Gibraltar is a British overseas territory but borders Spain, resulting in ongoing Spanish claims to its territory. The border runs along a narrow sandy isthmus that connects the Rock of Gibraltar with the Iberian Peninsula, where Spain is located. Relations with the Spanish are periodically strained, leading to more careful border controls. This is especially unnerving for the local population, who, just like here in Geneva, can live in one country and work in another.
Given the strategic location of Gibraltar, there have been many battles and wars in its history, so there are many fortifications, walls, casemates, bastions, military museums, tunnels, etc.
Visa to Gibraltar
Not so long ago, it was possible to enter the territory of Gibraltar only with a Gibraltar visa, even a British one was not always enough, but since 2014, life has been simplified for our tourists. Now citizens of Russia and Ukraine can enter Gibraltar if:
– presence of a British multiple-entry visa valid for at least 6 months, or residence (residence permit) in the UK;
– purchasing a one-day tour through Gibraltar tour operators;
– purchasing a cruise tour (just in case, you need to check with the organizers so that they take care of all permits and visas in advance).
For Russian citizens, there is another entry opportunity: for a period of no more than 21 days, you can enter Gibraltar with a multiple-entry Schengen visa, while the minimum visa period must be at least 7 days at the time of departure from Gibraltar. That is, if you want to go to Gibraltar for 3 days, a Schengen visa must be for a period of at least 10 days (3+7 days). A maximum period of 21 days can be spent in Gibraltar if your visa is still valid for 28 days. True, I don’t know what to do there for so long; one or two days is enough for Gibraltar.
Gibraltar Hotels
The best hotel in Gibraltar is the 5 star cruise yacht Sunborn Gibraltar. It is located in the port, close to the airport, and has a restaurant, bars and even a casino on board. The most expensive hotel in Gibraltar, over 200 euros per night.
In the center of Gibraltar there is a purely English-style hotel O’Callaghan Elliott 4*, where we stayed. The photo on the Internet shows a gorgeous photo of the pool, but in reality everything is very simple. Although breakfast is served on the roof in a room with large windows overlooking the harbor, the choice was more than modest.
Another 4* hotel in Gibraltar deserves attention – Rock Hotel. It is located on a cliff and the views from it are panoramic. All other hotels are simpler and cheaper, there are a couple of hostels, so you can always find somewhere to stay overnight on a budget.
Sights of Gibraltar: things to see and do
1. Visit Gibraltar Airport
You can get to Gibraltar not only by car from Spain, but also by ship and even by plane. Despite its small territory, most of which is rock, Gibraltar has its own airport. It is considered one of the most dangerous in the world, since the runway is very short and is limited on both sides by the sea. Watching planes take off and land in Gibraltar is a popular attraction for tourists. You can occupy an observation post in the airport building or on the open terrace of a cafe across the street from it. You can fully see the entire runway from the cliff near the Moorish Castle. You can also clearly see everything from the sports stand near the tennis courts. One of the employees of the hotel in Marbella, where we stayed, told us that during takeoff and landing, tennis players try to stop playing, otherwise they might accidentally hit the plane with the ball :)
Before planes take off or land, police block traffic because the runway runs perpendicular to the road. The pilot needs great skill to fly into the air or to brake and turn around so as not to fall into the water.
2. Make sure that Gibraltar is English territory
There are not so many attractions in Gibraltar, so we came up with additional entertainment for ourselves. Walking around the city, we noticed details indicating that Gibraltar is still the property of Great Britain. We found English red telephone boxes, letter boxes, typical benches, trash cans, signposts, traffic lights, mews houses (former stables) and street toilets, just like in London. The official language here is English, and the streets are called Street, Road, Lane, Gardens, Avenue and Grove - just like in old England. The cafe offers fish & chips - ordinary English fast food. But the traffic is normal, not on the left, as in Britain.
3. Walk along Main Street
It’s even surprising that the main street of Gibraltar with numerous shops on the ground floors is called Main Street. In England, the main streets of each district are called High streets. And so, a typical English street: the same brands, eateries, pubs, supermarkets, currency, although the Gibraltar pound, but sellers are also happy to accept English pounds.
Main Street turns into Casemates Square, which is always full of tourists and entertainment venues for them: restaurants, bars, museums, souvenir shops, a glass factory, etc.
4. Go to Ocean Village Marina
It is there that the Sunborn yacht is located, there are many modern high-rise residential and office buildings, restaurants, shops, the area is very different from the rocky part of Gibraltar.
