What is there to see at Rosia Bay in Gibraltar?

Short answer

Rosia Bay, a small natural harbour on Gibraltar's south-west coast, is where HMS Victory was brought after the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 carrying Nelson's body. Around it are the 100-ton gun at Napier of Magdala Battery, the old Victualling Yard and the Natural History Museum at Parson's Lodge.

Detailed answer

Rosia Bay is Gibraltar's only natural harbour and was formerly known as Rosia Harbour. After the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, HMS Victory was towed into the bay with Nelson's body preserved in a barrel. A local story says his body was brought ashore here before the voyage home; the Royal Navy disputes this.

At the north end of the bay is Napier of Magdala Battery, home to the 100-ton gun nicknamed the "Rockbuster". Made by Armstrong in 1870, it is one of only two such guns left in the world, the other being in Malta. The battery was built between 1878 and 1884, the gun was last fired in 2002, and an interpretation centre has been open since 1994. Commercial listings give opening hours of 09:30 to 17:45 daily and a £3 adult admission.

Behind the bay stands the Victualling Yard, completed by 1812 to supply the fleet with food, water and clothing. The neighbouring Rosia Water Tanks were demolished in 2006 to build the Nelson's View housing development.

At the south end, Parson's Lodge Battery sits on a promontory above the bay. It held three large rifled guns and is now run by the Gibraltar National Museum as the Gibraltar Natural History Museum, with indoor and open-air displays on local plants and animals, migratory birds and marine life, and a live rewilding programme with Hermann's tortoises, Iberian water frogs and wild rabbits. It opens Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 14:00, and closes on Sundays and public holidays. A Gibraltar National Museum ticket (£15 for adults, £7.50 for under-12s) includes entry here.

The bay is reached along Rosia Road and a coastal walk continues from Rosia Bay to Camp Bay.