Gibraltar

Gibraltar is an overseas territory, which is as a crown colony belongs to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

It is located in southwestern Europe on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula and has a great strategic importance, as strait of Gibraltar is linking the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and furthermore also Europe and Africa.

Gibraltar is located on the north side of the strait of Gibraltar; this is also the place where Europe is closest to Africa, the most southern point of Europe.

It’s quite amazing standing there and looks over to Africa.

It’s amazing for two things; firstly because of the two totally different cultures and secondly it’s quote unbelievable, that Africa from this point is so close.

It takes only a bit more than half a house with ferry, to take you over to Tangier.

And believe me, this is something totally different that you are use to, while visiting places in Europe.

But don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean in a bad way, no, definitely not.

It’s something like, when people visit India for the first time, and they say, it’s a Big culture shock.

Anyway, it was like that for me. Maybe some other travelers will have different experiences.

Gibraltar history In year 711 Gibraltar was conquer by the Muslims Arabs and the Berber people.

The name Gibraltar comes from Dschebel al-Tariq – Tariq’s mountain.

It is named after Tariq ibn Sijadu, the Moors general who knew and was familiar with the strategic importance of Gibraltar, and has commanded to place the fortress there, around Gibraltar.

Muslims have reign over Gibraltar until Reconquist in year 1462.

From 1309 to 1333 Gibraltar was the first time in hands of Castilians. At 4th of August 1704 British have conquer Gibraltar.

This was during the Spanish succession war.

This attack was a total surprise for Spaniards, because they weren’t attacked at dawn, the morning as usually, but they were attacked during the afternoon siesta.

From year 1730 onwards, Gibraltar was confirmed with a peace agreement in Utrecht, as a British colony.

From 1730 Gibraltar is a formally confirmed as a crown colony. In colony live 28.800 inhabitants.

There is a still tension, which goes long back, between Great Britain and Spain, as Spain wants to acquire Gibraltar back.

The border was closed from 1969 to 1985 between Gibraltar and Spain.

City Gibraltar is located on a narrow band on the east side, where the rock is less steep.

On the southern cape (Europa Point) stands a lighthouse which was built in 1841.

Gibraltar and the famous monkeys Gibraltar is the only place in Europe where monkeys live in liberty.

These are the barbers, also named Magoti monkeys (scientific Latin name is Macaca silvanus). Also for this reason Gibraltar rock is also called Rock monkey.

The origin of these monkeys is not entirely clear.

I guess they have been transported by people from Morocco. In the past, barbarian monkeys lived also in the southern and central Europe, and so far, Gibraltar monkeys could be their descendants.

Gibraltar’s strait which is connecting the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea is of great strategic importance for the armed forces, therefore the United Kingdom has a fleet of Royal navy base in Gibraltar.

From the east side we could see from far away a steep cliff, named Upper Rock, which is located above the bay of Algeciras.

I also shouldn’t forget to tell you, that Gibraltar is a free tax zone, therefore a lot of tourists decided to visit it (while there are in south part of Spain).

While you are there is also worth visiting museums, where you will find out a lot of interesting things about Gibraltar’s history.

Related posts:

1. Andalusia
2. Morocco