From primitive cave dwelling to Moorish castle and contemporary casino, architectural styles on the Rock have come a long way over the centuries. There is little doubt that the oldest home in Gibraltar was made of stone: an ancient cave where a 60,000-year old skeleton, thought to have belonged to the lady of the cavern, was discovered in 1848. The find occurred 8 years before the skull of a pre historic male was found in Germany. Had it not been for delays in publicizing the initial finding, our ancestor might not be known as Neanderthal man but as Gibraltar woman.
The castle, a symbol of over 700 years of Moorish occupation, dates from a later period, about 711. At one time, the towers, gates, walls of the all dominating castle stretched from the upper rock to the old town and down to the sea. Today, the most impressive remains are the tower of Homage and the Gate House. The strategically placed tower marks the castle’s highest point. It was rebuild in the 14th century and ranks as the tallest tower on the Iberian Peninsula. Floodlit at night, it is a dramatic sight for cruisers as their ships sails out of port.
Skip ahead to the 1500’s and to a Franciscan friar now known simply as the Convent. This handsome brick structure has been the official residence of the governors of Gibraltar (currently representatives of Queen Elizabeth) since 1728. For those who believe in ghosts, the legend of a Spanish nun brought here for execution adds an intriguing twist. You may prefer seeing the ceremonial changing of the guard, complete with band music, which takes place at the main entrance on Monday morning. You’ll find the Convent near the south end of the Main Street.
A wander down the narrow lanes leading into the main street fosters a keen sense of bygone days. The intriguing mix of decorative architectural details offers clues to Gibraltar’s diverse heritage. Look for the Portuguese tiles, Genoese shutters and English ironwork balconies. Two churches of note are the deceptively Moorish looking Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and the Scottish St. Andrew’s Church, both constructed in the early to mid-1800s.
The Joshua Hassan House, though historic, is best known as a setting for celebrity weddings. John Lennon and Yoko Ono were married in the building’s Registry Office in 1969. Sean Connery also tied the knot here – twice.
Jutting from the southern of the European continent and separating the Mediterranean Sea form the Atlantic Ocean, it was one of ancient world’s two Pillars of Hercules – the other being on the North African coast. No wonder the rock has been coveted for centuries. Gibraltar is the last remaining colony on mainland Europe and has been allied with Great Britain since the early 18th century. While the Rock has come to symbolize a solid, imperturbable presence, its history is filled with considerable turmoil, beginning with a Moorish invasion led by Tariq ibn Zayed., who landed here with 7,000 men in A.D. 711. The Rock gets its name from the Moorish conqueror’s first name; it was first known as Gebal Tariq (« Tariq’s Mountain »). The name was corrupted over the centuries and eventually became Gibraltar.
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