gibraltar discover pocket guide - july 2011

SIGHTSEEINGDISCOVERPOCKET GUIDE TO

GIBRALTAR

FREE

EVERYTH INGYOU NEED TOKNOW ABOUTYOUR VISIT TOG I B R A L T A R

FOLD AWAY MAP INSIDE

www.discover.gi

SIGHTSEEING

MAPS AND INDEX 120

THINGS TO DO 63

THINGS TO SEE 6

THE HERITAGE OF GIBRALTAR 79

INFORMATION AND SERVICES 90

Table of Contents

Sightseeing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Historic Buildings and Fortifications . . . . .26Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39Caves and Tunnels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41Flora and Fauna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Beaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64Marinas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68Restaurants and Bars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70Shopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

History of Gibraltar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74Multi-Cultural Communities . . . . . . . . . 77Military Ceremonies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

A-Z Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91Financial Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113Medical Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120Index of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121

Overall plan of Gibraltar attached to insideback cover with Town Centre on reverse.

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Because the Rock of Gibraltar canbe seen for over 100 miles, it hasattracted visitors (and conquerors)

since the dawn of time.Neanderthal man made their home

here, and more recently, the Phoeniciansand Romans stopped at Gibraltar, thenthe Moors came to conquer the Rock,followed by the Spanish and the British.

All of these groups were impressedby Gibraltar’s strategic location betweentwo continents and joining the AtlanticOcean to the Mediterranean Sea, as wellas its imposing appearance and,of course,its subtropical climate.

As well as the British, Spanish and the Moors, the Genoese, Portuguese,Jews, Maltese and Hindus have also left their mark on Gibraltar.

Today Gibraltar is an important tourist destination,because of its heritageand history, but also for its shopping and dining.Visitors can tour Gibraltar,visit caves and tunnels, see Barbary Apes roaming freely on the Upper Rock,as well as dive under the sea and go on dolphin watching trips.

We are proud of this fifth edition of the Pocket Guide to Gibraltar andin it you will find extensive information on things to see and do in Gibraltar.

The book is divided into 4 sections.‘Things to See’ has an A-Z guide to sightseeing,descriptions of historical

buildings and fortifications, churches, caves and tunnels, as well asinformation on flora and fauna. Here you will find a list of tours includingour own do-it-yourself historical walking tour.

‘Things to Do’ is the section for beach goers, yachters, scuba divers,dolphin trippers, anglers, shoppers and for those who enjoy dining out.

‘The Heritage of Gibraltar’ discusses the history of the Rock, majorcultural influences on Gibraltar, and military ceremonies you can watch.

‘Information and Services’ has phone numbers, facts about Gibraltar, andthe services you can find here - from beauty salons to medical services tooffshore financial services to offshore betting and more with the latestaddition of a fold away map.

This edition includes advertisements from businesses interested in visitorsto Gibraltar and who offer quality service and products.

We hope you enjoy your visit to Gibraltar.

INTRODUCTION

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THINGS TO SEE

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Europa PointLighthouse

The Gibraltar Lighthouse,which has stood for over 150years, is 162 feet in height from thehigh water mark to the light. It isperched on the cliffs at EuropaPoint, the most southerly point inGibraltar, where its 3,000 wattlight bulb reaches out 21 miles ona clear night. During a heavy fog itcan only be seen for two miles. Itis an important navigational signalfor ships passing through theStraits of Gibraltar between theAtlantic and the Mediterranean.

The foundation stone was laidin 1838 by Lady Dowager QueenAdelaide three years prior tocompletion. In 1994 theLighthouse, the only one managed

by Trinity House outside Britain,was fully automated.

The Europa Point area is beingrefurbished and converted intoone of Gibraltar’s leading leisurefacilities for the enjoyment ofresidents and tourists.

It is estimated the project willtake approximately 15 months tocomplete.

Gibraltar, a CityUnder Seige

This exhibition, located on theUpper Rock, shows what it was likefor the soldiers who lived in Gibraltarunder siege.There is graffiti datingback to the 18th century as well asan old water system.

Opening times & prices, seepages 22-25.

Europa Point Lighthouse

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Gibraltar MuseumThe Gibraltar Museum is a must-

see for any visitor interested in findingout more about the rich and variedhistory of this Rock.The story of howGibraltar gained an importance anda reputation far exceeding its size, andhow this influenced and shaped thecommunities that came to reside hereis told via a series of informativegalleries that display a multitude ofinteresting and unique artefacts.

