Exspaining Spain: Regions
Ceuta (Ceuta)
Ceuta is an autonomous city located in northern Africa.
Architecture
The region’s traditional architecture has Andalusian and Moroccan influences.
Climate
The predominant climate type is Mediterranean, characterized by hot summers and mild winters. Winter and fall are the rainiest seasons. The average annual temperature is 18.8 °C (65.8 °F).
Economy
The port is the center of all economic activity, as it is used for oil, fishing, and exports.
Other economic cornerstones are its industrial and retail centers.
Famous People
Alicia Sanz - actress
Anuar Tuhami - soccer player
Eva Isanta - actress
José Martínez Sánchez - soccer player
José Miguel Giner - poet
Lorena Miranda - waterpolo player
Miguel Bernardo Bianquetti - soccer player
Mohamed Lahchiri - journalist and writer
Pedro Avilés - novelist
Gastronomy
The diet of Ceuta consists of fish, seafood, vegetables, and meat. Typical dishes include corazones de pollo (chicken hearts), pinchos morunos (a kebab adaptation), tayín (a stew of meat and vegetables), harira (a soup made with meat, tomatoes, and legumes), and pastela (a type of puff pastry stuffed with onions, pigeon or chicken meat, parsley, and almonds).
Tayín
Pastela
History
1st millennium BCE: Phoenicians and Carthaginians
1st century BCE: Roman conquest
1st century CE: Vandals
7th century: Visigoths
8th century: Imazighen
1415: Portuguese conquest
1668: transfer to Spain
1694–1727: siege by Moroccan forces
1925: Ceuta became independent of Andalusia.
Languages
Spanish is the only official language, but 40% of the population speaks Darija Arabic, and a minority speaks Haketia. Darija Arabic, also known as Moroccan Arabic, is part of the Maghrebi Arabic dialect continuum. It has been heavily influenced by Amazigh languages. Haketia is a Jewish Romance language spoken by North African Sephardi Jews. The variety of Spanish spoken in Ceuta is Andalusian.
Landmarks
There are no UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ceuta. Notable landmarks include Mount Hacho, the Royal Walls, the House of Dragons, and the Shrine of Our Lady of Africa.
Royal Walls
House of Dragons