5. See Africa at Europa Point
The rocky part is almost the southernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula and is washed by the Strait of Gibraltar, separating Europe from North Africa. The southernmost part of Europe is Cape Morocco in Spanish Tarifa, where the distance to Africa is only 14 km. But even from the Europa Point observation deck in clear weather you can clearly see the African coast.
A lighthouse is installed here for ships, the light of which is visible at a distance of about 30 km.
At Europa point there is also the huge Ibrahim al-Ibrahim Mosque, which was given to Gibraltar by the King of Saudi Arabia.
6. Stand at the Pillars of Hercules
Due to its geographical location, Gibraltar is called one of the Pillars of Hercules from ancient Greek and Roman myths. In ancient times, this name designated the mountains between which the Strait of Gibraltar passes. One peak is in Europe, the second is in Africa. As always, there are several myths and versions explaining the name “Pillars of Hercules”. The Greek Hercules, performing one of his “12 labors”, reached the “end of the earth”, where he installed pillars. This is where the phraseological unit “Pillars of Hercules” comes from, as well as “to get to the Pillars of Hercules”, i.e. go to the extreme, there is nowhere else to go. Some sources claim that Hercules cut through mountains on his way, creating the Strait of Gibraltar and connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. According to other sources, he narrowed the already existing strait so that ocean monsters would not fall into the Mediterranean Sea. In ancient Roman myths, Hercules is known to us under the name Hercules. Whatever the real story of the origin of the Pillars of Hercules, in the southern part of Gibraltar now anyone can take a photo in front of them. By the way, according to one version, the dollar sign $ represents two pillars of Hercules entwined with kites. The Pillars of Hercules are located in front of the southern entrance to the park-reserve.
7. Meet the Gibraltar monkeys
The most important entertainment in Gibraltar is a visit to the park and reserve on the rock, because in addition to natural beauty, underground galleries and a fortress, along the way you will meet completely fearless macaques without tails!
They are absolutely not afraid of people, they approach them and allow themselves to be photographed. According to the rules of the park, feeding monkeys is strictly prohibited in order to preserve their wild nature. Gibraltar is the only place in Europe where these animals are found in natural conditions. The macaque population makes up about 1 percent of the population of Gibraltar; they rightfully feel like masters of the reserve. You shouldn't relax around them! In our presence, one monkey brazenly stole a plastic tray with his lunch from the park guards’ kitchen, and then he had to chase the thief :)
And when we passed Ape’s Den, a place where there are especially many of them, several monkeys simply jumped onto our car and began to sort out their relationship.
In general, the monkeys are the most vivid impression in Gibraltar.
8. Go down to the caves of St. Michael
The limestone St Michael's Caves at the Rock of Gibraltar are famous for their centuries-old stalactites and stalagmites. Visitors wander through the halls on different levels, and multi-colored spotlights illuminate the stones. Classical music concerts are periodically held in the largest hall; the sensations from such an event are probably amazing.
For an additional fee, you can take a 3-hour guided tour that will take you through all the nooks and crannies of the caves, including the lower caves with a clear underground lake. According to legend, St. Michael's Caves are connected to Africa by an underground tunnel through which African macaques crossed to Gibraltar.
You can get to the entrance to the park on the rock by bus, car, or walk along the mountain and serpentine road. It’s better not to do the latter, because you won’t have the strength to wander around the park. You can also take the cable car up, but it was closed on our trip. One can only imagine the views from the funicular.
At the entrance you will be given a map of the park, where all the interesting points will be marked: Moorish castle, World War II tunnels, memorials, St. Michael's caves, a thousand-ton cannon, macaque habitats. You can travel around the entire park by car in about two hours. Entrance to the reserve is paid. You can rent a tour taxi and travel around the park with stops near all the main attractions of Gibraltar.
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Gibraltar is a small state whose territory consists mainly of the isthmus and the rock of the same name. The population is quite diverse, largely due to emigration here from Britain, Malta, India and many other countries. Gibraltar is so beloved by tourists that only about 10% of the total population remains native here.
First of all, the Mediterranean maritime climate of Gibraltar is perfect for relaxation. Winters here are wet and cool, and summers are hot and dry. Also, literally everything here is created specifically for tourists. Any visitor need not worry about being left without souvenir purchases. A huge number of small shops and specialized shops where you can buy one-of-a-kind jewelry, perfume, clothes and much more will delight people with a wide variety of needs.
This is exactly the place where you should start your excursion. Their height is 426 meters, this is not much, but it is enough to explore the entire area around. Many locals enjoy rock climbing. There are enough professional instructors here to recruit even beginners. Tour guides are also actively working here, ready to take tourists to the most beautiful places of the ridge.
