Gibraltar

Introducing Gibraltar

Looming like some great ship off southern Spain, the British colony of Gibraltar is a fascinating compound of curiosities. Despite bobbies on the beat, red post boxes and other reminders of 1960s England, Gibraltar is actually a cultural cocktail with Genoese, Spanish, North African and other elements which have made it fantastically prosperous. Naturally, the main sight is the awesome Rock; a vast limestone ridge that rises to 426m, with sheer cliffs on its northern and eastern sides. For the ancient Greeks and Romans this was one of the two Pillars of Hercules, split from the other, Jebel Musa in Morocco, in the course of Hercules’ arduous Twelve Labours. The two great rocks marked the edge of the ancient world. Gibraltar’s location and highly defensible nature have attracted the covetous gaze of military strategists ever since.

Gibraltarians (77% of the population) speak both English and Spanish and, often, a curious mix of the two. Signs are in English. Gibraltar’s terrific agenda for visitors includes exploring its natural world, its military installations, and its quirky town.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009