Gibraltar is a British overseas territory, located in south-western
Europe on the Iberian Peninsula of the south coast of Spain
Travel Insurance for Gibraltar:
Area: Europe *
Know Before You Go:
FCO Country Advice for Gibraltar
The country borders the Strait of Gibraltar , which links the Mediterranean
Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean . Gibraltar is joined to mainland
Spain by a narrow isthmus. The Rock itself is not very large,
measuring less than two and one half square miles. Gibraltar
is a British colony which is self-governing and also a member
of the European Union – courtesy of Gt. Britain ’s
membership. The most southern tip of Europe is at Europa Point,
where views across the Strait to N. Africa can be enjoyed.
The population comprises mainly Gibraltarians, Spanish, Portuguese,
Maltese, Moroccan, Italian and English. The dominant religion
is Roman Catholic, with Church of England, Muslim, Jewish and
others. English is widely spoken, especially for official business
functions, as well as Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. Gibraltar
has a chequered history of ownership, from the Moors, to the
Spanish, Dutch, and British and today remains a very busy port.
There are a wide range of activities available on Gibraltar
, from sailing and scuba diving, to fishing, bird watching, and
rock climbing. There are several museums, art galleries and a
cathedral. Gibraltar , however, has to be most famous for its
colony of Barbary Apes, which live freely and in a semi-wild
state on The Rock. There are a variety of beaches, and several
marinas which provide availability for sailing and boating activities.
Gibraltar has a good shopping area around Main Street , where
tax-free bargains can be found. Casemates Square in the central
area is the place for restaurants and nightlife now, but was
once the site for public executions. Other places of interest
include the Moorish Castle and the City Under Siege exhibit as
well as the city walls which date back to the 18 th century.
The Rock of Gibraltar is made of limestone and has many tunnels
running through it, some of which are manmade and have an interesting
history. A selection of the tunnels are open for touring, and
others are under control of the military. The tunnels hold much
history of the island and previous times of strife and sieges.
St. Michael’s Cave is a popular attraction, with its stalactites
and stalagmites and ancient history.
Gibraltar is a haven for nature enthusiasts with its wealth
of beautiful flora, some rare, some growing wild, and some in
the botanical gardens, including lavender, jasmine, olive trees,
palms, cacti, honeysuckle and bougainvillea. Part of the Rock
area has been designated as a nature reserve and there are also
the Alameda Botanical Gardens. Boat tours are available for dolphin
and whale watching trips in the bay. Gibraltar is famous amongst
bird watchers for sighting many migrating species, especially
as the Strait of Gibraltar is the shortest crossing point between
Europe and Africa . |
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