Local overview
Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain on the North African coast. Bordered by Morocco, it lies between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta is one of the special territories of members of the European Economic Area: it is part of the Schengen area, but with specific provisions such as border checks between Ceuta and European Spain.
Phoenicians founded a settlement on the La Almina Peninsula, which had continuity under Roman and Byzantine rule (Septem Fratres). It was annexed to the early caliphates upon the Islamic conquest of the Maghreb, only to be destroyed during the Berber Revolt. It was rebuilt in the ninth century by Majkasa Ghomaras. For much of the Middle Ages, regional powers north and south of the Strait of Gibraltar vied for control over Ceuta, which was a key contested port in the so-called Battle of the Strait. In 1415, Marinid Ceuta was conquered and annexed by the Kingdom of Portugal. In 1580, it was annexed by the Hispanic Monarchy, and the city chose to remain under Spanish authority after 1640. Ceuta belonged to the Spanish province of Cádiz as a regular municipality until the passage of its Statute of Autonomy in March 1995, when it became an autonomous city.
Along with the Canary Islands, Ceuta was classified as a free port before Spain joined the European Union. Spanish is the official language of Ceuta, while Darija Arabic (in the Ceuta Arabic dialect) is also widely spoken.
