Wednesday, April 27, 2022 - 09:10

In Perspective: The Old Patios of Gibraltar

by RYAN ASQUEZ

Most will remember a time when people, sometimes entire families, lived in patio vecinos – either small or large patios surrounded by houses or flats.

Many of these patios can be found in the Upper Town, Main Street and the South District. Many of these places went on to acquire their own local names, such as ‘el Patio Policia’ (Police Barracks). In this article, we will be looking at people’s recollections of life in Gibraltar’s old patios.

PATIO POLICIA & CASTLE ROAD

Janet Mauro was born at the Police Barracks in Upper Town (el Patio Policia), and later moved to a patio vecino on Castle Road during the 1950s. She has fond memories of life in these patios.