Grand Casemates Square, Gibraltar

In May 1160, Moroccans ran their galleys ashore on the sandy beach at Gibraltar. The expedition had been sent by the Almohad Ruler Abd al-Mu'min to lay the foundations of the city of his dreams, The City of Victory ( Medinat al-Fath). The beach was underwater at high tide and bare at low tide. The dream city was never finished.

In 1309 Ferdinand IV of Castile ordered a galley house built. The area around the galley house was protected by Moorish walls, and the Giralda Tower Bastian was installed by Ferdinand and strengthened in August 1492. The esplanade, immediately south of the tower enclosure known as "La Barcina," is now Grand Casemates Square.

In the 18th century, Gibraltar was a target of sieges by Spanish forces. In 1770 Chief Military Engineer Willam Green began developing bombproof casemates for artillery and barracks on the north side of the square. Grand Casemates Square is named for the gallery of former casemates now used as shops, pubs, and restaurants.

The square has been used as a military parade ground and a place for ceremonies and executions. Until the 1990s, it was also a car park. After the discovery of the old Galley House foundations, the square was pedestrianized. It is now a venue for cultural events, concerts, and celebrations.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Gibraltar. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Grand Casemates Square
Sight Location: Gibraltar, Gibraltar (See walking tours in Gibraltar)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Gibraltar Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Gibraltar, Gibraltar

Create Your Own Walk in Gibraltar

Creating your own self-guided walk in Gibraltar is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Rock of Gibraltar Walking Tour

You really can鈥檛 avoid the Rock of Gibraltar when visiting the British Overseas Territory on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. Just like the streets lined with British-style red phone booths and historical buildings, this prominent limestone rock formation, overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar from an elevation of 426 meters (1,398 feet) above sea level, creates a distinctive atmosphere... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles

Gibraltar Introduction Walking Tour

"Burn your boats," said the Berber commander Tariq bin Ziyad, addressing his troops. The year was 711 AD. Tariq had landed in Gibraltar with his small force, invading the Kingdom of the Visigoths. The men were nervous. Their numbers were few compared to the enemy. After burning their only means of escape, they went on to conquer the Iberian Peninsula.

The Rock of Gibraltar was called... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles

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