Guarded the shores of Gibraltar during active hostilities in the 19th century. The cannons still stand at the very top of the cliff. There is also a modern heavy weapon installed here that can repel any attack. In clear weather, the battery can be seen from the African continent, the distance to which is only 14 km.
Location: Ohara's Road.
The castle is given a separate place, because... it was built back in the 7th century by the dynasty Marinid. A tourist will definitely see the Memory Towers, fortress walls and ancient gates. It is also an unspoken symbol of Arab rule in the Iberian Peninsula for eight hundred years.
Today it serves as a museum, with four rooms available on the upper floors of the tower. Inside there are wax figures of former commanders and rulers.
Created in 1930 by Alexander Godley specifically to tell and show anyone the history of these places. There are exhibitions of all the most significant stages of the city's history. You can find the museum in a British overseas territory. The site's complex also includes 14th-century Moorish baths.
The street can be confused with High Street in London. There are also many boutiques and shops with the most famous and colorful brands. The Nelson monument, telephone booths, pubs and payment in both Gibraltar and English pounds will pleasantly please fans of English culture.
Many visitors enjoy watching planes take off and land at the local airport. This spectacle is captivating due to the fact that the take-off strip is quite short, and the sea runs on both sides of it.
The best place for observation is the airport building itself or the nearest cafe with an open terrace. Also suitable for a more detailed inspection are places such as a sports stand near the tennis courts.
Anyone who wants to touch ancient mythology should come here. One of the legends claims that during his journey, Hercules marked the extreme point with these very pillars, beyond which it was impossible to go.
According to another version, the pillars acquired this name due to the name of the nearby rocks. Plato, in turn, argued that these pillars symbolize the transition from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.
There are only about a hundred caves in the Rock of Gibraltar, but this one is considered the largest. It is attractive for its depth reaching 62 meters and stalactites, natural mineral formations that are formed due to the fact that water enters cracks from the mountains and gradually drains.
In the lower parts of the cave there is an underground lake, near which excursions are constantly held. In addition, in 1972, traces of the presence of primitive people and a rock painting depicting mountain goats were discovered here. During World War II there was a hospital for wounded soldiers here.
To get to the highest part of the rocks, the Gibraltar Cable Car will help you with this. You can find the station near the Botanical Garden. Senior citizens receive a discount, and children under 5 years old receive a ticket absolutely free. The cabin moves at a speed of 5 meters per second.
In total it takes about seven minutes to climb. During this time, the tourist will see the airport and part of the Strait of Gibraltar with the busy traffic of various ships. Upon arrival at the top, tourists will find souvenir shops and various cafes.
There are tunnels under the city territory dating back to the 18th century. Further construction resumed from the moment of the threat of Nazi troops. Their total length is 30 miles. At the time of hostilities, they were the main shelter of the civilian population. There were also warehouses with provisions, ammunition, etc. Today, most of them belong to the military leadership and are therefore closed to the public.
Located in the south, it was donated by Fahd, King of Saudi Arabia. The construction of the mosque lasted for two years and in 1997 it was finally officially opened. Inside the mosque there is a school, a large assembly hall and a library.
This place will be remembered by many for the building of the Health Department and the Large casemates, which are hewn out of rocky stones. It was made in Moorish times at the moment when for the first time a fortification for defense was erected at this place.
This is also where the ancient Gibraltar ceremony of handing over the keys takes place. This ceremony dates back to the times when the fortress was locked with a key, which was then handed over to the governor.
Located in the Diocese of Gibraltar in Cathedral Square. A distinctive feature of the cathedral is its neo-Moorish style of architecture, which can be identified by its horseshoe-shaped arches.
The cathedral is of great importance for the Moorish period. The church was originally built for the Anglican community. Part of the building was then used for a time as a hospital during the yellow fever epidemic. In 1951, due to a strong explosion, severe damage was caused. The main components of the cathedral are: the central entrance, nave, portico, vima, southern aisle, organ and lectern.
Location: 5 Secretary’s Ln.
Nowadays it is a functioning parish Roman Catholic church. It was rebuilt in the 15th century immediately after Gibraltar was freed from Moorish rule. The first lighthouse was the tower above the chapel of this particular temple.
The temple itself is represented by a bell tower, a nave, and beautiful windows, which are decorated with exquisite stained glass windows with images of saints. The altar is made of marble and decorated with openwork carvings. In the very center, the tourist will see the statue of Our Lady of Europe with Jesus. In her hand is a scepter - a symbol of goodness, love and justice. If you attend a service, you can hear the church choir singing.