Excavations in the Museumgrounds attest to the continuedhabitation of this area by a successionof cultures. ‘The Gibraltar Story’ is a15-minute video which provides thevisitor with an overall view of thegenesis and evolution of the Rock andits inhabitants, and the Gibraltariansgallery, with its Maltese-made horse-drawn carriage continues this theme.Another gallery based on maritimethemes looks at the Rock’s manyseafaring visitors,from early Phoeniciansailors who left offerings at Gorham’sCave before setting out into theunknown Atlantic Ocean, to theRoyal Navy and well-knownpersonalities such as Admiral LordNelson who died at Trafalgar andwhose body was brought here afterthat famous sea-battle. Perhaps themost important and imposing of theexhibits are the remains of a 14th

century medieval Hammam, orbath-house, being one of the bestpreserved remaining medieval bathsin the Iberian Peninsula. Anothergallery houses the impressive modelof the Rock completed in 1865,which shows what Gibraltar lookedlike at the height of the VictorianEmpire, when the phrase ‘Strong as

the Rock’ echoed across the worldas a statement of inexpugnability.

A notable period in Gibraltar’shistory is its Great Siege,during whicha small Garrison and populationheld off attacks from the combinedforces of France and Spain for threeand a half years, and there is anentire section of the Museumdedicated to this important event.

A series of new galleries looks athow, in periods of peacetime duringthe late 18th and 19th Centuries, theRock became a hub of intellectual,cultural and sporting activities.Relics of this ‘age of Empire’ includean Egyptian mummy, found floatingin the Bay after the ship transportingit sank in the Strait, and of course,the cast of the world famousGibraltar skull belonging to an adultNeanderthal, discovered in 1848.Environmental reconstructions ofGibraltar during these prehistorictimes, and some of the manyartefacts found in subsequentexcavations are on display. Theyattest to the Rock’s internationalstatus as a site of world importancein terms of Neanderthal occupation,especially now that recent researchby the Gibraltar Museum hasestablished that this was the last placeon earth where this different kind ofhuman held out before becomingextinct around 24000 years ago. TheMuseum also has a gift shop whichstocks a wide range of books andsouvenirs. Last admission: 30 minutesbefore closing time.


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Great SynagogueThe Great Synagogue, located

on, Line Wall Road is one of theoldest in the Iberian peninsula,dating back to 1724. Guidedtours of the ‘Flemish’ synagogue,accompanied by a short history ofthe Gibraltar Jewish communitycan be arranged. Tel: (350)20076477.

Ibrahim-Al-IbrahimMosque

Located at Europa Point, thisbeautiful domed mosque was builtin the mid-1990s as a place ofworship for Gibraltar’s Muslimcommunity. It has an impressivetower that overlooks theMediterranean.

Koehler GunThe Koehler Depression Gun

Carriage was designed by Lt.George Koehler R.A. in 1782during the Great Siege (1779-1783) for firing down on theenemy from the North Face of the

Rock. It was the first carriage of itstype in the world. Tight waddinghad to be used in the 24 pounderto stop the balls from rolling downthe barrel.

The gun on display outside theTourist Office, at Casemates, waspresented to the City of Gibraltarby the Royal Artillery in April1981 when the regiment wasgranted the freedom of the city.

Mediterranean StepsSituated on one of the

cultivated terraces above Jew’sGate lies the pathway leading tothe Mediterranean Steps. A rightturn through a copse leads to thestart of the walk.

If you park near the lookout, asign on the side of a whitebuilding nearby indicates the wayto the steps.

There are two sections to thewalk. The first part people of allages can enjoy as it is an easy trailand only takes five to ten minutes.From there you cross a stretch ofloose rock then come to a set ofsteps going down. The secondstretch, about 3/4 of the walk, isnot extremely difficult butrequires more effort, especially theclimb up to the big guns.

On a hot day it can besomewhat demanding but whenyou reach the end of the climb,where the World War I gunemplacements are, you getspectacular views over the old

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Koehler Depression Gun

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water catchments and up theCosta del Sol.

For those interested in plantsor bird watching, it is an excellentplace to find a variety of specimensof both.

