Gibraltar Unveils a 360° Viewing Platform

The Rock of Gibraltar is a place of contrasts. Located at the junction of Europe and Africa and teeming with friendly monkeys, thousands of tourists, curious visitors, researchers, and nature lovers from around the world flock here each year to enjoy a few days of connection and to explore the blend of cultures and styles that characterize its inhabitants. One of the best options to enjoy the nature of the Rock is from the Skywalk, a glass viewing platform that, according to Kaiane López, the Gibraltarian mayor, aspires to become Gibraltar's main tourist attraction.

It was inaugurated by Mark Hamill, the American actor known for his role as Luke Skywalker, and is situated 340 meters above sea level at the Battery of Mount Misery, a defensive platform built to spot enemy ships and that served as an artillery base during World War II.

Its anchoring is designed to withstand gusts of up to 150 kilometers per hour and a load of 33,000 kilograms, equivalent to 13 vehicles or 7 Asian elephants. Indeed, although it could support the influx of up to 350 people at once, for safety reasons, the maximum number of simultaneous visitors is set at 50.

Those who have the opportunity to visit will feel the vertigo firsthand as both the access walkway and the floor are made of glass. It also offers 360° views over the Strait of Gibraltar; from it, one can also see the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, located at the top of the Rock; the Windsor Suspension Bridge; or the Apes' Den, home to hundreds of monkeys.

It is worth noting that the concept and main design of the Skywalk were developed by the Madrid-based studio MAYICE, an acronym for Marta Alonso Yebra and Imanol Calderón Elósegui. They and their team were responsible for shaping the defensive block.