Open to guests around the clock. Many players come specifically to this place to try their luck. There are also inexpensive restaurants with a veranda and views of the coast. The casino staff has a positive reputation and is distinguished by its attentiveness to guests and friendliness.
The burial is surrounded by many secrets. The cemetery was founded in 1798 and after the famous Battle of Trafalgar, many sailors were buried here. Quite often this place served as a burial place for those killed from several yellow fever epidemics and the battles of Algeciras and the two sieges of Malaga and Cadiz.
You can find this place by going to the residence of the city governor. The chapel was originally the building of a Franciscan friary in 1530. From 1844 to 1990 the chapel was the main church for the British army. Today it remains a key chapel for the British Royal Air Force.
Location: 302 - Main Street.
One of the unique attractions of Gibraltar is the Moorish Castle, built by the Marinid dynasty in the 7th century AD. It is a medieval fortification consisting of gates, fortress walls and the Tower of Memory, which is the dominant feature of the structure. The castle is visible from afar due to its striking architecture and strategic location - it is a symbol of the Arab domination of the Iberian Peninsula, which lasted more than eight hundred years. Its walls stretch from the top of Gibraltar down to the sea.
The most striking part of the castle is the Tower of Memory, rebuilt in the 14th century. Its height is about one hundred meters, it is the tallest tower of the Islamic period on the peninsula. Its strong stone walls and bastions proudly bear the scars of sieges and artillery fire.
This ancient structure with the solemnly flying flag still towers over Gibraltar, attracting the attention of tourists. Currently, the recently restored castle complex is open to tourists.
Gibraltar Airport
Gibraltar Airport is one of the most difficult and unusual from the point of view of landing an aircraft, and one of the most frightening from the point of view of an ordinary passenger. This airport is located on a tiny peninsula with an area of only 6.8 square kilometers. The lack of space led to an original solution: the runway crosses the busiest highway called Winston Churchill Avenue. Despite the slight activity of cargo transportation in this direction, taking off and landing aircraft here is not an easy task.
Local residents are already accustomed to the fact that Winston Churchill Avenue is constantly blocked by barriers, and the flow of cars patiently allows the next plane to pass. This is the only airport of this type in the world. Gibraltar Airport is located at the foot of the Rock of Gibraltar and is surrounded on both sides by cliffs and the sea. The runway is only 1,828 meters long, and absolute precision is required to land the aircraft. In addition, the proximity of the Strait of Gibraltar creates difficulties, making the weather in this area completely unpredictable. But despite this, Gibraltar Airport, located literally right next to the city center, receives about 30 planes weekly.
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Rock of Gibraltar
The limestone rock of Gibraltar, more than 400 m high, is located in the Strait of Gibraltar on the Iberian Peninsula. The Rock is a British overseas territory, although it is surrounded by Spanish territory. Residents of the city of Gibraltar speak a mixture of English and a dialect of Spanish (Yanito). In 1704, English troops took possession of Gibraltar, and in 1713, according to the Treaty of Utrecht, the territory of Gibraltar, along with the rock, became the possessions of Britain. The Spaniards repeatedly tried to retake Gibraltar by force, but their attempts ended in failure.
The rock is made of calcite, which is eroded by water. After such natural processes, caves were formed in the rocks. Today there are more than 100 caves in the rock, and the largest of them is the Cave of St. Michael. In another Gorham cave, archaeologists discovered traces of Neanderthals. There are also many underground tunnels in the rock with a total length of 50 km.
On the territory of Gibraltar there is a reserve where rare Barbary macaques and Barbary partridges live.
The Cave of St. Michael amazes the imagination of tourists who come here. This is one of the largest caves on the Rock of Gibraltar, containing about a hundred such objects. St. Michael's Cave is famous for its huge stalactites that have been growing here for tens of thousands of years.
The remains of a primitive man found here in 1974 will also attract considerable attention. Central to these finds are rock paintings depicting mountain goats. According to researchers, these drawings were made about 15-20 thousand years ago.
St Michael's Cave is a true paradise for lovers of exotic places in the heart of Gibraltar. The cave is located at a depth of 62 meters, there are three entrances and exits, so you can always walk through the mysterious labyrinths in search of the unknown.
Ibrahim al Ibrahim Mosque
A striking landmark of Gibraltar is the Ibrahim al Ibrahim Mosque, built in 1997. It is located on the coast of the Bay of Gibraltar, a few kilometers from the African continent. The mosque was a gift from King Fahd of Saudi Arabia and is one of the largest mosques in a non-Muslim country.
