John Mackintosh Square
View of John Mackintosh Square in 2005, with the Gibraltar Parliament at the East side of the square
|
|
| Former name(s) | Plaza Mayor, Alameda, The (Grand) Parade, Commercial Square, Plazuela del Martillo/El Martillo, the Piazza |
|---|---|
| Owner | Government of Gibraltar |
| Location | Gibraltar |
| Coordinates | 36°08′27″N 5°21′15″W / 36.140826°N 5.354122°W |
Coordinates: 36°8′27.015″N 5°21′15.01″W / 36.14083750°N 5.3541694°W
John Mackintosh Square (colloquially The Piazza) is a main square in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. It has been the centre of city life since the 14th century and takes its name from John Mackintosh, a local philanthropist. Notable buildings on John Mackintosh Square include the Parliament Building and the City Hall.
Originally known during the Spanish period as Plaza Mayor (English: Main Square) (according to Alonso Hernández del Portillo in his work titled Historia de la Muy Noble y Más Leal Ciudad de Gibraltar −English: History of the Very Noble and Most Loyal City of Gibraltar) or Gran Plaza (English: Great Square) and afterwards as the (Spanish for an avenue lined with poplars, not to be confused with the Alameda Gardens), it opened out from the west of the (now Main Street). Two buildings separated it from the Line Wall (Gibraltar's main sea wall during the Spanish period, which run from Landport to the foot of the South Mole): a large rectangular building to the west of the Square, and a smaller lower building to the south of it, the hospital and chapel of La Santa Misericordia (English: The Holy Mercy).
...
Wikipedia