period. Its design follows urban planning principles of the time, integrating institutional buildings and green areas.[1]

The square is home to various heritage buildings, many of them linked to the modernist style, and it is also a regular venue for civic, cultural, and recreational events. In its central area, there is Hernandez Park, one of the main green spaces in Melilla.[1]

History

The Plaza de España in Melilla was conceived during the city's urban expansion in the early 20th century, during the consolidation of the Modernist Expansion. Until then, the main urban core was concentrated in Melilla la Vieja, the fortified city. Population growth and administrative needs prompted the development of new public spaces and civil buildings outside the walled city.[2]

The origin of the square dates back to the Proyecto de Urbanización de la Puerta de Santa Bárbara (Urbanization Project of the Santa Bárbara Gate), developed in 1910 by architect José de la Gándara. This plan envisioned creating a large open space that would serve as a junction between the main streets of the new urban layout. Its location was strategically chosen as a point of convergence between the port, the administrative center, and emerging residential areas.[3][4]

In January 1911, King Alfonso XIII authorized the demolition of the "Campo exterior" walls, which allowed for the opening of new avenues and the definitive configuration of the square. On January 18, 1913, the construction project was officially approved by the Junta de Arbitrios, chaired by General José Villalba Riquelme, who also supervised the development of the works. The construction began on April 22, 1913, and was completed on January 23, 1914, when it was officially inaugurated.[5][6]

Since its creation, the square has hosted some of Melilla's most significant buildings, such as the current Palace of the Assembly (seat of the autonomous government), the Military Casino, the Edificio Metropol, and the former Bank of Spain building. Many of these buildings were designed by municipal architect Enrique Nieto, a key figure in Melilla's modernism.[7][8]

Throughout the 20th century, the square has undergone several renovations and landscaping improvements. In 2007, the gardens of the square, along with the adjacent Hernandez Park, were declared Bien de Interés Cultural in the category of Historic Garden, in recognition of their historical, botanical, and urbanistic value.[9]

Currently, Plaza de España continues to play a central role in the urban life of Melilla, both as a representative space of institutional power and as a venue for public gatherings and celebrations.[10]

Buildings and Monuments

Plaza de España in Melilla is surrounded by a group of architectural structures of great historical and artistic value, representative of the modernist and eclectic styles that characterize the city's urban expansion. Several of these buildings were designed by prominent architects such as Enrique Nieto, and they house key institutions of public administration, culture, and heritage.

Palace of the Assembly

The Palace of the Assembly is the seat of Melilla's regional government. It was designed by Enrique Nieto and completed in 1948. Built in an eclectic style with neobaroque and modernist influences, it is characterized by its large central tower, symmetrical façade, and ornamental stone details. The building houses administrative offices, the plenary hall, and institutional offices. It is one of the city's most iconic buildings.[11]

Military Casino

Located in the northern part of the square, the Military Casino is a Second Empire-style building constructed between 1923 and 1925. Its façade has a symmetrical composition with decorative elements such as columns, pediments, and balconies. The interior hosts social and cultural events related to the military community. It was restored after being damaged by the 2016 earthquake.[12]

Former Bank of Spain Building

Built between 1935 and 1944, the Bank of Spain Building is notable for its functionalist design and polygonal layout, adapted to the curve of the square. The main façade, clad in marble, reflects a sober and monumental style. Today, the building houses the Clínica Militar Doctor Pagés after the bank's closure.[12]

Metropol Building

Located at the northwest corner of the square, the Metropol Building was built between 1910 and 1911. This eclectic-style building housed the Cafetería Metropol, a popular gathering place for Melilla's society for decades. It was renovated in 1986 after being severely damaged by a gas explosion in 1979.[12]

House of Antonio Iraola de Goicochea

The House of Antonio Iraola de Goicochea is an important building constructed in 1911 by architect Antonio Baena, featuring a regionalist architectural style with modernist elements in its early stages. The building was renovated between 1952 and 1953, losing part of its original ornamentation. It housed the offices of Post and Telegraph for several decades and later became occupied by Banco Santander on the ground floor. Currently, it is part of the Historic-Artistic Ensemble of Melilla, declared Bien de Interés Cultural, contributing to the architectural heritage of Plaza de España.[12]