The mosque complex includes a school, library and lecture hall. The building stands on a high platform; three flights of stairs, consisting of 22 steps, lead to its main entrance. The main entrance to the mosque is topped with many turrets. The two-tier pavilion is built of white marble and red sandstone in a modern Islamic style, with a high vault decorated with carvings. In the south-eastern corner of the building there is a tall white marble minaret with a narrow spiral staircase inside. The central building of the mosque is crowned with an elegant dome. In the upper tier of the pavilion there is a small museum, in glass cases of which many relics of Islam are stored.
All interior decoration is made with openwork carvings and delicate floral patterns. The Ibrahim al Ibrahim Mosque is very popular among tourists, attracting with its beauty and uniqueness.
Gibraltar Military Heritage Center
The Gibraltar Military Heritage Center, through its collection of military weapons and other items, tells the story of the bravery of the soldiers who garrisoned the mainland since 1704.
Relics, trophies, and uniforms from the 18th century are now the treasury of this center. Moreover, here in the Memorial Chamber there is a list of all the units that took part during the Great Siege of 1783. As a rule, tourists look at their namesakes in this list.
It is noteworthy that a purely male historical heritage is located under the arches of the Princess Caroline battery.
Village of Catalan Bay
On the eastern slope of the Rock of Gibraltar is the small village of Catalan Bay. It was founded by Genoese fishermen, who were apparently attracted by a convenient bay where they could shelter from bad weather and winds.
About 50 people live in the village, mostly descendants of immigrants from Genoa, Portugal and Spain.
They live in a closed community; only those who work there go to the city.
They can only hold weddings between residents of Catalan Bay. The ancient customs of our ancestors are revered here, but under the influence of the influx of tourists, the patriarchal way of life of the village is slowly being destroyed.
Fishermen are abandoning their fishing and are focusing more and more on receiving vacationers; many men from Catalan Bay go to work on the docks of Gibraltar.
An arriving tourist, even for a short time, will definitely be offered an excursion to the most remote point of this mini-peninsula - Cape Europa.
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St. Andrew's Church
St Andrew's Church was built in Gibraltar in honor of the Scottish soldiers who fought in the First World War. In 1853, the first brick was laid in the foundation, and the very next year (1854), with the help of donations, it was opened to all interested Christians. The Church is an integral part of the Presbytery of Europe, that is, it refers to the Church of Scotland with communities located in Europe.
Today there are no longer such a number of military settlements on the territory of Gibraltar. One Church of St. Andrew did not cease to exist. It is located in the very center of the city, near the Harris Library. In recent years, it has become the object of countless tourist visits, as it is a masterpiece of architectural art.
There are three organs in the room - the original organ installed in 1906 and two electronic organs. The south wall is decorated with regimental plaques from the battalions that were involved in the history of this small church in Gibraltar. There is a font and benches for visitors.
St. Andrew's Church hosts not only regular events, but also special ones throughout the year - mandatory Sunday worship, Sunday school classes, Bible studies on Tuesdays.
The most popular attractions in Gibraltar with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Gibraltar on our website.
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More attractions of Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a small city-state that actually belongs to Great Britain, but at the same time living its own independent life. A spontaneous visit to this British overseas resort was the most unexpected part of my trip to Spain. Having learned that an international passport and a Schengen multiple entry visa are enough to visit Gibraltar, it was decided to visit this interesting town. Exploring the unique and interesting corners of Gibraltar took one day and followed the following route:
Casemates Square– the very center of the city. This is where all tourists end up after passing the border road through the runway from the Spanish city of La Linea de la Concepción. According to local residents, during the period of British colonization the area was built up with barracks. Currently, there is a granite monument in the form of a soldier’s figure installed on it, and along the perimeter the area is filled with cafes, bars and souvenir shops. The old soldiers' barracks have been converted into an Arts and Crafts Centre. I managed to find a tourist information center on the square, where I could get a map with marks on the main attractions of the city completely free of charge. Please note that the tourist center is open daily. From Monday to Friday, the working day lasts from 9:00 to 17:30, and on weekends the center closes at 15:00.
The square itself is very noisy and crowded, but it offers a magnificent panorama of the mountain ranges.
I made further exploration of Gibraltar on foot, but tourists can use the city bus . Every 15–20 minutes, buses depart from Casemate Square in different directions, the fare for which is a little more than 1 euro. Thrifty travelers can purchase a comprehensive one-day pass here for just 2 euros.