If you walk the full length itwill take about an hour going andto return. A good pair of walkingshoes is required and a cold drinkis recommended.Anyone sufferingfrom vertigo should avoid this walk

The MilitaryHeritage Centre

The Military Heritage Centrelocated on the Upper Rockcontains an interesting variety ofmilitary artifacts housed in gunpositions which pre-date WorldWar I. It is located in PrincessCaroline’s Battery, named afterKing George II’s third daughter.The development of Gibraltar’smilitary defences through the agesis chronicled and there are manyrelics from when the battery wasin use.The original hoists, used toservice the 6 inch gun that was putin place in 1905, are on displayalong with shells and artefactsfrom the period.Weapons used bythe British army from the time ofthe Great Siege to present day arealso on view.

In the Memorial Chamberthere is the Roll Call of theRegiments that have served in

Gibraltar since 1704. This displayhonours the men and women whodedicated themselves to servingBritain in the Armed Forces.

Located at this site is an Artsand Craft Centre where souvenirs,paintings and prints are on sale.


MonumentsThe American War

Memorial was erected in 1932 bythe American Battle Commissionto commemorate the co-operationbetween the American and BritishNavy at Gibraltar during WorldWar I. Dr Paul Gret, ofPhiladelphia designed the archwaymonument and steps.

The Black Watch Memorialis located at the eastern end ofDevil’s Tower Road. The Cairnwas erected as a memorial to the4th BN The Black Watch (RoyalHighland Regiment) for theirunrelenting work on the defencesof the north and east sides of theRock from July 1940 to April1943 when the Battalion formedpart of the garrison.

Commonwealth WarGraves Commission wasestablished in 1917 to mark andmaintain the graves of themembers of the forces of theCommonwealth who were killedin World War I and to build

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The American War Memorial

SIGHTSEEINGmemorials to those who have noknown grave. In Gibraltar’s NorthFront Cemetery there is one plotof land dedicated to those whodied in both World Wars.

Eliott’s Monument, a columnlocated in Alameda Gardens, isdedicated to General Sir GeorgeAugustus Eliott who defendedGibraltar heroically during theGreat Siege. He was rewarded forhis efforts with a pension of£1,500 a year, was given theOrder of the Bath and the thanksof Parliament.The ceremonies forhis investiture took place at King’sBastion. Four years later he wasgiven a peerage with the titleBaron Heathfield of Gibraltar.

The Queen VictoriaMemorial is situated inGovernor’s Parade and wasunveiled on May 24, 1910 byGovernor Sir F.W.E. Forestier-Walker. Set on a pillar of limestonethe bust is the work of the Italiansculptor Lazzarini.

The Sikorski Propeller islocated on Devil’s Tower Rd nearEastern Beach. General Sikorskiwas Prime Minister of Polandduring World War II, andCommander in Chief of the PolishForces in exile. On July 4, 1943 hisLiberator airplane crashed into thesea just after take off from theairport. Sikorski and his daughterboth lost their lives, and her body

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The Queen Victoria Memorial

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was never found. First LieutenantEdward Pichal, the pilot, was thesole survivor. A monument wasmade from the propeller of theaircraft in tribute to GeneralSikorski, but he is not mentionedon the plaque.

The Rooke Statue, locatedalong route from the coach parkto Main Street in honour ofAdmiral Sir George Rooke tocommemorate 300 years of BritishGibraltar.

Wellington’s Monument inthe Alameda Gardens is protectedby 18th century mortars and guns.The monument was raised at a

cost of a day’s pay by the entiregarrison and from civilianemployees in official employmentand was put in place in 1819 byGovernor Sir George Don. Thebust was cast in bronze from gunscaptured by the Duke.

Nelson Statue, this true tolife size statue, which standsoutside the Trafalgar Cemeteryhas been cast in bronze by thewell-known sculptor JohnDoubleday, and contains coppertaken from HMS Victory.

Moorish BathsThe Moorish Baths are located

inside the Museum lying partlyunder Bomb House and Ordnance

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The Nelson Statue.

Statue of Sir George Rooke

House, and recently opened to thepublic after extensive restorationand excavation.The architecture ofthis ancient structure has nowbeen revealed to show a muchmore complete picture of aprevious culture.

There are no baths where onecan clean oneself, which hasdisappointed many tourists whohave shown up with their towels.Mr. Budgett, an authority onMoorish antiquities wrote of thebaths, “Except in the Alhambrathere is nothing in Spain tocompare with it.”

