Foso Real, Ceuta, Moat in Ceuta, Spain
The Foso Real in Ceuta is a water-filled moat forming a narrow channel that separates the old fortified city from the rest of the peninsula. It links the northern and southern bays of the city, giving the old town the appearance of a small island.
The Foso Real originated as a natural inlet of the sea cutting across the Ceuta peninsula. In 1549, the Portuguese had it artificially widened under architect Miguel Arruda, turning it into a navigable channel that strengthened the city's defenses.
The Foso Real sits at the entrance to the old fortified area and is a place locals pass through on daily walks along the walls. The stones along the canal edge carry visible marks from old sieges, giving the site a texture that no plaque can fully explain.
The Foso Real is easy to reach on foot from the Royal Walls area, and the bridge crossing the channel offers a clear view of the water and the surrounding stone fortifications. Visiting on a calm day makes it easier to take in the details of the stonework along the canal edges.
Before a fixed bridge was built in the 20th century, the only way into the old fortified city was a drawbridge on the northern side of the channel. Anyone crossing it was technically stepping onto a landmass cut off from the mainland by water on both sides.
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