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A little about "The Rock"
Gibraltar is an overseas territory of Britain sitting at the southernmost
tip of the Iberian peninsula over the Strait of Gibraltar. Its name is a
derivation of the Arabic phrase, Jabal Tariq, which means “mountain of
Tariq.” The British territory has even been called Calpe, one of the most
popular among Hercules’ Pillars. Alternately known among the locals and
frequent visitors as “Gib” or “the Rock,” history has seen Gibraltar
through both good times and bad, seen it grow, change and evolve as any
community will and embrace its past, while working toward a future that
shines for the residents of the area.
Gibraltar offers so much of history, that it has something to teach the
most educated pupil and so much of entertainment and fun that it can give
you something to celebrate. Take the time to come and play on the Rock.
In the mid 1840’s, the soldiers from Scotland
started to gather funds for a church of Saint Andrew. The
cornerstone was laid in 1853 and Saint Andrew’s Church of
Gibraltar consecrated in 1854 and built of limestone. The tower
looks down near the south end of the Governor’s Parade, near the
main street....
More about St Andrew's Church
The history of the area, more even than the attractions are part
and parcel of what has made Gibraltar area what it is today.
It's the vast array of things which have taken place here, and
the marks they've left on the area around them that will give
you a reason to explore still deeper into the Gibraltar area,
and to take in the sights and sounds and flavor that are
Gibraltar....
More about Europa Point
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The eastern corner of the British
territory of Gibraltar is not known to be a very heavily
populated area. Approximately, there may be less than 500
inhabitants that can be found here, or only about 1.5
percent of the total population of Gibraltar.
Yet, in this part of Gibraltar lies two beautiful spots,
Catalan Bay and Sandy Bay. Linking these two spots to Europa
Point, another great tourist attraction, is the Dudley Ward
Tunnel...
More about the Great Tunnel In Catalan Bay
Among the most impressive of the fortifications of Gibraltar
are the Southport Gates, still in evidence today, and still
impressive by any standards and well worth spending some
time to view. The Southport gates are part of what was once
a series of walls and fortifications that were part of
Gibraltar's defenses for literally hundreds of years. Built
originally in the mid 1500's, they were renewed, or rebuilt,
according to whom one asks, in the mid 1800's....
More about the Southport Gates
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Hailed as a great gift, the most southerly mosque in Europe,
Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, was in fact a gift to Gibraltar and its people,
from the late King Fahd Al-Saud. Gibraltar was of course vastly influenced
by the Moors, who at one time held control of the Rock, and their
contributions to the city cannot be undermined....
More about the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque
Parson’s lodge is perhaps the most strategically important place on
Gibraltar because it covers the entrance to Rosia Bay. The Spanish
discovered this as did the British when they strove with Spain to gain
access to the site. During the American War of Independence, both Spain
and France declared war on Great Britain, and attacked forces at
Gibraltar. ...
More about Parson's Lodge
The Trinity Lighthouse was named so because the Trinity House was
responsible for its maintenance. In this aspect, the lighthouse acquired a
significant status as it became the only lighthouse being managed by the
company that is located outside of Great Britain. Trinity House was
granted this responsibility through the Merchant Shipping Act of 1894....
More about the Lighthouse at Europa Point
Situated at the opposite end of the "Rock" from Spain, Rosia Bay is a
historic area, where it was said that Nelsons body was brought after his
death aboard the HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. It was here that
he rested prior to being returned home to England. It is more than just
history however, but also present day, with a bright welcoming area, lots
of parking, great little shops and some wonderful things to do to
entertain you....
More about Rosia Bay
Gibraltar is a town that has had a long and glorious history. A great part
of this history was practically etched in blood, which is not at all
surprising when one considers the truth that Gibraltar is a territory that
was ruled for many centuries by several different nations, with many of
them conquering the town with much bloodshed. While Gibraltar boasts of
several fortresses, including gates and tunnels, that primarily served as
protection of the city against invaders, it should be noted that many of
these fortifications went through numerous battles, practically shaping
the destiny of Gibraltar. As such, many people practically laid down their
lives to defend the area, and for these unsung heroes, a memorial is
usually built in their honor...
More about Trafalgar Cemetery
Perched precariously about 1400 feet (420 m) above the sea lies one of the
greatest areas for natural beauty in Europe, The Upper Rock Nature
Reserve. Considered by visitors to Gibraltar to be the one of the biggest
of the attractions of Gibraltar, the Upper Rock Nature Reserve is where
the visitor to Gibraltar can see multiple natural attractions including
the wildlife as well as numerous plant species that are unknown or
rarities elsewhere in the world....
More about the Upper Rock Nature Reserve
During the time of the American War of Independence against Britain,
perhaps taking advantage of a time when Britain's attentions were focused
elsewhere, Spain and France took the opportunity to advance and attempt to
recapture the "rock" from the British, and began what was the fourteenth
siege against Gibraltar, always known as the Great Siege....
More about the Great Siege Tunnels
Unlike other places worldwide where one has to literally remember so many
streets so one will not get lost, in Gibraltar land, there is only one
primary street that one can always run to if ever one finds the Gibraltar
visit getting to be somewhat confusing or perhaps unexciting. Here, one
can walk around practically unnoticed, as large crowds of people can
always be found here, either shopping around for that all-important dress,
or enjoying some idle time.
...
More about Main Street
There are the lesser known landmarks, Gibraltar sites that are not often
visited by tourists, not because these have nothing interesting to offer,
but because they were not promoted extensively by tourism officials of the
city. Often, these landmarks lay untouched, except perhaps by nature,
which unfortunately has caused these potential tourist attractions to
gradually lose much of its magnificence. A fine example of this should be
the Gibraltar Mediterranean Steps...
More about the Mediterranean Steps
The waters of Gibraltar, specifically, its bay and its strait, are quite
unique because it is situated in an area that can be easily accessed by
many West European visitors. Yet, apart from the natural splendor of the
waters, what further attracts many guests here are the marine animals that
reside herein, notably the dolphins and the whales. ...
More about Dolphin & Whale Spotting
Casemates Square is considered as the main plaza of Gibraltar. A great
number of restaurants and pubs are known to operate here, majority of
which have an open-air setting. For the Gibraltar guest who needs to
satisfy the pangs of hunger, Casemates Square is the one place that is
certain to provide the perfect answer...
More about Casemates Square
If Gibraltar is noted for its uniqueness, much of the credit goes to its
airport. It’s the only one in the world which has a road crossing the
runway — amazing, indeed. Add to the unusual fact that Gibraltar’s airport
is just a few walks away from the town’s central part, and that the
Winston Churchill Avenue, the road separating The Rock from Spain is
operational, closed only when an aircraft is landing or departing, it also
holds many remarkable bits of history...
More about the Gibraltar Airport
The 100 Tonne Gun in Gibraltar, also known as The Rock Buster, is
interestingly, never fired out of anger. Its strength was put to test a
couple of times, the most recent of which was in early 2000s, a first
shooting in nearly a century, however it was mainly for exhibition and/or
training purposes only. It has subsequently played a major role during
army trainings, but never in an actual war...
More about the 100 Tonne Gun
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