View of Algeciras

Photograph of a view looking towards the city of Algerciras, situated in Southern Spain. In the foreground are boats in the harbour. In the middle ground, centre, stands the tower of the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Palma church, built in 1736. Hills are visible in the distant background.

The city was named during the Berber period and has been occupied by both Moors and Christian forces during its history. The city was captured from the Moors in the middle of the 14th century by Alfonso XI of Castile who utilised fighting forces from across Europe only to be re-taken by the Moors in 1368 when it was destroyed and abandoned. The city was eventually re-settled by refugees from Gibraltar in the early 18th century, and in 1760, Charles III of Spain re-built the city using a plan that can be seen to this day. In 1801, the Battle of Algeciras was fought between French Spanish and British forces during the French Revolutionary Wars which resulted in a British victory. The port of Algeciras is one of the largest in Europe.