Europa Point

Last updated
Europa Point as seen from the Strait of Gibraltar. Gibraltar-Europa-Point-LH-from-the-sea.jpg
Europa Point as seen from the Strait of Gibraltar.
Europa Point Sign Europa Point Sign.jpg
Europa Point Sign

Europa Point (Spanish and Llanito: Punta de Europa or Punta Europa) is the southernmost point of Gibraltar. Although not the southernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula, Europa Point defines the boundary between the Straits of Gibraltar in the Atlantic Ocean, and the Alboran Sea within the Mediterranean. At the end of the Rock of Gibraltar, the area is flat and occupied by such features as a playing field and a few buildings. On a clear day, views of North Africa can be seen across the Strait of Gibraltar including Ceuta and the Rif Mountains of Morocco; as well as the Bay of Gibraltar and the Spanish towns along its shores. It is reached from the old town by Europa Road.

Contents

Overview

There are five notable buildings, Harding's Battery, the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, the Roman Catholic Shrine of Our Lady of Europe, the Europa Point Lighthouse and the Nun's Well. Europa Point is also the location of Gibraltar's only dedicated cricket oval [1] where the Gibraltar national cricket team play and since 2013 Europa Point has been the location of the Sikorski Memorial.

Europa Point is linked with the Eastern side of the Rock, including Sandy Bay and Catalan Bay, via Dudley Ward Tunnel. The tunnel re-opened in 2010 after eight years closure following a fatal rockfall.

The Government of Gibraltar spent £4.4 million on refurbishing Europa Point in 2011 and it was opened by the then Chief Minister of Gibraltar Peter Caruana. [2] In 2013 an original RML 12.5 inch 38 ton gun was mounted on a custom made replica carriage at Harding's Battery and the memorial to General Wladislaw Sikorski was relocated here from Sir Herbert Miles Road.

Notable buildings

Harding's Battery

Europa Sunken Magazine today Harding's Battery 2, Gibraltar.jpg
Europa Sunken Magazine today

Europa has been the site of Spanish and Moorish fortifications as well as those constructed by the British which added to the cliffs which were part of Gibraltar's natural defences. Additions included walls, the scarping of the rocks to remove foot and handholds and a large number of batteries supported by a local barracks. [3] Today, Harding's Battery is central to the land at the end of the point. Built in the 19th century, this battery shows the scale of guns that could fire 800 pound projectiles over a foot in diameter over to the other side of the Straits of Gibraltar. The Europa Sunken Magazine that contained this ammunition is now a visitor centre.

Lighthouse

Europa Point Lighthouse Europa Point Lighthouse and cottages.jpg
Europa Point Lighthouse

The Europa Point Lighthouse was built by Governor Sir Alexander Woodford between 1838 and 1841. It was fully automated in February 1994 and its loom can be seen over a distance of 27 km (17 mi). It is the southernmost lighthouse for which Trinity House is responsible, [4] and the only one outside the British Isles.

Gibraltarians refer to it as "la farola" when conversing in Llanito. The Gibraltar Amateur Radio operators transmit from the area of the lighthouse. [5]

View of the Southern Face of the Mosque. DIMG 6359 (1874021030).jpg
View of the Southern Face of the Mosque.

Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque

The mosque, also known as the King Fahd bin Abdulaziz al-Saud Mosque or the Mosque of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, was a gift from King Fahd of Saudi Arabia and took two years to build at a cost of around £5 million. It was officially inaugurated on 8 August 1997. The mosque complex also contains a school, library, and lecture hall. It is the only purpose-built mosque in Gibraltar to serve the Muslims in the territory who number over 1,000. [6]

Shrine of Our Lady of Europe

The Shrine of Our Lady of Europe. Shrine of Our Lady of Europe in Gibraltar (3).jpg
The Shrine of Our Lady of Europe.

On 20 August 1462, on St. Bernard of Clairvaux's feastday, the Spaniards under Don Rodrigo Ponce de León, recaptured Gibraltar from the Moors. They found a little mosque at Europa Point and converted it into a Christian shrine in honour of Our Lady as Patroness of Europe, with devout intention of consecrating to God, through Mary, the whole continent, from a place of prayer and worship at its southernmost point.

