Moorish Castle is a medieval fortification of various buildings, gates, and fortified walls, where the dominant feature is the Tower of Homage and the Gate House, located in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, which is sandwiched between Spain and the Mediterranean Sea.
Dating back to the 11th century, this impressive structure is one of the important features of Gibraltar today. The Tower of Homeage is an impressive sight, clearly visible to all visitors, not only because of its striking construction but also because of its dominant and strategic position.
For over six centuries, people approaching Gibraltar from the mainland have been impressed with the sight of this great square tower right up on the hillside. The walls of the old castle enclosed a considerable area, reaching almost to the sea, where even today the Moorish Pier is still visible.
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As Gibraltar played an important role throughout the years in whoever has occupied the Rock, the most striking imprint which was left was from the Moorish, whose occupation was the longest, and also the starting point from where the Umayyad conquest of parts of Western Europe had begun.
The construction of the Moorish Castle began sometime around the 8th century, with the date of completion still unclear. It has been destroyed and rebuilt throughout the years, but today it is one of the most important landmarks of Gibraltar, which is visited by many tourists, from where they have a clear view of the surrounding area.
The Moorish Castle is also featured on Gibraltar’s five-pound banknote, which is different than the mainland British pound, and this further proves how the Moorish Castle is one of the greatest attractions that can be seen, and should definitely not be missed, whenever visiting Gibraltar.
