Ceuta, a city full of oddities (II)

Last August we shared with you some of the oddities of the North-African city where Salama —the main port agency in Ceuta— has its headquarters in an article entitled Ceuta, a city full of oddities (I), whose sequel we publish this first month of 2018.

Instead of talking about the number of inhabitants of Ceuta, the main geopolitical peculiarities of the city or its well-known proximity to the reign of Morocco, in this sequel about the oddities of Ceuta we want to go into detail about the remotest past of the city and about those details that make it a unique destination in the world. Ceuta is a place where to let oneself be embraced by the breeze of Gibraltar Strait and where to enjoy unique views.

A name with several variations

Ceuta has attracted thousands of civilisations, peoples and cultures throughout the centuries that have left their mark on the city’s features, history and even on its name. And at this point we should ask ourselves: what is the origin of the name of our city?

Although people tend to think that the name of Ceuta has its origins in the city’s brief Muslim past, the fact is that its origins date back to Roman times. After conquering the city and proving that it had been built on seven hills, the Romans decided to call the city “Septem Frates” (“seven brothers”).

Over the years, the name was shortened to “Septem” and later modified by the Muslims, who adapted the name to their language as “Sebta” (“seven” in Muslim). The final result would be what we know today: a city with centuries of history called Ceuta

One city, four cultures

When tourists visit Ceuta for the very first time they are impressed by the variety of cultures that have given shape to the destination —and this is something that travellers on the cruise ships managed by our bunkering company in Ceuta can confirm.

Despite the fact that migratory movements and geopolitical conflicts have made the city’s origins more diverse and uncertain, Ceuta is home to 4 distinct cultures: the Christians, the Hebrews, the Hindus and the Muslims. Four differentiated cultures that manage to live in total harmony.

“Here the coexistence of cultures is not an abstract theory, but a daily reality. In Ceuta the different cultures live together in collaboration, in friendship, in solidarity and there is no violence. Here you find an example to be followed by Spain, Europe and the whole world”, declared the writer Mario Vargas Llosa some years ago after receiving the XIV Ceuta Coexistence Award.

An Atlantic and a Mediterranean beach

Can you imagine being able to choose between enjoying a summer day in an Atlantic beach or in a warm and turquoise-watered beach of the Mediterranean? This fairy tale like situation is another of the uniqueness of Ceuta.

The city of Ceuta —due to its location— can boast of having authentic Atlantic beaches like Benitez or Calamocarro: pebble beaches of cold waters whose seabed has nothing to do with the Mediterranean shores of the city. On the other hand, the warm beaches of Ceuta are those located in the centre: Chorrillo and Ribera, two Mediterranean beaches of fine sand and turquoise waters.

A gastronomy with Andalusian and Moroccan touches

Due to its geographical location, Ceuta receives both Andalusian and Moroccan influences, particularly visible in the gastronomy, of a high quality. Therefore, visitors will be able to try a stew with potatoes and spiced meat or a cous cous with an Andalusian stew flavour.