Moorish CastleThe Tower of Homage is one

of the best preserved remnants ofthe Moorish Castle and dates backmore than six centuries. (A mucholder castle exists beneath thislatest tower of 1333 AD.) The

original walls of the castleenclosed a considerable areareaching to the sea. Of these walls,the Moorish Pier is still to be seen.

Tarik-ibn-Zeyad (who gave hisname to Gibraltar, Gebel Tarik orTarik’s Hill) was the Moorishleader who conquered much of theIberian Peninsula. He tookGibraltar in 711 and in thefollowing two years completed the

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Moorish Castle.

Moorish Baths

SIGHTSEEINGSIGHTSEEINGconquest which would put a largeportion of Europe in Arab handsfor over seven centuries. Tarik’ssuccessors built the firstfortifications near the site of thepresent tower. A larger castlereplaced these in 1160 to provideprotection to the growing town.The fortifications were needed aswar was continuous throughout theperiod that the Arabs held the land.

King Ferdinand IV of Castilleand Leon attacked Gibraltar in1309 and captured it but the Rockwas only held for 24 years beforethe Moors retook it.

The battles of 1333 didextensive damage to the tower soit was rebuilt and this helped keepthe Spanish at bay for another 129years.What remains the gatehouse,walls and bastions dates from thatperiod, which is contemporarywith the Alhambra in Granada.

When the British tookGibraltar the Spanish attempted torecapture the Rock several times.Their artillery fire made littleimpression on the solid mass ofmasonry. Admiral Rooke raisedthe British flag on the Tower whenhe captured it in 1704 and it hasflown there ever since.

The Inner Keep was used bythe British and continues to beused as a prison, however there areparts of the castle that are open tovisitors.


Nelson’s Anchorageand 100 Ton Gun

Nelson’s Anchorage, at the farend of Rosia Road, is a fascinatingmonument to Victorian artilleryand technology. It has

The 100 Ton Gun

commanding views across RosiaBay where HMS Victory wasanchored after the Battle ofTrafalgar with the body of AdmiralLord Nelson on board. In 1805 thebay was the only deep wateranchorage in Gibraltar.

The present battery wasconstructed between December23, 1878 and March 31, 1884 at acost of £35,717. Built on the siteof the old 2nd and 3rd RosiaBatteries it was named after thenGovernor, Lord Napier ofMagdala.

An exhibition is housed in thechambers that form part of a largeunderground complex serving themagnificent Victorian super gun,the 100 Ton Gun.

Nicknamed “The RockBuster” the gun was built in 1870and remains the best preserved ofits type in the world. Installationwas a very laborious task takingthree weeks to transport it barelyone third of a mile from the docksto its present emplacement.

Once in place a sophisticatedhydraulic system was devised tomove the gun. Response time wasclose to three hours, which todaymay sound inadequately slow, butas the prime targets were sailingships prior to the invention of thesteam engine, it was sufficient.

Although much of the gunwould have been familiar to agunner in Nelson’s navy it also hadmany revolutionary features. For

example it was not fired byigniting a fuse but by heatingplatinum with electricity from abattery.

Designed during a period ofrapid advance in artillerytechnology the 100 ton gun wassoon obsolete - having never fireda shot in anger.

The site remained strategicand four 3.7 inch anti-aircraft gunswere mounted here during WorldWar II. Bren guns were mountedin a passage which had been madefor one of the giant hydraulicallypowered ramrods.

More detailed information isavailable at the exhibition, alongwith an interesting range ofsouvenirs.


Nun’s WellThe Nun’s Well is a large

underground cistern located onthe flats at Europa Point. It isbelieved that its name came fromthe nuns who were at the nearbyShrine of Our Lady of Europewho took their water from it andtended to its upkeep. It is alsothought that it may have receivedits name at an earlier point as anold map described it as “a bathingplace for ye Nuns of NostraSenora de Europa.”

Water enters the cisternthrough porous limestone afterdraining south to Windmill Hill

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Flats and then running through alarge geological fault in the cliff.

There is some thought that thecistern is pre-Moorish whichmight make it Roman, or maybeeven earlier. It is commonlybelieved that it is Moorish andmay have once been a part of anextensive Moorish village atEuropa Point.

The arched vault is about 80feet long and supported by (whatis believed to be) pillars of 14thcentury Moorish construction.

RingsWhen you are on the Upper

Rock you will probably notice aseries of rings along the roads.These rings were used to anchorpulleys to haul guns to the top ofthe Rock.The 9.2 inch gun barrelfor the O’Hara Battery wasconveyed to its position in thismanner.

