The Skywalk on Rock of Gibraltar
© Stephen Ball/Alam
Be a skywalker. A state-of-the-art lookout on the Rock of Gibraltar
Make your way up the trails of this monolithic rock promontory to Skywalk, an 8,000-square-foot glass platform that soars more than 1,100 feet above sea level. On a clear day, you can see three countries and two continents from here. These epic views draw tourists, as does the Rock’s legendary history. A British Overseas Territory since 1713, Gibraltar has long been a strategically important military outpost. Far below Skywalk, visitors can take in military relics that date back to the first years of British rule here.Over time, the British Armed Forces built an extensive tunnel system through the limestone, greatly expanding the subterranean network during World War II. By then, the tunnels accommodated 16,000 men and elaborate amenities, including a hospital, bakery, and water desalination plant. General Dwight D. Eisenhower operated a command centre from the tunnels for Operation Torch—a mission that was a turning point in the war, marking the entry of US forces alongside Britain. Skywalk is the newest attraction here, opening in March 2018 to great fanfare at a ceremony hosted by Mark Hammill, better known as Luke Skywalker.