Branches off from Casemate Square main street of Gibraltar - Main Street. It is a pleasure to walk along it. Cleanliness, many flower beds and hanging vases create a pleasant atmosphere. But the catchy windows of numerous shops and bars force tourists to make an effort not to leave most of the contents of their wallets on this street.
On Main Street there is a monument to Admiral Nelson and flaunts Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Mary. The cream-colored building of the cathedral fits well into the overall architecture of the city during the day, but with the onset of darkness the situation changes. In the evening, the cathedral becomes the key element of the entire street due to the numerous lighting around the perimeter. This beautiful spectacle attracts many tourists near the cathedral.
On the main city street of Gibraltar on Tuesdays, tourists can witness the changing of the guard ceremony at the governor's residence. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch this ritual spectacle. But the residence building itself, which was once a monastery, and located next door Royal Chapel I looked from the side.
Another attraction of the Main Street pedestrian street is English Church of the Holy Trinity. It was built in the Moorish style back in 1832. The arched passages and windows of the church reminded me of horseshoes, but the inside was very nice. I was especially impressed by the wooden altar of the church, decorated with skillful carvings and unusually pleasant church music. Visiting the Church of the Holy Trinity is free for everyone.
Eventually, a walk along Main Street led me to the funicular that takes tourists to the top of Gibraltar's main attraction - habitat of tailless monkeys.
Every 15 minutes, cabins depart from the lower cable car station. And within 5 minutes tourists can admire the protected flora and fauna of Gibraltar. As for monkeys, you need to be careful with them. Tailless animals bite and skillfully steal handbags, glasses and jewelry. By the way, feeding the monkeys is strictly prohibited; this is closely monitored by the reserve staff. For violating the rules, tourists face a hefty fine.
You must buy a ticket before boarding the funicular. A regular cable car ride accompanied by an audio guide costs 11.90 euros for an adult tourist and 6.30 euros for children aged 4 to 12 years. I purchased a comprehensive ticket with the right to visit the Moorish Castle, the nature reserve, St. Michael's Cave, the Siege Tunnels and a tour of the 100-ton cannon. The cost of such pleasure amounted to 26 euros.
Moorish castle turned out to be the remains of a medieval fortification with the Tower of Memory, which is 100 meters high, open to the public. The thick stone walls of the castle and tower are littered with scars from cannonball fragments and artillery fire.
Siege tunnels will attract male tourists. They are, in fact, a small museum, the exhibits of which are guns, maps of war times and all sorts of soldier things. It is easier to inspect manually built tunnels in reverse order. First, you should go down to the lowest point of the tunnels and on the way back, gradually ascending to inspect the exhibition. It's easier physically this way. I was convinced of this personally.
After admiring the view from above of the city and the bay with yachts, I went to the caves.
St. Michael's Cave) impressed me more than the castle. This is the place you should definitely visit in Gibraltar. Monkeys await tourists at the entrance to the caves, and amazing and unusual beauty lurks inside. Limestone caves with illuminated stalactite formations are located on several levels. The acoustics in this place are amazing. The largest cave grotto, equipped with rows of chairs, hosts concerts and performances. Walking through the labyrinths of caves is very interesting and not at all scary.
A walk through the reserve and caves, despite being fascinating, is a little exhausting. Therefore, you can get to the next attraction by bus No. 2. That's exactly what I did. At the end point of the bus route, tourists await Cape Europa. In addition to the next picturesque views, on the cape there is an observation deck with binoculars, a working lighthouse, a mosque and a Catholic chapel.
This concludes my sightseeing of Gibraltar. The walk took a whole day and was exhausting. But what we saw was worth it. The natural beauty of the city-state, as well as the funny barbary macaques, impressed me.
When traveling around Spain, in particular Andalusia, you feel a great temptation to visit Gibraltar, which is located relatively nearby. This visit seems somehow exotic to me - with approximately the same feeling I saw the Vatican in Rome or San Marino in Italy - a state within a state. Here the situation is aggravated by the fact that English territory is located on Spanish territory. Perhaps it looks like our Kaliningrad. The sights of Gibraltar deserve a full day to explore. Let's take a walk together.
A little about Gibraltar
I don’t know about you, but I hear something Arabic in the name - al-jabr (algebra) is somewhat reminiscent of gibr-al-tar or jabr-al-tar. Indeed, Jebel al-Tariq named this rock in the 6th century AD. in honor of the Moorish conqueror Tariq. Mount Tariq. That is, Gibraltar is a rock. We saw it so severely on a cloudy July morning in 2016.