St Michael’s CaveThis cave is one of Gibraltar’s

most famous attractions. Neolithicinhabitants are thought to be thefirst inhabitants of St Michael’sCave, and it is known that theRomans visited it. The cavefeatures an upper hall and has fiveconnecting passages with dropswhich range between 40 to 150feet to the smaller hall. Ofparticular interest is the cross-section of a stalagmite which

shows its history of growth. The

Cathedral Cave was long thought

to be bottomless, which may be

why some people once believed in

an underground passage which

linked Gibraltar with Africa. The

Cathedral Cave is now used as a

theatre where concerts, plays and

other live performances are held.

During World War II the cave

was to be used as a military

hospital but, fortunately, was never

needed. However, whilst mining

during World War II, Lower St

Michael’s Cave was discovered.

Opening times & prices, see

pages 22-25. Tel: (350) 20074975.

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Shrine of Our Ladyof Europe

The Moors built a mosque onthe site of the present Shrine of OurLady of Europe before 1309. Thiswas when the Spanish occupationof Gibraltar began and until 1333the Islamic holy site was used as aChristian shrine. A labourerworking nearby in the late 1900sfound an image of the Madonnawhich dates from that period.

In 1333, the Spanish wereexpelled by the Moors whoreconverted the site to a mosque.For another 100 years it was a holyplace for Islam but when theSpanish “reconquista” wascompleted in 1462 the shrineonce again became Christian.

After this, the shrine wasattacked and partially destroyed byTurkish pirates and then, duringthe British and Dutch seizure ofGibraltar in 1704 the Image ofOur Lady was badly damaged andthrown over a cliff into the sea.

It was later recovered and takento Algeciras for safe keeping where itremained until 1864, when BishopScandella brought the image backfrom Algeciras and it was placed in atemporary shrine in a chapelopposite the present GovernmentHouse on Main Street.

In 1866 it was moved to theLittle Sister of the Poor, whereMount Alvernia Home nowstands.The marble altar and thronewere donated by Pope Pius IX.Because of war, it was taken to theCathedral of St. Mary theCrowned in 1939 for safekeeping.

In 1961 the guard room wasrestored to the church and inSeptember of the following yearBishop John F. Healy celebrated thefirst mass there in 258 years.However, it was not until 1968 thatthe image was returned to the shrine.

The present chapel, small butsolidly built, is located in a housingdevelopment at Europa Point.Theway is clearly marked and is notdifficult to find. In 1996 thebuilding was extended and a belltower added.

In 2009, Gibraltar celebratedthe 700th anniversary of devotionto Our Lady of Europe. HisHoliness the Pope gave the Shrinethe Golden Rose, the highestPapal award for any shrine.


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The Shrine of Our Lady of Europe

Trafalgar CemeteryIn October 1805 one of

history’s greatest sea battles wasfought between the British andFranco-Spanish fleets nearGibraltar at Cape Trafalgar.

It was a fierce and decisivevictory for Britain but their greatleader, Admiral Nelson, was fatallywounded by a French sniper.

Most of the sailors who died inbattle were buried at sea, and twosailors who died of wounds in thebattle are buried at TrafalgarCemetery near Southport Gates.Nelson’s body, however, wasreturned to England for greaterhonours. He is entombed in acrypt in St. Paul’s Cathedral.

The HMS Victory called onGibraltar immediately after thebattle. One story has it thatNelson’s remains were kept in a

barrel of rum to preserve them forthe return journey to England.

Another legend would have usbelieve, though there is noevidence to support it, that whilethe Victory was undergoing repairsthe cask containing Nelson’s bodywas brought ashore and taken toSt.Vincent House. It was placed inwhat is now known as Nelson’sroom where William Beaty,Victory’s surgeon changed thebarrel of brandy (as some believe itwas) to spirits of wine.

Upper Rock NatureReserve

With its rich vegetation,spectacular views and large varietyof mammals, insects, butterflies,reptiles and birds, both seriousbotanists and the casual ramblersfind the Upper Rock NatureReserve a source of fascination.

It is a great place for birdwatchers, especially during timesof migration as a large number ofspecies move between Europe andAfrica over this area. Over 270birds have been spotted inGibraltar. Booted Eagles, EgyptianVultures, the Griffon Vulture andBarbary Partridges are among themany that have been seen.

