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Main Street
Unlike other places worldwide where one has to literally remember so many
streets so one will not get lost, in Gibraltar land, there is only one
primary street that one can always run to if ever one finds the Gibraltar
visit getting to be somewhat confusing or perhaps unexciting. Here, one
can walk around practically unnoticed, as large crowds of people can always
be found here, either shopping around for that all-important dress, or
enjoying some idle time.
The street, of course, is none other than Main Street, which just happens
to be one street that literally gives a correct meaning to the word ‘main’
. This is because no other lane or street, at least in Gibraltar, can
claim to having the kind of popularity that Main Street has, or even the
extent of influence that it has over Gibraltarians and more so, over the
many tourists who frequently visit the town.
Of course, there are several other streets that one can come across when
visiting Gibraltar, including some located along Main Street itself.
However, It is most probably only in Main Street where one can find much
activity, represented by the many shops operating within the area and the
many people, both local residents and foreign visitors, who flock to the
place to see the latest that the shops have to offer. To top it all, Main
Street appears to be comparatively clean in spite of the reality that so
many activities take place within the place on a daily basis.
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The many shops operating within Main Street account for practically
all the buzz that is happening in the area. These stores offer a wide
array of goods and merchandise that can be generally summarized into
three general groups, namely, jewelries, electrical supplies, and
Duty-free merchandise. The latter category naturally is the one that
is known to sell the widest selection of products, all of which are
either tax-free or tax-reduced and considered of world-class quality,
including perfumes, silks, cashmere, delicate glassware, leather
products, jewelry, priceless porcelains, and so much more.
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One should not ignore as well the omnipresent duty-free regulars like
cigarettes, wines, watches, and accessories. Needless to say, the
duty-free shops at Main Street have some very cosmopolitan merchandise,
but without the burdensome taxes, prompting many shoppers to consider the
place as the shopping mecca in West Mediterranean.
Beyond the Shops
Main Street is more than just a long row of shops catering to every known
human want. While the shops do line most of Main Street for several blocks
on end, even extending to several parallel streets, there are other
structures worth giving notice to on Main Street. For example, a number of
the local residents have their homes on the hillside, while several
high-rise buildings can be viewed standing on the western corner of the
sea.
There are likewise several pubs and restaurants that are located on Main
Street where one can get a taste of England in the olden times. A few
restaurants are known to serve meat pies and Scottish Ale and Cider. Of
course, for a much larger selection of bars and even restaurants, one can
always go to Casemates Square, the main plaza of Gibraltar, located just
beyond Main Street.
With all the shops and restaurants situated on Main Street, it comes quite
naturally that the community growing within the area tends to become
narrow, with residential houses practically occupying both ends of Main
Street. Nevertheless, a large portion of the place is now pedestrianized,
forcing traffic in the area to be concentrated on the eastern and western
roadways, making the area quite safe for pedestrians. Several benches have
also been placed in several strategic spots in Main Street to provide
temporary relief for the tired shopper.
A Brief History
Main Street has another name, Royal Street, although it proved to be one
name that is hardly used as opposed to Main Street. Anyway, the lane is a
long stretch of road that runs from the northern to the southern end of
Gibraltar, practically passing by many important places of the territory.
That is why it is considered as the main artery of Gibraltar.
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However, Main Street did not start out as a shopping center for the town.
In the ancient times, the place was used to indicate the narrow border
that then existed between Gibraltar and the vast sea nearby, eventually
becoming the center of the garrisons built during early Gibraltar times.
In the 14th century, the Spaniards started developing central
Gibraltar as a primary town alongside the development of Main Street.
From this development work rose a new district which the Spaniards
called La Turba, with the long but narrow street on which it stood
being known as Calle Real. Later, the whole length of Calle Real was
divided into several sections each one of which was then given its own
different names.
One section of Calle Real was eventually named Church Street sometime
in the early 1900’s. The said street played host to the Cathedral of
St. Mary the Crowned.
Finally, in 1913, Calle Real was officially renamed Main Street. Along
with this, the main avenue of Gibraltar officially regained control
over its many sections, with the entire length of the artery becoming
known as Main Street.
Today, the area is considered as the center of business in Gibraltar with
very little traces of its previous status, especially before the coming of
the Spaniards. There are many buildings though, on opposite sides of Main
Street, that are of colonial style, but are still quite attractive with
their iron-forged balconies. The majority of these buildings presently
house various shops on their ground floors, with the upper floors
converted either as commercial offices or as residential units. |
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Touring Main Street
If one prefers to go for the more laid-back and relatively safer tourist
visit of Gibraltar rather than the more adventurous but riskier type, then
a tour of the entire length of Main Street will be more than sufficient to
satisfy one’s desire to know more about Gibraltar and its fascinating
history.
