Europa Point facts for kids
Europa Point is the very southern tip of Gibraltar. It's a flat area at the end of the Rock of Gibraltar. Here you can find a playing field and several important buildings.
On a clear day, you can see North Africa across the Strait of Gibraltar. This includes cities like Ceuta and the Rif Mountains in Morocco. You can also see the Bay of Gibraltar and the Spanish towns along its shores. You can reach Europa Point from the old town by following Europa Road.
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What You Can See at Europa Point
Europa Point is home to five important buildings. These are Harding's Battery, the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, the Catholic Shrine of Our Lady of Europe, the Europa Point Lighthouse, and the Nun's Well.
It's also where Gibraltar's only special cricket field is located. The Gibraltar national cricket team plays here. Since 2013, the Sikorski Memorial has also been at Europa Point.
Europa Point is connected to the eastern side of the Rock. This includes places like Sandy Bay and Catalan Bay. They are linked by the Dudley Ward Tunnel. This tunnel reopened in 2010 after being closed for eight years because of a rockfall.
In 2011, the Government of Gibraltar spent over £4 million to make Europa Point even better. The Chief Minister of Gibraltar at the time, Peter Caruana, officially opened the improved area. In 2013, a large old cannon, called an RML 12.5 inch 38 ton gun, was placed at Harding's Battery. A memorial to General Wladislaw Sikorski was also moved here.
Famous Buildings and Places
Europa Point has a rich history with many interesting structures.
Harding's Battery
Europa Point has always been important for defense. Both Spanish and Moorish forces built forts here. The British also added many defenses, including walls and batteries. These batteries were places where cannons were set up.
Today, Harding's Battery is a main feature. It was built in the 1800s. This battery shows how huge the cannons were back then. They could fire very heavy cannonballs across the Strait of Gibraltar. The Europa Sunken Magazine, which stored the ammunition, is now a visitor center.
Europa Point Lighthouse
The Europa Point Lighthouse helps guide ships safely. It was built by Governor Sir Alexander Woodford between 1838 and 1841. The lighthouse became fully automated in 1994. Its light can be seen from about 27 kilometers (17 miles) away.
It is the most southern lighthouse managed by Trinity House. This is a special organization that looks after lighthouses. It is also the only lighthouse they manage outside the UK.
People in Gibraltar often call it "la farola" when speaking in Llanito. This is a local language. Amateur radio operators in Gibraltar also transmit from the area near the lighthouse.
Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque
The Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque is a beautiful building at Europa Point. A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims. This mosque is also known as the King Fahd bin Abdulaziz al-Saud Mosque.
It was a gift from King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. It took two years to build and cost about £5 million. The mosque officially opened on August 8, 1997. The complex also has a school, a library, and a lecture hall. It is the only mosque in Gibraltar built especially for the Muslim community, which has over 1,000 members.
Shrine of Our Lady of Europe
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On August 20, 1462, Spanish forces recaptured Gibraltar from the Moors. They found a small mosque at Europa Point. They turned it into a Christian shrine. They named it in honor of Our Lady as the Patroness of Europe. They wanted to dedicate the whole continent to God through Mary, from this special place of prayer.
They built a large chapel next to the mosque's east wall. The whole area became the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe. A small wooden statue of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus was placed in the shrine. The statue was about 0.6 meters (2 feet) tall. It was painted in royal red, blue, and gold. The Virgin sat in a simple chair with Jesus on her lap. Both wore crowns. The Virgin held a sceptre with three flowers, meaning Love, Truth, and Justice.
The shrine became very famous and popular for over two centuries. Ships sailing through the Strait would salute Our Lady as they passed Europa Point. Sailors often came ashore with gifts for the shrine. They even made sure there was always oil to keep a light burning in front of the statue and in the tower.
In 1979, Pope John Paul II officially approved the title of Our Lady of Europe as the Patroness of Gibraltar. After this, the shrine was repaired and made beautiful again.
Nun's Well
Nun's Well is an old underground water storage area. It is located across from the end of the Keightley Way Tunnel. In the 1800s, this water was used to make beer. In 1988, the buildings around Nun's Well were repaired. This was done so that visitors to Gibraltar could enjoy it.
Gallery
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View of Europa Point and the Rock of Gibraltar from the Strait of Gibraltar. A Levante Cloud is overhead.
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View of the Rif mountains in Morocco across the Strait of Gibraltar from Europa Point.
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Europa Point looking towards the Mediterranean Sea.
See also
In Spanish: Punta Europa para niños
