Visit Gibraltar and you'll find a big dollop of English traditions mixed with sunshine, tapas snack bars and ethnic restaurants and shops. They're all sprinkled round an immense rock almost surrounded by the sea.
Background
The Rock of Gibraltar takes up much of Gibraltar, and is home to Europe's only wild primates, the Barbary Apes. Beaches, marinas and diving centres cluster at the base of the Rock. Stroll Main Street in the city centre for a blend of British high-street and independent shops, and restaurants serving everything from traditional roast beef to fresh, charcoal-grilled seafood. Head east of the Rock for the sandy beaches of Catalan Bay and Sandy Bay, and go west to see where the locals live. Gibraltar borders southern Spain, and Morocco lies just across the water. But despite ongoing Spanish efforts to claim sovereignty - Gibraltar has been British since 1704.
Urban
As you would expect, everything in compact Gibraltar is within easy reach. Lined with Colonial-style buildings, shopaholic Main Street runs almost the length of town. Explore the intriguing little alleys leading off it. Find the hub of the city in Casemates Square. Crammed with cafes, boutiques and bars, it was once the site of public executions. Delve into the nearby Gibraltar Museum, a treasure trove of local culture, and seek shade in the cool interiors of Gibraltar's Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals.
Rural
Leave the centre and either go up the Rock, or around Gibraltar's seven and a half miles of coastline. Walk uphill, or take the Cable Car, to the Rock or to explore the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. Visit St Michael's Cave, a geological wonder, and the 19th-century Siege Tunnels. Back at sea level, wander south from the centre to the botanical gardens. Continue onto the rocky beach at Camp Bay and Europa Point lighthouse on the cliffs at Gibraltar's southernmost point. On a clear day, you can see across the Strait of Gibraltar to the Rif Mountains in Morocco.
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Fast Facts - Gibraltar
Language
English
Currency
Gibraltar pound
GMT
GMT +1 (+2 in summertime
Electricity
240 v AC, 50 Hz, both two-round-pin and three-square-pin plugs are used
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