By Dee McMath
Prehistoric remains show the signs of life long
ago and proof of the later settlements of Romans, Visigoths, Arabs
and Castilians. But the main creation and subsequent growth of San
Roque came about after the 4th August 1704, when Spain lost Gibraltar
to the British. By 1706, the Spanish, most of whom rejected the
occupying British offer to continue living under the foreign jurisdiction,
had taken up residence in the Ermita (Hermitage) de San Roque, around
which the construction of the town of San
Roque began. To this day San Roque still has the same Coat of
Arms which was originally conceded by los Reyes Católicos
(Catholic King and Queen) to Gibraltar. Felipe V always referred
to San Roque as "The City of Gibraltar", with the epithet
"Most Honourable and Most Royal". During the 20th Century
the municipality became an important industrial area and from the
1950's onward it began to develop as a tourist destination, especially
in the area of the estuary of the Guadalete River. Since that time
the municipality of San Roque has gradually grown, while the Village
has retained much of its original identity and charm.
Historical places of Interest
The Chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Visitación
dates back to the 18th Century and it is where you can see, amongst
many images, the depiction of the penitent being brought back from
Gibraltar. The adjoining building housed the Hospital for the poor,
founded in 1776 and run by the same religious order of the Chapel.
The sisters had a hard time doing their charitable work looking
after the poor and infirm, especially during the French occupation.
By 1909 the building was in ruins, but thanks to local support led
by Manuel Aranda Ureba, it was rebuilt. In 1913 the Sisters of Charity
were replaced by the Franciscans of Buen Consejo, who left San Roque
in 2001.
The Ermita de San Roque (San Roque Hermitage)
was built in 1801 in the neoclassic style and it houses the image
of San Roque. Each year in the third week of May, the village celebrates
the Romería in San Roque. The image is carried proudly out
of the temple and leads the way in a procession that wends its way
toward the Pinar del Rey (King's Pine Grove), ultimately coming
back again to its normal place of rest in the Ermita once again.
The whole village take part in this, very pretty traditional event.
The Santa Maria La Coronada Parish Church has been declared
a monument of historic and artistic worth. From the central nave
there are two aisles, separated by Tuscan columns, supporting the
arches. Construction began in 1735 on the foundations of the ancient
site of the 'Ermita de San Roque', where most of the Spanish had
come after the conflict in Gibraltar. The building takes its name
from the main church in Medina Sedonia because the Duke of Medina
Sodonia had been given royal rights over Gibraltar, prior to it
being taken by the British and so he took San Roque very much to
his heart. Records of births, deaths and marriages, are kept in
the church, having been salvaged by Father Juan Romero in 1704 when
Gibraltar was taken by the British. You can also see the sepulchre
of the poet and Colonel, Jose Cadalso, who died on 28 February,
1782, in one of the military attempts to regain Spanish ownership
of Gibraltar.
Near the church, in the Plaza de la Iglesia, is
the 18th Century building of the Palacio de los Gobernadores.
This was the military headquarters for the Gibraltar area during
turbulent times. After the Peace of Versailles in 1783, San Roque
enjoyed a period of relative calm, so in 1808 General Castaños
transferred the headquarters to Algeciras. The building was officially
recognized as being a monument of historic and artistic worth on
2 March 1972. It now houses three museums; The Monographic Museum
of Carteia, Pictures of Castilla Zurita and Cruz Herrera and the
Luis Ortega Brú Museum.
Find all this at C/ Rubín Celis, 1, 11360
San Roque. Tel: +(0034) 956 781587
Fax: +(0034) 956 782634
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 - 14:00 and 18:00 to 20:00
Saturday: 11:00 to 14:00 and 18:00 to 20:00 Sunday: 11:00 - 14:00
Monday Closed.
A visit to the The Luis Ortega Brú Museum
comes highly recommended while you are in San Roque. For a fuller
enjoyment of the visit, it is worth knowing something of his life
and work to help you to understand something of his inner struggle.
The work of San Roque sculptor Luis Ortega has been described as
being both 'tender and vital'. In the 160 works on display you can
appreciate the many different styles used, from baroque to new abstract
and expressionist trends. His sensitivity and originality convey
the true forces behind every day life. Born in San Roque on 10 September
1916, his family tradition was pottery. He went to the local San
Roque Academy of Drawing and later went on to the School of Applied
Art in the neighbouring town of La Línea. This was the only
artistic training he was to receive. At 19 the Spanish Civil War
broke out. His parents were shot and he endured life in prisons
and concentrations camps. These events of pain and suffering did
not deter him from carrying on with his art. After all his suffering
and hardships, still the strength and tenderness came through in
his art. Ortega died in Seville on 21 November 1982.
The Casa Consistorial (Town Hall) in the Plaza de Armas was
built in 1841. This fine construction houses the original document
of 1502 whereby the Reyes Católicos conferred the Gibraltar
Coat of Arms to San Roque, which to this day remains as such. Furthermore,
this is where the official banner, of San Roque is also kept, famously
embroidered by the hand of the daughter of the Reyes Católicos.
Tel : +(0034) 956 780106
The Ancient heritage of San Roque can be enjoyed
in the form of a visit to archaeological sites. At the Site
of Barbésula, you can see Roman remains, including a temple.
Then there is the important archaeological site of Carteia.
(Bda. Guadarranque, 11360 San Roque). It is open to the public Tuesday
and Friday 10:00 to 15:00 and Saturday and Sunday 10:30 to 14:00
(Closed Monday). Entrance is free.
Tel: + (00 34) 956698511.
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