Former Moorish city gate at Gibraltar’s future King’s Bastion site.
Algeciras Gate was a city gate in Gibraltar, part of the fortifications of the British Overseas Territory. It stood on the site later occupied by King’s Bastion and was removed during construction of the bastion by the Spanish in 1575. The gate was Moorish in style and richly decorated with key motifs.
Algeciras Gate was a city gate within the fortifications of Gibraltar, in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. It stood on the site that later became King’s Bastion. According to historical accounts, the gate was removed during construction of King’s Bastion by the Spanish in 1575, marking the end of its existence as a distinct structure. The gate was noted for its Moorish style, reflecting architectural influences associated with Moorish design. It was adorned with decorative detail, including motifs of keys, which added distinctive ornamentation to the structure. These key motifs are specifically mentioned as part of its decorative scheme. The site where Algeciras Gate once stood is now associated with King’s Bastion, but the gate itself no longer survives, having been taken down in the sixteenth century during the Spanish construction work. The ownership of the related fortifications is recorded as belonging to the Government of Gibraltar. Algeciras Gate is listed among the city gates in Gibraltar and is included in discussions of the Fortifications of Gibraltar. Information about the gate and its characteristics has been preserved through historical writings, including a nineteenth-century account that describes its Moorish style and decorative key motifs.