If, like us, you travel by car, it is impossible to pass by. The road is equipped with quite reasonable signs.
One side of the 400-meter mountain - the eastern one - is steep, goes almost vertically into the water, while the western side is flatter; the city of Gibraltar arose on it, and an artificial super-harbour with an area of 180 hectares was built near it in Algeciras Bay.
It is this harbor on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, which receives large ships of enormous tonnage, that has made Gibraltar a bone of contention between England and Spain for more than three hundred years. I will not go into political details or draw historical analogies; I will only say that since 1969, Gibraltar has been considered an independent state under the jurisdiction of Great Britain, and as a result of Brexit, it has expressed a desire to remain a member of the European Union. Spanish official documents use the word “fence” to refer to the Isthmus of Gibraltar instead of the word “border” - Spain considers the rock to be illegally occupied territory.
Three flags - the European Union, Great Britain and Gibraltar itself - splash in the wind on one of the observation decks.
The coat of arms of Gibraltar features a Moorish tower located on a rock.
How to get to Gibraltar
Just. Previously, not just an open UK visa was required, but a special visa for overseas territories, or you could only get there by purchasing a special tour. Now a Schengen multiple visa is enough. A short delay at the border checkpoint, a stamp in your international passport - and you are almost in England.
With this visa you can explore the sights of Gibraltar for up to 21 days. This is at the discretion of the authorities.
We cross the runway, which runs directly across the road and pedestrian road, find a free parking space near the funicular station and set off to see the city.
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It is believed that there are three main attractions: the city, the tunnels, and the macaques. Some also highlight shopping - Gibraltar is a duty-free zone. For me, sending a letter to Russia was a separate adventure - the mailboxes there are too big. That's how it went! Let's go in order.
Sights of Gibraltar in the Main Street area
If you look at the diagram, we moved from top to bottom. Let's walk together and see what catches our eye.
Through the South Port Gate we pass to the Lord Nelson memorial, symbolizing the heroic death of the admiral in the Battle of Trafalgar. His remains were transported to London, but he was not buried here.
Nearby is Trafalgar Cemetery. It is a mistake to think that this is the burial place of soldiers who died in the battle of the same name. Information about only two participants is known. The rest were those who died of yellow fever in 1804, 1813 and 1814, and those who died around the same years in the Battle of Algeciras (1801), the Siege of Cadiz (1810) and Malaga (1812).
Next, we pass by the Gibraltar International Bank and the John Mackintosh Hall cultural center, admiring their lick-their sidewalks, inviting benches to sit down, pleasing street landscaping and neat buildings.
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A building like The Convent - a government residence - is impossible to miss. The building itself was built at the beginning of the 16th century and was previously a monastery of Franciscan monks; it became a governor's monastery in 1728.
Next to the residence, to the right of it is the Royal Chapel.
The building of the Gibraltar Garrison Barracks with bristling cannons is very colorful. In general, there are more than enough guns of different calibers in Gibraltar.
Walking past the monument in the square into a narrow alley, you can get to the Gibraltar Museum.
The museum stores unique local history exhibits; the exhibition is small, as it seemed to me, but varied.
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There are skulls, equipment of various warriors, representatives of fauna, mummies, and even a model of Gibraltar itself, made at the end of the 19th century. In some ways, probably with such “mixed hair”, it is similar to . Tickets cost £8. The museum's opening hours are in the photo.
And so we arrived later than expected, walked around gaping, had breakfast in a cafe with a delicious real English breakfast (21 pounds for three). Here she is, by the way. I recommend.
Mailboxes, telephone booths, columns with coats of arms, monuments - everything is solid and seems to be placed for centuries. Clean and decent.
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And near the Parliament building we were lucky to catch some kind of procession of musicians, right “along the main street with an orchestra.”
Then it occurred to me to send a memorial postcard to Moscow all the way from Gibraltar, the main post office was so stunningly beautiful, but that’s a different story.
Glass Museum on Casemates Square
We've reached the end of Main Street. It came up against the Casemate Square. This was once a scary place, but now there are food stalls and shops here.
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Yes, there is a glass museum in one of the casemates. You can see how glass was blown and buy some exclusive souvenirs in the store. True, the prices there are sad. And most importantly, how to transport such fragile souvenirs? Worth a thought!
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The attractions of Gibraltar, located on Main Street, ended for us with the Museum of Glass. You can wander around the neighboring streets, if you wish, look at the temples, synagogues, fortifications, fortress walls, but it’s time for us to “go to the mountains.”
