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Europa Point
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Europa Point is the southernmost point of Gibraltar. At the end of the Rock of Gibraltar, the area is flat and occupied by such features as a playing field and a few buildings. On a clear day there is a good view of the Strait of Gibraltar; Africa, including the Rif Mountains of Morocco; and the Bay of Gibraltar and the Spanish towns on its edge.
The are three notable buildings, The new Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, the Roman Catholic shrine of Our Lady of Europe, and a Lighthouse.
The Lighthouse was built by Governor Sir Alexander Woodford between 1838 and 1841. It was fully automated in February 1994 and its loom can be seen over a distance of 27 km. It is the southernmost lighthouse for which Trinity House is responsible, and the only one outside the UK.
Every year the Gibraltar Amateur Radio operators transmit from the area of the lighthouse.
On 20th August 1462, on St. Bernard of Clairvaux's feastday, the Spaniards under Don Rodrigo Ponce de Leon recaptured Gibraltar from the Moors. They found a little mosque at Europa Point and converted into a Christian shrine in honour of Our Lady as Patroness of Europe, with devout intention of consecrating to God, through Mary, the whole continent, from a place of prayer and worship at its southernmost point.
They built a large chapel at right angles to the mosque's east wall and the whole area became the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe. A statue of the Virgin and Child was installed in this shrine. The statue was quite small, only two feet in height, carved in wood and polychromed in royal red, blue and gold. The Virgin was seated in a simple chair, with the Child Jesus on her lap. Both were crowned and the Virgin held in her right hand a sceptre with three flowers denoting Love, Truth and Justice. The shrine prospered in fame and popularity, for well over two centuries. Ships passing through the Strait saluted Our Lady as they passed Europa Point and mariners often came ashore with gifts to the shrine. Provisions were made by them for a constant supply of oil so that a light could be kept burning not only in front of the image but also in the tower.
In 1979 Pope John Paul II officially approved the title of Our Lady of Europe as Patroness of Gibraltar, and subsequently, the shrine was restored.
Europa Point was formerly linked with the Eastern side of the Rock, including Sandy Bay and Catalan Bay, by the Dudley Ward Tunnel, which was closed for safety reasons in 2002, after a fatal rock fall.