They built a large chapel at right angles to the mosque's east wall and the whole area became the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe. A statue of the Virgin and Child was installed in this shrine. The statue was quite small, only .6 m (2.0 ft) in height, carved in wood and polychromed in royal red, blue and gold. The Virgin was seated in a simple chair, with the Child Jesus on her lap. Both were crowned and the Virgin held in her right hand a sceptre with three flowers denoting Love, Truth and Justice. The shrine prospered in fame and popularity, for well over two centuries. Ships passing through the Strait saluted Our Lady as they passed Europa Point and mariners often came ashore with gifts to the shrine. Provisions were made by them for a constant supply of oil so that a light could be kept burning not only in front of the image but also in the tower.

In 1979 Pope John Paul II officially approved the title of Our Lady of Europe as Patroness of Gibraltar, and subsequently, the shrine was restored.

Nun's Well

Nun's Well, Europa Point, Gibraltar Nun's Well, Europa Point, Gibraltar.jpg
Nun's Well, Europa Point, Gibraltar

Nun's Well is an old underground water store opposite the end of the Keightley Way Tunnel. The water was used in the nineteenth century to make beer. In 1988 the buildings were repaired in order that it could be used by visitors to Gibraltar. [7]

See also

Literature

Related Research Articles

Europa may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Province of Cádiz</span> Province of Spain

Cádiz is a province of southern Spain, in the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is the southernmost part of mainland Spain, as well as the southernmost part of continental Europe.

Tarifa is a Spanish municipality in the province of Cádiz, Andalusia. Located at the southernmost end of the Iberian Peninsula, it is primarily known as one of the world's most popular destinations for windsports. Tarifa lies on the Costa de la Luz and across the Strait of Gibraltar facing Morocco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque</span> Mosque in Gibraltar

The Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, also known as the King Fahd bin Abdulaziz al-Saud Mosque or the Mosque of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is an Islamic mosque located at Europa Point in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, a peninsula connected to southern Spain. The mosque faces south towards the Strait of Gibraltar and Morocco, several kilometres away.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bay of Gibraltar</span> Bay at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, shared by Spain and Gibraltar

The Bay of Gibraltar is a bay at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula. It is around 10 km (6.2 mi) long by 8 km (5.0 mi) wide, covering an area of some 75 km2 (29 sq mi), with a depth of up to 400 m (1,300 ft) in the centre of the bay. It opens to the south into the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrine of Our Lady of Europe</span>

The Shrine of Our Lady of Europe is a Roman Catholic parish church and national shrine of Gibraltar located at Europa Point. The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Europe, the Catholic patroness of Gibraltar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Our Lady of Europe</span> The Virgin Mary, as patron of Gibraltar

Our Lady of Europe is a title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary as patroness of Gibraltar and protectress of Europe. The entire European continent was consecrated under the protection of Our Lady of Europe in the early 14th century from the Shrine in Gibraltar where devotion continues to this day, over 700 years on.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Baptist Scandella</span>

John Baptist Scandella STD was a Gibraltarian Roman Catholic priest of Genoese descent. He was Vicar Apostolic of the Diocese of Gibraltar between 1857 and 1880. He spoke fluent English and his native Spanish. Scandella is mainly remembered in Gibraltar for seeing the return of the statue of Our Lady of Europe to Gibraltar from Algeciras in Spain and for his efforts to improve education in the territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Europa Point Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse on the southeastern tip of Gibraltar

The Europa Point Lighthouse, also referred to as the Trinity Lighthouse at Europa Point and the Victoria Tower or La Farola in Llanito, is a lighthouse at Europa Point, on the southeastern tip of the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula, at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea.

