Great Siege Tunnels

Designed by Sergeant Major Ince, it has been claimed that these tunnels are some of the most ingenuous defence systems that humans ever devised. These tunnels were built during the final siege (the Great Siege) in which the British forces endured a Spanish onslaught. They started to be dug when the Governor, General Elliot, offered a reward to anyone who could manage to get guns onto the northern face of the rock. Sergeant Major Ince suggested the digging of tunnels and was given the go-ahead to try out his idea.

The tunnels reached 25 metres after 5 weeks of hard toil. The fumes caused by the blasting of gunpowder led the men to create ventilation holes, which they immediately realised would serve as perfect mounts for guns, even before they reached the northern face. By the time the siege had ended, the tunnel was 113m long but they decided to extend the tunnels further and created to large galleries as well as finally making it up to the northern face (known as “The Notch”). In reward for his plan and execution of the idea, Major Ince was given a plot of land on Gibraltar and a valuable horse.

Cable Car

A trip to the top of the of the cable car is more than just a 673 metre climb atop of the rock, it is a leap into history and breathtaking views. In one direction you can see the Straights of Gibraltar and the vast African continent stretching south, the other the town of Gibraltar, turn again and you can see the airport and mainland Spain and finally the beaches hugging the Iberian peninsular. You can also see the spot where Nelsons body was dragged ashore after the battle of Trafalgar, many of the rock’s tunnels or parts of the original cable car mechanism. Built in 1966 and refurbished twenty years later in 1986 the Top Station also houses a restaurant and gift shop making your trip to the top as enjoyable as it can be.

100 Ton Gun

Situated on the Napier of Magdala Battery and manufactured by Sir W C Armstrong in Newcastle in 1870, the 100 Ton Gun is one of only 12 ever made, and of the few surviving, remains in the best condition. The name however is a little, but only a little, misleading, as it actually weighs in at 100.2 tons, but don’t let that put you off the visit to this spectacular gun with its 17.72 inch Rifled Muzzle loader consisting of a barrel length of 32.65f which can fire up to 8 miles. As you might expect such a gigantic and historic gun takes a while to get going – three hours to be exact, but this was perfect for the time it was built, as it took about 3 hours for any enemy ships to enter the bay after first sighting. Once it has fired it has the ability to penetrate 24.9 inches of wrought iron and fire at a rate of once every four minutes. That is if there are the 35 people needed to man the gun available. An interpretation centre is availble at the gun to give the visitor even more interesting facts about this stunning piece of weaponry.

City Under Siege

This is stunning exhibition, which explores the changing lives of civilians during British rule on Gibraltar, is housed in what are believed to be the first houses constructed under British rule back in the beginning of the 18th Century, and probably originally served as storage rooms for ammunition, hence the name Will’s Magazine, although it is unknown exactly who the Will was.

There are many interesting displays in the exhibition but maybe some of the most interesting for the visitor is the graffiti on the walls which dates back to 1726. The most common theory unto its origin is that soldiers used to draw pictures and write messages in an attempt to keep themselves awake when they had long hours on duty. At this time if a solider was caught napping on duty, the offence was death. Some of the graffiti, including a stunning galleon produced by sergeant Major Ince, the designer of the Great Siege Tunnels is especially beautiful.

Europa Point

If you walk all the way to the south of Gibraltar then you can see, perched on the southernmost tip, the Gibraltar lighthouse. This is one of the famed Trinity lighthouses, all of which are situated in the United Kingdom, and so this lighthouse has the honour of being the most southerly Trinity lighthouse. It stands at nearly 50 metres in height and, when it was opened, was a popular draw and thousands from the surrounding area came to marvel at the feat. It still functions in its important role today.

Lady Of Europe

This Catholic chapel was originally a mosque, dating back to the rock’s original inhabitants. However it was converted in 1462 after the capture of Gibraltar by the Spanish. From this period on, a small light has been lit and keeps on burning in the tower. Consequently it has been loved by sea farers for many generations. Often they lay gifts at the chapel in an act of thanks. Of interest to the visitor are the Our Lady statue in the shrine and the whipping post outside, which dates back to when it was used for military purposes under early British occupation.

Main Street

This is the place to get all your shopping out of the way. For shopoholics the choice is immense and unrivalled in the region. There is much available whether it be glassware, jewellery, leatherwear, pottery, porcelain, perfumes, spirits, silks or cashmere. It is popular for shopping because of its low tax (it does not follow the same tax laws as the UK mainland) and so many goods are available at a significantly discounted rate. So change your currency into the Gibraltar Pounds and experience the “shopping centre of the Western Mediterranean.”

Moorish Castle

Even though the rock is often argued about between the British and the Spanish, by far its longest occupation was by the Moors, were the rulers of Gibraltar for 710 years. It is one of the defining landmarks of the rock and also serves as a reminder of Gibraltar’s importance in history. There is little known about the exact origin of the castle but there is some evidence that the castle existed in its simplest form in about 742. It was in the early Fourteenth Century that the castle was built in its current form, with the largest keep and tallest tower on the whole of the Spanish Peninsular. Despite its age, large amounts of the Moorish fortifications are still standing today (albeit in dilapidated form). Consequently there is much restoration work taking place to preserve these important pieces of history.

Parsons Lodge

It rises 120 feet above the crashing waves and is the most important of a series of batteries which surround the only natural bay which Gibraltar has - Rosia Bay. It was here that the body of Lord Nelson was brought ashore after the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Parson’s lodge itself is a testament to the development of coastal artillery throughout the ages.

The Spaniards and the Moors both built walls on the rock to help with its defence and the British stuffed it with guns after taking the rock in 1704. It has since served as an important part of the defence of Gibraltar from the sea and saw further changes until it was abandoned for military use in 1956. However on occasion it is still used for training exercises.