South Bastion, Upper Rock Nature Reserve Travel Guide

South Bastion, or Baluarte de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, is a significant historical landmark in Gibraltar, embodying centuries of military and architectural evolution. Constructed initially around 1540 by Spanish military engineers, it formed a crucial part of Gibraltar's defenses, protecting the western base of the Charles V Wall. The British later improved the bastion after capturing Gibraltar in 1704.Strategically positioned at the south end of the Line Wall Curtain, the bastion defended the town from attacks from the Bay of Gibraltar. A connecting curtain wall ran east to the base of a precipice, featuring the Southport Gates guarded by South Bastion and the Flat Bastion. The bastion's design included casemated gun positions that enfiladed the ditch across the Gate of Africa, now the Southport Gate.Over the centuries, South Bastion underwent several transformations. Neglected initially by the British, it was strengthened in 1757 by Lord Tyrawley. In 1870, it was reconstructed to accommodate 10-inch RML guns within iron-shielded casemates. Today, the bastion houses the Gibraltar College and features a statue of Horatio Nelson, commemorating his victory and death at the Battle of Trafalgar. Visitors can explore the historic corridors, stroll along the ramparts, and enjoy panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and the African coast.