The Gibraltar-Vatican Joint Issue is a postage stamp that was released by Vatican City and the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar in 2009. It commemorated the septcentenary of the devotion to Our Lady of Europe. The image on the stamp was a photograph of the statue of the Virgin and Child found in the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe at Europa Point in Gibraltar. The stamp was the first joint issue between Gibraltar and the Vatican.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nun's Well, Gibraltar</span>

Nun's Well is an ancient underground water reservoir in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. It is located at Europa Point, and is thought to be of the Moorish period. It represents some of the earliest evidence of an artificial water supply in Gibraltar. The name of the cistern is thought to be derived from the nuns associated with the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe. In the eighteenth century, Nun's Well supplied the military with water. In the early nineteenth century, it provided water for the brewery that was built next door. In 1988, the Royal Engineers constructed what is now the main building, which has a castle-like appearance. Nun's Well became the focus of controversy during the 2010-2011 restoration of the site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Streets in Gibraltar</span>

Streets in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar are represented by road signs as in the United Kingdom. As of 2007, Gibraltar has a network of 29 kilometres (18 mi) of roads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Levant Battery</span>

Levant Battery is an artillery battery in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. It is located on Windmill Hill, at the southern end of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, below observation post Fire Control South. It was named after the Levanter cloud, below which it perched, giving it an unobstructed view. Construction started in 1901 and, by 1903, a 9.2-inch Mark X breech-loading gun had been mounted. The battery was decommissioned in the 1970s and the gun was later removed, to rest in a scrap yard. A community group has been formed to garner support for the gun's recovery and restoration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Bernard's Church, Gibraltar</span> Church in Europa Road, Gibraltar

St. Bernard's Church is one of eight Roman Catholic churches in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Europa Batteries</span>

The Europa Batteries are a group of artillery batteries in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Facing the North African coast, they are the most southerly batteries in Gibraltar and were built to cover ships approaching from the Mediterranean Sea. They run along the fortified clifftops of Europa Point from Camp Bay on the west side of the Rock of Gibraltar to the Europa Advance Batteries on the east side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Europa Advance Batteries</span> Group of 3 British artillery batteries in Gibraltar

Europa Advance Batteries were a group of three artillery batteries in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. They are located north east from Europa Point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harding's Battery</span> Artillery battery in Gibraltar

Harding's Battery is a restored artillery battery in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. It is located at Europa Point and includes the Europa Sunken Magazine that is now used as a visitor centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorski Memorial</span> Monument in Gibraltar

The Sikorski Memorial in Gibraltar commemorates the 1943 Gibraltar B-24 crash of 4 July 1943 which caused the death of General Władysław Sikorski, the commander-in-chief of the Polish Army and Prime Minister of the Polish government in exile. Fifteen other people also died in the crash, with only the pilot Eduard Prchal surviving. The present version of the memorial, unveiled on 4 July 2013, is the third, replacing two earlier memorials erected in 1945 and 2003 near the scene of the crash. It was designed and constructed by a Polish company, using sandstone from Poland brought across Europe to Gibraltar where it now comprises much of the 5 metres (16 ft) wide memorial.

The University of Gibraltar is a degree-awarding higher education institution established by the Government of Gibraltar through the University of Gibraltar Act 2015. The founding of the university was described by Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo as "a coming-of-age" for the British Overseas Territory.

References

  1. Gibraltar Oval Archived 2013-08-10 at the Wayback Machine , Cricket Europe, accessed December 2012
  2. Oliva, F (21 October 2011). "CARUANA OPENS £4.4m Refurbishment of Europa Point Leisure zone". Gibraltar Chronicle. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  3. Ehlen, Judy; Harmon, Russell S. (2001). The environmental legacy of military operations. Geological Society of America. p. 110. ISBN   978-0-8137-4114-7 . Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  4. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Gibraltar". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  5. Gibraltar Amateur Radio Archived 2006-06-13 at the Wayback Machine , accessed December 2012
  6. The World Factbook
  7. "Nun's Well « Things To See « Gibraltar". Gibraltar.costasur.com. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  8. Ferrer-Gallardo, Xavier (2013). "Europe without an Endpoint. Period". Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie. 104 (2): 243–249. doi:10.1111/tesg.12013. hdl: 2066/112057 .

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Europa Point at Wikimedia Commons

36°06′35″N5°20′47″W / 36.109609°N 5.34626°W / 36.109609; -5.34626