The Gibraltar City Hall is the former city hall for
Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = " Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gib ...
, centrally located within the city at the west end of
John Mackintosh Square
John Mackintosh Square (colloquially The Piazza) is a main square in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. It has been the centre of city life since the 14th century and takes its name from John Mackintosh, a local philanthropist. Notab ...
. It is the
office
An office is a space where an organization's employees perform administrative work in order to support and realize objects and goals of the organization. The word "office" may also denote a position within an organization with specific du ...
of the
Mayor of Gibraltar
The Mayor of Gibraltar is the ceremonial official of the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The mayor is appointed by the elected Members of Parliament
The building was a private mansion built in 1819(Benady, 18) by
Aaron Cardozo
Don Aaron Nunez Cardozo, GMH (1762–1834) was a Jewish English businessman, who established in Gibraltar and was consul for Tunis and Algiers in Gibraltar around 1805.
Career
Cardozo promoted the interests of the British Government and as dele ...
, a prosperous merchant of Jewish Portuguese descent who had settled in Gibraltar, as his family home. It was the grandest private mansion ever seen in Gibraltar.(Bond, 48) The three- storey house dominated John Mackintosh Square.
It was erected on the site of the old hospital and chapel of ''La Santa Misericordia'' ( en, The Holy Mercy) and later prison. As a non
Protestant
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century against what its followers perceived to b ...
, Cardozo was not legally allowed to own property in Gibraltar. However, as he had been a close friend of Lord
Nelson
Nelson may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey
* ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers
* ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...
and had supplied his fleet, he was eventually granted a site to build a house in the ''Alameda'' on the condition that it be "''an ornament''" to the square. Its cost was about £40,000.(Bond, 49)
After his death in 1834, his mansion was leased to John Ansaldo as a hotel, the ''Club House Hotel''. It was bought in 1874 by
Pablo Antonio Larios
Pablo is a Spanish form of the name Paul.
People
*Pablo Alborán, Spanish singer
*Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer
* Pablo Armero, Colombian footballer
* Pablo Bartholomew, Indian photojournalist
* Pablo Brandán, Argentine footballer
* Pablo Br ...
, a wealthy businessman and banker, Gibraltarian-born but member of a
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
family, the
Larios Larios is a surname with origins in Spain. Notable people with the surname include:
* Angélica Larios (born 1981), Mexican sabre fencer
*Bobby Larios (born 1970), Mexican actor
* Carlos de Larios, American sound engineer
* César Larios (born 1988 ...
, who completely refurbished the building. In 1922, his son Pablo Larios, Marquis of Marzales (Master of the Royal Calpe Hunt for 45 years), sold the building to the Gibraltar colonial authorities, which intended to turn it into a
post office
A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional ser ...
. However, it eventually became the seat of the newly formed Gibraltar City Council.(Benady, 19) Since 1926, the Gibraltar telephone service was operated by the City Council, and an automatic
exchange
Exchange may refer to:
Physics
*Gas exchange is the movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration. Places United States
* Exchange, Indiana, an unincorporated community
* ...
serving the territory was installed in the last floor of the building,(Romero Frías, 68-69) The building was later extended (including a new storey and a new body to the North) modifying its original symmetry. Nowadays, it houses the
Mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...
Gustavo Bacarisas
Gustavo Bacarisa (1872–1971) Gibraltar Medallion of Honour, GMH was a Gibraltarian people, Gibraltarian painter. He was born in Gibraltar and died in Seville, Spain. His work, of a figurative style and varied themes, is characterised by the rich ...
,
Jacobo Azagury
Jacobo is both a surname and a given name of Spanish origin. Based on the name Jacob. Notable people with the name include:
Surname:
* Alfredo Jacobo (born 1982), Olympic breaststroke swimmer from Mexico
* Cesar Chavez Jacobo, Dominican profession ...
Mario Finlayson
is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cr ...