Monument to the Heroes of the Campaigns

In the center of the park that occupies the gardened area of the square stands the Monumento a los Héroes y Mártires de las Campañas, a commemorative sculpture dedicated to the soldiers who fell during the military campaigns in North Africa. The monument was erected in the early 20th century and consists of a stone base and a bronze sculptural group.[12][13][14]

Hernández Park

Although not a building, Hernández Park is a central feature of Plaza de España. Inaugurated in 1902 and renovated several times, it occupies the gardened area of the square with pathways, benches, fountains, sculptures, and a varied botanical collection. It is one of the most important green spaces in the city and a regular meeting point.[15][16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Álbum gráfico de la Plaza de España Una imagen centenaria del urbanismo melillense 1914-2014. Gráficas Fernando. 2015. ISBN 978-84-15891-18-5.
  2. ^ Antonio Bravo Nieto (1996). "VI". La construcción de una ciudad europea en el contexto norteafricano. Arquitectos e ingenieros en la Melilla Contemporánea (PDF) (in Spanish). Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla Consejería de Cultura, Educación, Juventud y Deporte Universidad de Málaga-SEYER. ISBN 84-87291-68-6.
  3. ^ Francisco Carmona y Pachón; Diez Sánchez, Díez (1997). HISTORIA GRÁFICO DE MELILLA (in Spanish). Copartgraf. ISBN 84-87291-93-7.
  4. ^ Salvador Gallego Aranda. "PROYECTO DE URBANIZACIÓN DE LA PLAZA DE ESPAÑA:MELILLA 1913" (PDF). Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  5. ^ Antonio Bravo Nieto; Marcelo Bendahán (2008). Guía del Modernismo en Melilla (in Spanish and English). MAESTRO BOOKS. ISBN 978-90-809396-4-6.
  6. ^ Antonio Bravo Nieto (1997). La ciudad de Melilla y sus autores, Diccionario biográfico de arquitectos e ingenieros (finales del siglo XIX y primera mitad del XX). Málaga: SEYER. pp. 174–175. ISBN 84-87291-81-3. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  7. ^ Mª del Carmen Lechado Granados; Julia Melero Pascual; Gustavo Cabanillas Gutiérrez; Karima Amar Salat; Ana Atencia Andreu; Dunia Mimón Bouzbib (2015). MELILLA GUÍA TURÍSTICA. Galland Books. ISBN 978-84-16200-16-0.
  8. ^ Rosario Camacho Martínez (2005). A. Bravo Nieto and Pilar Fernández Uriel (dir.) (ed.). Imagen de Melilla en la arquitectura contemporánea. Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla, Consejería de Cultura y Festejos. ISBN 84-95110-25-3.
  9. ^ Antonio Bravo Nieto (2002). Guía de Melilla. León: EDITORIAL EVERGRAFICAS S.L. p. 69. ISBN 84-241-9300-8.
  10. ^ https://melilladesconocida.blogspot.com/2017/07/plaza-de-espana.html
  11. ^ "Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla - Palacio de la Asamblea". www.melilla.es. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Royal Decree 2751/1986, December 5, declaring a historical ensemble, Bien de Interés Cultural, a section of Melilla's city zone" (PDF). Official State Bulletin (15): 1289–1390. 17 January 1987. ISSN 0212-033X.
  13. ^ Melilla (2020-03-20). "Conociendo nuestro patrimonio Monumento a los héroes y mártires de las campañas". Melilla Monumental (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  14. ^ Francisco Saro Gandarillos (1994). Estudios Melillenses.
  15. ^ Melilla (2020-05-13). "Conociendo nuestro patrimonio Parque Hernández (I)". Melilla Monumental (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  16. ^ Juan Antonio González García; Enrique Mirón Carmen (2010). Paseos botánicos por la ciudad de Melilla (PDF).
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