My City (A guided tour)

A “TOUR DE PELICULA”

On Thursday, March 5th, our teacher, Mrs. Cristina communicated us the following: “We are going to work next week the theme 5B of the book: SUPERLATIVE CITIES. Later, we would have to write a text about the city of San Roque, like homework”. The School (E.O.I.) had organized a guided tour in English driven by a person from Britain.

“Please, join us on a… ‘Monumental San Roque’ guided tour: Date: Tuesday, 12th March at 17:00. Meeting point: At the entrance of the Official School of Languages.

Walking tour around the Collection of Listed Historical Buildings, museums, streets, squares and the Carteia Archeological Site. Tour offered in English by Carlos Jordan, a Scotsman now working for the Borough Tourist Office in San Roque. Free of charge excursion: around two hours.

The student’s group (about 18) was at 17.00 in the Meeting point: At the entrance of the Official School of Languages. The guide, Carlos Jordan looked like to Tom Hank and there was other component of the group who looked like to Jessica Parker,….. of course! The protagonist of “Sex in New York”.  It was clear, this was going to be…….. traduced to Spanish “Un tour de película”

City of San Roque where “live the city of Gibraltar”.

The city was founded in 1706 although the Spanish were there since August, 1704.  The old quarter of town was declared a collection of listed historical buildings in 1975. The most important monuments in the city are Saint Mary the Crowned' Church, The Governors’ Palace and the Bullring. The city offers four museums: San Roque Museum (Carteia), Luis Ortega Bru Museum, Bullfighting Museum and the CB Museum, the only one of its kind in Europe. Also there is an Actor Juan Luis Galiardo’s permanent exposition inside the Theatre.

A walk through its streets, San Felipe, San Nicolás, Historiador Montero, its squares, Plaza de Armas transports you to the past. A visit to San Roque is essential if you visit “el Campo de Gibraltar” 

The first stop of the guide tour was the BULLRING.

Tom, ¡SORRY! Carlos explained us that the bullring was inaugurated in 1853 and was the oldest one in Andalusia, the second oldest in Cádiz.

“The history tells us that the architect was wrong in the construction and for this the bullring haven’t “callejón”.

The first bullfight was in August 20th, 1853. There is a bullfighting museum inside the bullring, although we didn’t see it.  Also it’s important the tradition which name is “el toro del aguardiente”. In August, at the end of the fair, some wild cows run behind the people in the bullring.

After our visit to the Bullring, we went to see the CB museum, the only permanent exhibition of CB-27 Mhz radio transceivers and amateur radio in Europe. Carlos told us that the museum had more than 3000 items although they were exposed more than 800 items permanently.

The display comprises radio transceivers, microphones, accessories and complete information in different languages.

The third stop was in the SAN ROQUE MUSEUM.  The new San Roque (Carteia) Museum houses a collection of pieces which have never displayed before and details on all the different periods of the ancient city of Carteia: Phoenician, Carthaginian, Roman and Medieval.

In our visit to it, they projected a very interesting movie in 3D.

Afternoon fell and it began to be cold; we climbed up a very long and steep street, Oh my god! there it was, in the center of the old quarter of town,

Saint Mary the Crowned 'church.  Carlos told us that the construction of the church began in 1735 over the original Chapel of Saint Roque, built in 1508, it featured neoclassical architecture and baroque. Inside the building, we saw the main altar with the images of Saint Mary the Crowned, Christ of the true Cross, Saint Roque and Saint Joseph. The temple was declared a listed historical building in May 30th, 1974.

The last stop was for visiting THE GOVERNORS’ PALACE. It dates back to the 18^th century and houses the Luis Ortega Bru Museum with temporary exhibitions. In the events hall it shows “The Exodus” a bas-relief by Luis Ortega Bru, depicting the Spanish Gibraltarians leaving the Rock in 1704.

We finished the tour climbing up to the top roof of the palace. There, we could enjoy of the best views of San Roque. We chatted, laughed, took photos and said goodbye. Until next time¡