Sights of Gibraltar on the "Rock"
Returning to the parking lot, we climbed by car to the maximum possible height for free travel. In general, the fact that on the Rock is a National Park, and entry there is paid.
The fee seems to be taken both for the car and for each passenger. But, since we found a place to park the car - somewhere near the Jewish Gate, then, accordingly, we only paid 10 pounds for tickets to the park. You are not allowed into the other tunnel without a guided tour. They advised us to negotiate on the spot. If there are people there and they give us a tour, we’ll pay there.
This place, with the Pillars of Hercules, symbolizes the location of the former Jewish enclave.
With a brisk step we headed to the other end of the mountain, towards the tunnels. Although, what am I saying? The haze of fog and attractive cloudiness gave way to scorching heat. When moving, even with a slight upward climb, it felt “not good.”
Sights of Gibraltar. Monkeys (Ape's Den)
It is for this reason - it is very hot - that we did not go to O'Hara's Battery - the highest point of the Rock along the steps carved into it (this path is indicated on the diagram as Mediterranean Steps), but chose the almost horizontal "Royal Road" (Queen's Road). Along our entire route, rings were driven into the rocky slopes, designed to lift heavy defensive guns to the top.
About halfway through the journey, we saw two attractions of Gibraltar at the same time - Barbary macaques, or "magoths", and a floating cable car cabin. This place is called "Ape's Den". Looking ahead, I'll tell you why monkeys are so revered in Gibraltar. It is believed that as long as at least one monkey is alive here, Gibraltar will remain English.
During World War II, monkeys helped British soldiers survive. The macaques got used to the permanent employees on the rock and did not react to them, but when strangers approached, squealing and commotion began. The enemy was detected, and security measures were taken in time.
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Now macaques are found not only here, but also in other parts of the rock. In appearance, they seem harmless and good-natured. But I prefer to play it safe - I saw these creatures, it’s not clear what can be expected from them. And they’ll get into your backpack and take away your glasses and camera. The administration of the reserve recommends adhering to the following rules:
- Remove any plastic bags, especially those containing food, before you come within sight of the monkeys
- Don't make faces, the monkeys will imitate your antics. Especially do not show your teeth - this is a sign of aggression
- Don't touch them, they are not pets, although they look cute
- Don't eat outside if you're in a monkey habitat
- First of all, don't feed them
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Sights of Gibraltar. Cable Car
The route of the funicular is shown in dotted lines on the diagram. This is one way to get to Gibraltar's highest viewpoint and monkey habitat, but it is expensive - more than £10 per person one way. And it's not even about the money. I suspect that climbing 400 meters up in a cabin dangling in the air would hardly give me pleasure.
Keep in mind that if you want to see the Monkey's Lair on your way back down the cable car, there is no stop here from April to October. Plan your route based on this.
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Surely there are lovers of hiking. There is a ladder for them, which also runs in this place and is indicated on the diagram. I would also put it on the list of “Attractions of Gibraltar”.
The views from this point are incomparable. Space... The eye rejoices from the opening perspective and the rounded horizon line - the edge of the earth is visible! The chest expands from the clean mountain air and the aromas of many protected plants. Only the brain is melting from the heat(((Be sure to take water and don’t forget a hat!
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It seems that the Rock of Gibraltar is now ready for defense - here and there there are bristling cannons. On the left is near the Gibraltar Military Heritage Centre, on the right is on top of the Tower of Remembrance of the Moorish Castle.
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Tower of Memory of the Moorish Castle
It is the symbol of the country and must be included in the list of “attractions of Gibraltar”.
About 100 meters high, there is a gloomy staircase inside. Apparently modern. Iron, not stone.
A fortress wall runs down from the tower; at the top of the tower there are defensive cannons; the walls carefully preserve traces of numerous sieges dating back to the 14th century. The views from the tower in different directions are impressive.
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Sights of Gibraltar. World War II Tunnels
These are exactly the tunnels that we were afraid not to get into.
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Everything turned out well, we got on the excursion. You are not allowed to wander through the tunnels of World War II on your own, only with an accompanying person. And, observing safety precautions, be sure to wear a helmet. Tickets £8.
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 | Although, if necessary, the tunnels can accommodate ALL the inhabitants of Gibraltar, the climate here is unhealthy. Yes, of course, during the war there was no choice... There was a hospital there, as well as food and ammunition warehouses. One could count on sheltering and maintaining the lives of several tens of thousands of people for 2-3 months. A unique building!
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