There are over 600 species offlowering plants some of whichare unique to Gibraltar. Densematorall is the dominant specieson the upper rock and there are

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Trafalgar Cemetery

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many plants that are unique toGibraltar. The Dwarf Fan Palm,Europe’s only native palm can befound here.

There are rare, and not so rarebutterflies, lizards and snakes.


AqueductBetween the Alameda Gardens

and Rosia Road is the solesurviving vent of an aqueductwhich was built by the Spanish onan older Moorish system.

Polish MemorialThe original propeller

recovered from the sea has becomea Polish War Memorial, situated atthe entrance to Eastern Beach nearthe site where Polish PrimeMinister in exile, General Sikorskilost his life in an air crash in 1943as his plane took off from Gibraltarduring WWII. The RomanCatholic Cathedral in Main Streetalso has a memorial to this Polishpatriot. This memorial is situatedby the left altar.

Evacuees MemorialThis statue was erected in

honour of the Gibraltariansevacuated during WWII and sentto Morocco, Madeira, Jamaica,Northern Ireland and England.British troops occupied theirhomes locally. The Gibraltarianswho had the misfortune of beingsent to London suffered at thehand German bombings. Acouple of thousand men who heldjobs considered essential for thewar effort were not allowed toleave Gibraltar. The very accuratememorial, the work of Jill CowieSaunders, shows families re-unitedafter the war. Those who livedthis experience find thismonument very moving.

Flat BastionMagazine

Geological research, exhibitioncentre and lithology of Gibraltar.

HISTORIC BUILDINGS

The Barbary Ape roams freely onthe Upper Rock and can usually beseen at the Ape’s Den in the NatureReserve.

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Parson’s LodgeDominating Rosia Bay you

find Parson's Lodge Battery, datingfrom 1875, which formerlyhoused three 18-ton guns. Theold Spanish walls were reinforcedby the British, while beneath thebattery are the formerammunition stores and livingquarters. This fortification is nowin the hands of the GibraltarMuseum who are currently usingit as a research centre, for theircave and undersea studies.

MosqueThis beautiful example of

Muslim architecture has beenstanding at Europa Point since1997. It was paid for by the lateKing Fahad Abdul Aziz of Saudi

Arabia and caters for the Muslimpopulation of Gibraltar, most ofwhom originate from Morocco.The mosque is a beautiful additionto this unique site. When lit up atnight it stands out dramatically andis visible from miles away.

City HallCity Hall is located on the

western side of the Piazza at JohnMackintosh Square. Officiallyopened on November 28, 1924, byGovernor, General Sir Charles C.Monro it is home to governmentoffices and that of the Mayor ofGibraltar. (The Mayor is selectedfrom the members of the House ofAssembly by the membersthemselves.)

This site is believed to havehad a hermitage on it and Our

HISTORIC BUILDINGS

Gibraltar’s City Hall

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HISTORIC BUILDINGSLady of Mercy Hospital. Thepresent building was constructedin 1815 by Aaron Cardozo, aprominent Gibraltarian, for use ashis family home.

From 1833 to 1839 thebuilding became the Club HouseHotel, in which the writer WilliamThackeray was a guest. In 1875Cardozo’s nephew sold the houseto Pablo Larios, a wealthy Spanishbusinessman and long timeresident in Gibraltar.

In 1876 the home was put atthe disposal of H.R.H. the Dukeof Connaught, son of QueenVictoria, who lived in the mansionduring his tour of duty inGibraltar. Until 1924, it wasknown as Connaught House.

In 1920 the property was soldto the Colonial Government andused as the parcel post house. In1924 it was transferred to thenewly created City Council whoheld their meetings here until1969 when the Council wasmerged with the GibraltarGovernment.

In 1995, on the initiative of theGibraltar Heritage Trust, and withdonations from the Marifold Trust,the Gibraltar government andmany local businesses andindividuals, the exterior wasrestored.

The ConventFrom 1711 the Convent,

located on Main Street, has been

the official residence of theGovernor of Gibraltar. This iswhere the Changing of the Guardtakes place several times dailyMonday-Friday by the GibraltarRegiment.

Prior to the British takingpossession of the Rock, FranciscanFriars resided in the Convent from1531. The nave of their chapelforms the ballroom but the billiardroom was not a part of thebuilding when the order livedthere. It was added in 1879. TheConvent was further expandedupon in 1864 when the banquetroom was built. On display hereare the shield of arms, flags and

The Convent

sightseeingHISTORIC BUILDINGSmottoes of all of Gibraltar’sgovernors and distinguishedpersons connected with Gibraltarsince 711.

