callegisbert

Discovering Cartagena

More Articles By Phillip Bruce www.raxomnium.com

Calle Gisbert Opened Up The Walls

Cartagena’s impressive 18^th century walls defended the city from attack but there was a problem as time moved on.

The port was one of the most important naval bases in Spain and naturally the city grew substantially. However, there was only one opening in the big walls on the seaward side, the gateway of Santa Catalina. This is still the main pedestrian entrance to the city today from the waterfront – where the life-sized statue of a sailor strides along the pavement and a dejected-looking statue of a soldier sits on a bench.

As the artillery barracks and other important military facilities were behind the ridge that rises above the walls moving to and from the waterfront became a headache. Additionally, there was a need for more access generally.

So, the immense task of quarrying through the ridge to make a new access began and it took decades to complete. Today this cutting is known as Calle Gisbert, named after a long-forgotten military man.

Visitors nearly always find themselves having to visit the Calle Gisbert. The street has been undergoing major works for years, largely due to the need to install new drainage and it has been a real mess and a nightmare for anyone with mobility problems. City authorities promise that things will improve soon.

It is in the Calle Gisbert that the impressive outdoor elevator stands that takes people up to the Torres Park and Castillo de La Concepción, which houses the very interesting Centre for the Interpretation of the history of Cartagena. At the base of the elevator the Civil War Shelter Museum can be visited.

Also in the Calle Gisbert, next to the indoor market, there is the office of the Transport Department, a visit to which is dreaded because of the crowds and long waits.

On the same side of the street as the elevator, heading into the city, the “graduate school” can be found, the first to be set up in Spain. The name is rather confusing as to English speakers this implies that it was some form of post-graduate university facility. However, that was not the case. For centuries Spanish education had been solely in the hands of the Church. This school, which dates back to the start of the 20^th century, was established to provide a secular education with children being graded, or graduated, according to ability rather than being lumped together by age alone. The ornamental brickwork is very attractive and, if you can get inside, there are paintings of uplifting subjects on the walls to admire. The building is no longer used as a school.

On the corner where the Calle Gisbert joins Calle Duque there is an excellent Moroccan restaurant which serves very tasty snacks and meals. Try the mint tea and the lamb burgers with salad and chips. The bread is also delicious.

If you park in the huge underground car park beneath the submarine at the Cartagena waterfront, face the city walls and then walk along to the right. You will see the arc of some piece of modern sculpture which is above the gap in the walls that leads into the Calle Gisbert. There is a good and cheap café in the building just outside the gap which houses offices and facilities for the port.

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