Gibralfaro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gibralfaro |
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Mount Gibralfaro with the Castle on top
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 130 m (430 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Gibralfaro
Location in Spain
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| Parent range | Montes de Málaga |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Limestone |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | From Málaga |
Mount Gibralfaro (called Monte Gibralfaro in Spanish) is a famous hill in Málaga, a city in southeast Spain. It's about 130 meters (426 feet) high. This hill is part of the Montes de Málaga mountain range.
At the very top of Gibralfaro, you'll find the amazing Castle of Gibralfaro. This castle looks out over the city of Málaga and the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. It's even connected by a special walled path to another historic building called the Alcazaba of Málaga.
Contents
A Look at Gibralfaro's History
Gibralfaro has been an important place for defenses for a very long time. People started building forts here around 770 BC, when the Phoenicians first founded the city of Málaga.
Building the Castle
Later, in 929 CE, a ruler named Caliph Abd al-Rahman III made the defenses even stronger. Then, in the early 1300s, Yusuf I, who was a king of Granada, made the castle even bigger. He added a double wall that connected it to the Alcazaba.
The name "Gibralfaro" comes from two words. "Jbel" is an Arabic word meaning "rock" or "mount." "Faro" is a Greek word for "light," like a lighthouse. So, Gibralfaro means "Rock of Light"!
The Famous Siege of Gibralfaro
The castle is well-known for a long battle that happened in 1487. This was during the siege by the Catholic Monarchs, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Their armies surrounded the castle for three months. Eventually, the people inside ran out of food and had to surrender.
What You Can See Today
Today, you can still see the strong walls of the castle rising above the pine trees. Inside the castle, there's a small museum called the Centro de Interpretación de Gibralfaro. It used to be where gunpowder was stored. Now, it shows the castle's history since the time it was taken over by the Catholic Monarchs. The castle was used as a military base until 1925.
Nature and Surroundings
In 2005, many pine and eucalyptus trees were planted on the hill, making it a green space. Around the hill, you can find historic buildings like a seminary and the Alcazaba. There are also beautiful gardens called the Jardines de Puerta Oscura (Dark Gate Gardens) and a special hotel called a Parador.
There are plans to protect the mount and its surroundings from new buildings. The goal is to make it a great place for everyone to enjoy. There's also a project to build a cable car that would connect the city center directly to Gibralfaro Castle!
How Gibralfaro Was Formed
Gibralfaro is part of the southern foothills of the Montes de Málaga. This mountain range is part of the larger Cordillera Penibética. The hill itself is made of limestone rock from a geological area called the Maláguide complex.
See also
In Spanish: Gibralfaro para niños