The panels of the end doorsare made from cedar washedashore from Spanish wrecksengaged in the Grand Attack of1782. Still clearly visible are theshot holes.

On the patio is a statue ofGeneral Eliott. It was cut from thebowsprit of the Spanish man-of-warSan Juan, that was taken at Trafalgar.

The beautiful garden isenhanced with some rare andexotic plants and includes somevery old Dragon Trees. Royalty hascontributed to the lushness of thegarden by planting trees. KingEdward VII, the German EmperorWilhelm II, Queen Alexandra,Japanese Crown Prince Hirohito,and Queen Elizabeth II have alladded trees to the garden.

Some believe that the Conventis haunted by the Grey Lady. Shewas a Franciscan Nun who wascaught trying to elope with hersweetheart, who was a monk.Pursued, the couple tried to flee toAlgeciras in a row boat but a stormblew up and he perished. She wascaught and executed in theConvent.

The GarrisonLibrary

The Garrison Library whichholds the finest collections ofEnglish language books in theMediterranean, was established in1793 by Col. Drinkwater. TheColonel was posted to Gibraltarduring the Great Siege and havingbeen trapped on the Rock for fouryears without any books he wasdetermined not to have to sufferanother siege without reading

The Garrison Library

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material so he set aboutestablishing a library for theofficers of the Garrison. Thelibrary was constructed atGovernor’s Parade on the sitewhere the Spanish Governor’sresidence had previously stood. Itwas inaugurated in 1793, but thiswas not to be its permanent home.The new building was completedin 1804 with a new wing added in1867.

The library boasts acomprehensive collection of workson Gibraltar. It is now a researchlibrary and is open to researchersSummer Hours Monday - Fridayfrom 9.00am - 3.00pm, WinterHours Monday - Friday from9.00am - 5.00pm. Free Tours areconducted on Fridays at 11.00am.

Parliament HouseThis building, located on the

eastern side of the Piazza, wasestablished in 1817 as theExchange and CommercialLibrary under Governor SirGeorge Don. (Don is known asthe father of modern Gibraltarbecause of the many projectswhich were undertaken during hisadministration, including thebuilding of the law courts andAlameda Gardens.) Don’s bustoverlooks Main Street from thetop of the House of Assembly.

The building was damaged byfire in 1919 and the roof wasredone in a different style. It was tobe six years before in was re-

opened by Governor, Sir HoraceLockwood Smith-Dorrien, onSeptember 25, 1922. OnNovember 23, 1950 the buildingbecame the Legislative Counciland on August 26, 1969 becamethe House of Assembly. On 2ndJanuary 2007, the GibraltarConstitution Order 2006 cameinto effect. The Order restyles theHouse of Assembly as the GibraltarParliament.

John Mackintosh HallJohn Mackintosh, a wealthy

philanthropist, born in Gibraltar in1865, was a simple man of a retiringnature who went little into society.He was very approachable, however,and had many friends in all walks oflife. He was well-read and fond ofmusic as well as very public-spirited;he could always be counted on forpractical help in any worthwhilecause. His genuine interest in thewelfare of his native Gibraltar and theneeds of the aged, sick and poor wasreflected in his will when he providedhomes for the aged poor, for anadditional wing to the old ColonialHospital and also for various charities.He was keen to foster the connectionbetween Gibraltar and Great Britainand the educational provisions of hiswill were designed to promote andstrengthen the ties between Englandand Gibraltar, particularly in thecultural and educational needs of theyoung people of Gibraltar. It wasthrough the provisions of this will thatthe John Mackintosh Hall was built.

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HISTORIC BUILDINGS

The John Mackintosh Hallopened its doors to the public in April1964 and has been the centre ofGibraltar’s cultural activities eversince. The building was purpose builtand the architects were keen to makeuse of the Mediterranean light thatwas reflected off the Rock, and usedshade and movements of air to relievethe heat of the summer months – anenvironmental approach well ahead ofits time. The architects used theMediterranean architectural traditionsin designing the interior of thebuilding too, as a series ofinterconnecting courtyards in whichthe direct sunlight was controlled, andwhich became ‘rooms without roofs’,with trees, fountains and shaded areas.

