Gibraltar

TEN TEKST MOŻNA PRZECZYTAĆ TAKŻE PO POLSKU

Gibraltar is a small British overseas territory in the Iberian Peninsula. It is inhabited by about 30 thousand residents. The strategic meaning of Gibraltar is determined by the location at a narrow strait, which is the only connection between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

This area was granted to the United Kingdom in 1713, as its perpetual colony. Every so often Spain issues claims to this but so far with no effect. Both the United Kingdom itself, as well as the people of Gibraltar stand firmly for maintaining the current status quo.

Gibraltar is separated from the Spanish town of La Línea de la Concepcion by a demilitarized neutral zone. The best way to get here from Spain – aside from by plane – is to come from La Línea which is connected by buses lines with many cities, including Algeciras, Fuengirola, Malaga, Marbella, Granada, Seville and Cordoba. Crossing the border on foot takes about 10 minutes. You can also take a ferry from Algeciras.

Gibraltar is an excellent starting point to Morocco. You can use one of the many regular ferries from Tangier.

The Rock seen from La Línea

I visited Gibraltar several years ago. That's why, unlike in previous posts, I don't give a lot of practical information, because many things must have changed since then.

Rock

Over the port and the town there rises 426 meters high Rock of Gibraltar, which is mostly covered by a nature reserve. This is the only place in Europe where you can meet monkeys – Barbary macaques. They are accustomed to human presence and so outrageous that you have to be very careful and guard your belongings, for example a photo camera or other valuable things.

From the top of the Rock there is a breathtaking view of southern Spain and northern coast of Morocco (on a sunny day). On the left it is washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, on the right – the Atlantic Ocean. The summit can be accessed on foot (you have to find the stairs called the Union Jack Steps, which are located behind the Garrison Library (near the junction of Prince Edward Road from Castle Road) or take a cable car.

A view from the top

Other places

*St. Michael's Cave – one of the most popular attractions of Gibraltar, situated approximately 300 meters above sea level; it is sometimes referred to as one of the most interesting natural caves in Europe. It is subject of many legends and myth, it is for example said to be bottomless or that its underground passages connect it with Africa.

*Castle of the Moors – the Moors ruled over Gibraltar in the 711-1309 and 1350-1462. In the place of the old fortifications there stands nowadays a castle, built in the eleventh century, rebuilt several times.

*Gibraltar Museum – a small but interesting museum presenting the history and culture of this place.

*Cradle of History – a monument in the shape of the rocks, near the airport, shows the different civilizations that inhabited Gibraltar over the centuries, including Phoenicians, Romans and Moors, and also the so-called Pillars of Hercules.

*The Great Siege tunnels – a sequence of tunnels carved in the northern part of the Rock of Gibraltar by the British during the great siege in the eighteenth century

*Sikorski Monument – the majority of Poles associate Gibraltar with a tragic death of general Wladyslaw Sikorski, Polish commander in chief of the Armed Forces and Prime Minister of the Government-in-exile during World War II. The monument is situated near the cemetery and on the memorial plaques at the entrance to the Great Siege tunnels.

Convent Square