Historic pedestrian shopping street through Gibraltar’s old town, mixing architectural styles.
Main Street is the main arterial street and principal commercial district of Gibraltar, a British overseas territory. Running roughly one kilometre north–south through the pedestrianised old town, it is lined with shops and buildings blending Genoese, Portuguese, Andalusian, Moorish and British Regency styles. Irish Town forms one of its sub-districts.
Main Street, originally known by the Spanish name Calle Real, is the main arterial street and principal commercial and shopping district of Gibraltar, a British overseas territory. The route was already established in the 14th century. In 1575, during the Spanish period, the Puerta de África (now the Southport Gates) confirmed its course. Almost every building on the street was damaged during the Great Siege of Gibraltar from 1779 to 1783, when French and Spanish forces bombarded the town from ships in the nearby harbour. The street runs approximately one kilometre north–south through Gibraltar’s pedestrianised old town. It is lined with buildings displaying a blend of Genoese, Portuguese, Andalusian, Moorish and British Regency architectural styles, most with shops on the ground floor and residential or office space above. Tourists and visitors encounter a wide variety of shops, many familiar from British high streets. Irish Town, a street and sub-district of Main Street, was named in the early 19th century when Gibraltar was divided into quarters. Gibraltar’s city centre, including Main Street, is largely protected by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust and forms part of an ongoing building restoration programme. At the northern end lies Grand Casemates Square, now a hub of nightlife with numerous restaurants, pubs and bars.
