Gibraltar has to be one of the most peculiar tourist destinations in Europe. This proudly British piece of land is to be found just on the southern tip of the Spanish peninsula and north of Morocco. Connected to Spain by a short highway, Gibraltar is popularly known as The Rock due to its altitude and miniature size: 3 miles (5 km) long and 0.75 miles (1.2 km) wide! Just a short ride away from many popular beach destinations, Gibraltar is the perfect destination for a day or half-day excursion. Join the Essential Free Tour of Gibraltar and explore this highly unusual British overseas territory! Your expert local guide will show how the marriage between British culture and Mediterranean influences has produced a highly distinctive mix!
The Essential Free Tour of Gibraltar is designed to provide an entertaining and informative historical introduction to the old town. The Rock has always been a precious land due to its strategic position —it’s the only entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. Related to this, your charming guide will explain why, according to ancient myths, Gibraltar was considered to be one of the two pillars of Heracles (Hercules) signaling the end of the known world. At the Moorish Castle and Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, travelers can find proof that the Arabs captured the peninsula in 711, leaving an important cultural heritage that can be seen even today. Later, Spain owned the land until the country formally ceded it to Britain under the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.
Gibraltar has played a crucial role on the British naval defense since the 18th century. In particular, it was an important garrison during World War II, and today the American & British War Memorials are must-see landmarks. During the tour you might catch sight of some of the Barbary macaques that roam the Rock freely. You might also notice that most locals are of mixed Genoese, British, Spanish, Maltese, and Portuguese descent, and that there are many Moroccan and Indian resident. This gives the city a distinctive and unique multicultural flavor, impossible to find anywhere else. As you can see, there are many secrets and surprises waiting for tourists in Gibraltar, so book today your seat at the best Essential Free Tour of Gibraltar!