Main Street features more than shops and restaurants. There are quite a
number of very significant buildings and landmarks that one can see here,
scattered all across the entire expanse of Main Street. Getting to see
them is definitely an effective way of familiarizing oneself with the rich
and diverse heritage of Gibraltar.
To start off, one will first get to Casemates Square, the premiere plaza
of Gibraltar. The place was previously a site for public executions, then
to a parade ground of garrison soldiers. Then finally, it became what it
is at present, a place where one can get to enjoy lots of fun and eating.
Here, one can start filling the stomach before starting on an official
Main Street tour.
A few more walks from Casemates and one can get to view several
brand-named shops like Mother Care and Marks & Spencer’s just to name a
few. One is now in the duty-free zone of Gibraltar land, the acknowledged
heart of shopping on Main Street.
Of course, if one is a little tight on the budget, there are the smaller
shops likewise located on Main Street that also offer some very tempting
products, including designer jeans and exquisite crystals. Needless to
say, exploring the shops alone on Main Street can take up an entire day.
Once the allure of the shopping frenzy wears off, walk a few more blocks
and one will get to encounter the landmark considered by some as the
central attraction of Main Street, and this is none other than the
Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned, a magnificent malt-colored place of
worship for Catholics in this particular corner of the globe. The church
is said to have been built on land that was previously occupied by a
Muslim mosque.
On the other corner of Main Street, another Christian place of worship
stands. The Kings Chapel, built sometime in 1840, was regarded as the
official worship place of the English military force. Its walls are said
to carry numerous memorials and are famous for their glass windows,
complimented by their walnut-colored pews. Somewhere beneath the chapel is
said to lie the bodies of two former British Governors.
Main Street also happens to be an area where many public or government
agencies in Gibraltar hold office. While some may not necessarily be
within Main Street itself, they are nevertheless located very near the
area that one will not miss them once within the vicinity of Main Street.
This includes the Gibraltar Museum, which is a mere walking distance from
Main Street, and from where one can get to see a huge model of Gibraltar
town. Then over at the southern edge of Main Street, there stands the
Convent, built sometime in 1531 by the Franciscans, but which has been
renamed in 1728 as the Governor’s Residence in obvious reference to the
basic fact that the place has since become the official dwelling place of
the Gibraltar Governor.
Other known government agencies that one can find on Main Street include a
sub-office of the tourism ministry, the Town Hall, and the main Post
Office. Additionally, the John Mackintosh Hall can also be found here,
located just several blocks away from the Governor’s Residence. The hall
can be quite useful for tourists wanting to learn more about Gibraltar in
general, because it is both a library, an exhibition site, and a cultural
center, all rolled into one.
Getting to the edge of Main Street, one will find an even greater number
of stores offering a variety of items, ranging from the precious to the
not-so-precious. One particular shop that is worth visiting though should
be the Gibraltar Crystal Factory where one can get to actually see
glasswares as they are being made. The glasswares are expertly crafted and
should prove to be excellent take-home souvenirs.
Main Street Tour Cost
Before one goes out and have a great time bargaining for
some really nice pair of jeans or jackets available at Main Street, some
basic but essential information should first be kept in mind. First, the
goods being sold here, most especially those found at the duty-free area,
are obviously, tax-free and are thus among the most inexpensive worldwide.
It would definitely be wise therefore to bring some extra cash just in
case a really fine product happens to catch one’s attention.
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Second, the normal store hours are from 10AM all the way to around
7:30PM Monday to Friday. The stores are usually open on Saturday
mornings but many of them close up during the afternoon.
Third, expect majority of these shops to be closed during Sundays.
There are, however, a few that operate even on a weekend and one
should be very diligent in finding out where these few are located.
If one is set to go shopping while visiting Gibraltar, please take
note that at Main Street, the Gibraltar pound is the currency being
used, with the Gibraltar government responsible for issuing the notes.
The Gibraltar pound is almost similar to the British pound, as both
have more or less similar value. |
Nevertheless, one need not really worry because UK notes and money are
acceptable. Ditto for the Euros, although if one decides to make use of
this particular currency, expect to be charged with an extra five percent.
It is important, therefore that upon arriving in Gibraltar,one should
change one’s money. Toward this end, there are many Banks and Bureaux de
Change scattered all across Gibraltar that are willing to lend a helping
hand. Exchanging money outside of Gibraltar could prove to be quite
costly, especially in the case of Spain, where the rate of exchange for
Gibraltar pounds is not only quite high but can also be a little
difficult.
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