Grand Casemates Square, Gibraltar

In May 1160, Moroccans ran their galleys ashore on the sandy beach at Gibraltar. The expedition had been sent by the Almohad Ruler Abd al-Mu'min to lay the foundations of the city of his dreams, The City of Victory ( Medinat al-Fath). The beach was underwater at high tide and bare at low tide. The dream city was never finished.

In 1309 Ferdinand IV of Castile ordered a galley house built. The area around the galley house was protected by Moorish walls, and the Giralda Tower Bastian was installed by Ferdinand and strengthened in August 1492. The esplanade, immediately south of the tower enclosure known as "La Barcina," is now Grand Casemates Square.

In the 18th century, Gibraltar was a target of sieges by Spanish forces. In 1770 Chief Military Engineer Willam Green began developing bombproof casemates for artillery and barracks on the north side of the square. Grand Casemates Square is named for the gallery of former casemates now used as shops, pubs, and restaurants.

The square has been used as a military parade ground and a place for ceremonies and executions. Until the 1990s, it was also a car park. After the discovery of the old Galley House foundations, the square was pedestrianized. It is now a venue for cultural events, concerts, and celebrations.