The broad and empty Pl Hassan II, which is mostly roped off for security reasons, links the medina to the Ensanche. It looks like it houses the Wizard of Oz, with guards standing in front of the long flat facade of the royal palace , and four somewhat bizarre columns towering all around. These are not minarets, as one might suppose, but art nouveau light towers designed by Enrique Nieto, a student of Gaudí who lived in Melilla. The large decorations on the opposite wall are abstract Hands of Fatima, a common symbol used to ward off the evil eye. There are a few cafes which are good for a rest, particularly on the 2nd floor, which allows a grander view.
