San Roque, Spain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Roque
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View of San Roque at dusk showing The Rock in the background
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| Motto(s):
"Muy Noble y Muy Leal ciudad de San Roque, donde reside la de Gibraltar"
(Very Noble and Very Loyal city of San Roque, where Gibraltar lives on) |
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 San Roque
Location in Spain
San Roque
Location in Andalusia
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| Country | Spain | ||
| Autonomous community | Andalusia | ||
| Province | Cádiz | ||
| Founded | 21 May 1706 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 146.88 km2 (56.71 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 108 m (354 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 30,472 | ||
| • Density | 207.462/km2 (537.324/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Sanroqueño/a | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postal code |
11360, 11310, 11311, 11312, 11313, 11314, 11368, 11369
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| Dialing code | (+34) 956 78 XX XX | ||
| Official language(s) | Spanish | ||
San Roque is a town in Spain. It is located in the province of Cádiz, which is part of the Andalusia region. San Roque is in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula. It sits a little inland from the Bay of Gibraltar, just north of the Gibraltar peninsula. The town covers about 145 square kilometers and had around 25,500 people in 2005.
San Roque was founded by people who left Gibraltar in 1704. This happened after Anglo-Dutch forces took control of Gibraltar. These refugees created a new home, which became San Roque.
Besides the main town, the area of San Roque also includes smaller communities. These include Puente Mayorga, Guadarranque, Sotogrande, Campamento, and Guadiaro.
Contents
What Does San Roque Mean?
The name San Roque is Spanish for Saint Roch. He is a Christian saint. There was a special shrine for Saint Roch in this area since 1508, even before the town was officially founded.
Where is San Roque Located?
San Roque is in the area called Campo de Gibraltar. This is the southeastern part of the Cadiz province. To the northwest, it shares borders with the towns of Jimena de la Frontera, Castellar de la Frontera, and Los Barrios. To the south, it borders La Línea de la Concepción, which is next to Gibraltar.
A Brief History of San Roque
Early Settlements in the Area
People have lived in the San Roque area for a very long time. The oldest known settlement here is the ancient town of Carteia. It was started by the Phoenicians, who were great traders. Later, it became a Carthaginian town around 228 BCE. Carteia was famous for trading local wine and a fish sauce called garum.
Rome took control of Carteia in 206 BCE. Years later, in 171 BCE, children of Roman soldiers who were born in Iberia asked the Roman Senate for a place to live. They were given Carteia, which was then called Colonia Libertinorum Carteia.
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After the Roman Empire fell, different groups lived in the area. The Vandals were there briefly, then the Visigoths around the 6th century. The Byzantine Empire also controlled Carteia for some years.
In 711, the area became important for the Umayyad conquest of Spain. This invasion was led by Tariq ibn Ziyad. Later, in the 14th century, Alfonso XI of Castile took control after defeating a Muslim army. Over the next few centuries, the people in the area gradually became more Spanish and Christian.
In 1649, a serious illness affected Gibraltar. Many people from Gibraltar moved to the San Roque area to escape it. This helped them survive the outbreak.
How San Roque Was Founded
The modern town of San Roque was created by Spanish people who left Gibraltar. This happened after Anglo-Dutch forces took over Gibraltar in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession.
The new settlement officially became a town in 1706. King Philip V of Spain called it "My city of Gibraltar resident in its Campo." He also called it "My well beloved" because the people stayed loyal to him during the war. Gibraltar's City Council, its flag, and its important records were all moved to San Roque. The official motto of San Roque is: "Very Noble and Very Loyal city of San Roque, where Gibraltar lives on."
Places to See in San Roque
The New Saint Roch's Chapel (in Spanish: Ermita de San Roque) was built in 1801. It has a beautiful neoclassical style. Inside, you can find a statue of Saint Roch. Every year in April, there is a special parade to honor the saint. People carry his statue on a float from the chapel to the nearby Pinar del Rey pinewoods and back.
During the Spanish War of Independence, the original statue of Saint Roch was destroyed. A new one was given to the church in 1833 by a captain named Juan Rojas. He promised to make the statue if he and his family recovered from a serious illness. They did, and he kept his promise.
The main church in San Roque is Santa María La Coronada Church. It is dedicated to Saint Mary the Crowned. This church was made a special protected building in 1974. The main part of the church was built in the 18th century. It shows Spanish-Tuscan architecture and Baroque art. Building started in 1735 on the spot where the old Chapel of Saint Roch once stood.
The Governor's Palace (Spanish: Palacio de los Gobernadores) is also in the same square. It has an art gallery called "Luis Ortega Bru". The oldest bar in town, Bar Torres, is right next to the main square.
What San Roque is Known For
San Roque's economy mainly relies on tourism and manufacturing.
The CEPSA Gibraltar-San Roque Refinery was built in 1967. It is located in the Guadarranque Industrial Estate. This refinery is the largest in the Iberian Peninsula. It can process about 240,000 barrels of crude oil every day.
The local San Roque Club is a big draw for tourists. Sotogrande is another exclusive beach and golf resort in the area. It attracts many visitors.
The beaches of Campamento and Puente Mayorga are close to San Roque. They face the Bay of Gibraltar. While they were very popular in the 1960s, nearby industrial activity has made them less popular today.
Fun Events in San Roque
The Feria Real de San Roque (Royal Fair of San Roque) is the town's main yearly Street fair. It takes place on the second Tuesday of August. The fair starts with a ceremony where a young queen and child queen are crowned with their courts. The fun rides and attractions at the Fairground El Ejido open on Wednesday, the day of the first parade.
The Royal Fair ends on a Sunday night with a fireworks show. It officially closes at 7 AM on Monday with the Running of the Bulls. This event is known locally as Toro del Aguardiente. It has happened every year since 1649. People who are scared are given a shot of a strong drink called ‘Aguardiente’ for courage. Then, they run with the bulls to the San Roque bullring. This marks the end of the fair.
Famous People From San Roque
- Carlos Pacheco (a comic book artist)
Sister Cities
San Roque has sister cities in other countries:
Tako, Chiba, Japan.- Pylaia, Thessaloniki, Greece
See also
In Spanish: San Roque (Cádiz) para niños
