Gibraltar is located on the Iberian Peninsula at the Strait of Gibraltar. The area has been in British possession since 1704 after Spain lost the War of the Spanish Succession. Gibraltar's history is full of wars and threats of war as the area is considered to be of great strategic importance. Whoever owns Gibraltar also controls the gateway to the Mediterranean.
Sights in Gibraltar
A must, of course, is to hike up the Rock of Gibraltar and look out over the sea. At Europa Point , the southernmost tip of the cliff, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic, you can see all the way to Africa on a clear day.
The famous monkeys in Gibraltar live at the "Upper Rock" (at the "Ape's Den"). These are the only wild monkeys (Barabary monkey) in Europe and no one knows for sure how or when they arrived at the rock. The monkeys are the strongest symbol of all of Gibraltar and were under the protection of the British Army until 1991.
You can go on a dolphin safari all year round in Gibraltar as the Bay of Gibraltar is rich in dolphins, whales and other interesting sea animals. If you are lucky, you may even see dolphins swimming alongside the boat on the ferry to Tangier . There are several different boats that offer a trip to see dolphins. These tours cost SEK 100-200 and take one to one and a half hours, depending on where the dolphins are. We went on a great little boat trip with the Gibraltar Blue Dolphin Safari Group who have their office right by the marina. Here you can see a film with underwater images from our magical trip!
In addition, Gibraltar is home to many different kinds of exotic birds, which has turned the area into something of a birdwatcher's paradise.
Dripstone Grotto St. Michaels is definitely worth a trip if you like caves.
There are lots of good museums in Gibraltar. Including The Gibraltar Museum, which depicts the rock's exciting history with various films and objects.
Everything from the bones of the Neanderthals who lived here up to 30,000 years ago to the Allied war operations that emanated from Gibraltar during the Second World War. Shopping in Gibraltar. The city is not big, but Main Street still offers a lot of shopping by famous brands. However, the prices are not really much to cheer about. At the beginning of Main Street is a number of pharmacies where tourists flock to buy medicines that are otherwise prescribed within the EU. Keep in mind, however, that customs may have major objections to the importation of prescription medications... Alcohol and cigarettes are also cheap in Gibraltar. Facts Gibraltar
- Population: 29,000.
- Currency: British pound and Gibraltar pound (most establishments, however, accept the Euro, albeit at a poor rate).
- Area: 6.5 square kilometers.
- Language: English is the official language, but the majority of Gibraltarians also speak Spanish.
- Country code: 350.