Since its opening, ideas about theuse of the building have only beenslightly modified and adapted to caterfor changing times: certain roomshave been put to entirely new usesand an increasing emphasis has beengiven to adult and cultural activities.The library now occupies the entireeast side of the building and thetheatre, which was originallyconceived as a multi-purpose schoolhall, has changed in character so thatit is now better-suited to conferencesand lectures, as well as musical anddramatic productions, than before.

The John Mackintosh Hallcontinues to be the centre ofGibraltar’s cultural activities whereover two hundred societies andassociations meet regularly.

Law CourtsThe Law Courts are located

on Main Street near the Convent.From the 1830’s when Gibraltarwas granted its Charter of Justicesessions have been held at thesepremises. Many famous cases, suchas that of the Mary Celeste ‘ghostship’ trial have been heard.

The Registry Office wasformerly situated in an annex ofthis building where a number offamous people have been married.John Lennon and Yoko Ono weremarried here in 1969 (this event iscommemorated on a Gibraltarphone card); Sean Connery in1975 and Des O’Conner tied theknot here in 1987.

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Law Courts

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HISTORIC BUILDINGS

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GATES, WALLS &FORTIFICATIONS

The Main GuardThe Main Guard home of the

Gibraltar Heritage Trust since2001 dates from the middle of the18th century. Over the years andcommencing as a guard houseoccupied by the Garrison, it hasvariously been used as a firestation, public baths andGovernment offices for thepayment of utility bills and roadlicences.

Gates,Walls &Fortifications

Casemates Gates the firstgate was opened in 1727 and wasfollowed by others in 1859 and1884. Passing through them from

the outside one goes intoCasemates Square, at the northend of Main Street. Above theSquare the batteries and walls leadup to the Tower of Homage(Moorish Castle.) This area wasunder the protection of the oldcastle and was within the confinesof the old 15th century Spanishtown. After 13 sieges by theSpanish this area was in such ruinthat it was pulled down and theSquare was made in 1731.

Charles V Wall, which comesdown from the ancient Moorishwall, past Trafalgar cemetery at thesouthern end of Main Street wasbuilt in 1552 by Calvi, the ItalianEngineer. Calvi was sent toGibraltar by the Holy RomanEmperor Charles V, (Charles I of

The Main Guard

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SIGHTSEEINGSpain, a Habsburg, and grandsonand heir to Queen Isabella) tofortify the defences after an attackby pirates in 1540. Attacks bypirates were frequent, but on thisoccasion Turkish pirates, under thecommand of Barbarossa, took over70 captives with the intent ofselling them into slavery. Charles’son, Felipe II commissionedanother Italian engineer El Fratinoto extend the wall to the summit.

Devil’s Tongue was situatedon the present Waterport Wharfroad and was originally an oldSpanish pier built during the reignof King Philip III. At the time itconnected to the counterguard bya narrow bridge and a sally portwhich can still be seen todayin the wall of MontaguCounterguard near theroundabout. A drawbridge by the“Chatham Wicket” opened uponto the Mole and the cementedover opening in the sea wall is stillvisible. The name is believed tohave come from the Great Siege(1779 - 1783) when the Spanishchristened it so due to thetremendous fire power of thebattery. This site was probably animprovement on the Moorish one.

Devil’s Tower played asignificant role in the Rock’sdefences. A tower, similar to theMartello Towers along the Spanishcoast, was situated at the end ofDevil’s Tower Road on the isthmus

near the eastern end of the road.The Spaniards used this tower towarn of pirates and other attackerssailing towards Gibraltar. Whenthey were spotted large bonfireswere lit which could be seen bydefenders further up the coast,alerting them to danger.

Grand Battery, the lowestpart of the original MoorishNorthern Defence, was known bythe Spanish as the Curtain of St.Bernard. The northern areaprovided defences for theLandport entrance, the Watergateand the Cooperage.

A narrow causeway connectedSpain to the narrow land entranceinto Gibraltar though LandportGate. The sea would lap thecauseway on one side (Glacis area)while on the other side there waswater from the Inundation, dug onthe orders of the Prince of Hesse-Damstadt.

Years later the inundation wasenlarged and many deep pits wereexcavated in it. This was done sothat sharp shooters above King’sLines could fire at anyoneattempting to cross the causeway.

Jumpers’ Bastion was namedafter Captain Jumper who was thefirst to land his troops in 1704when the combined British-Dutch force captured Gibraltar.Jumpers, along Rosia Road isdivided in two, the north bastionand the south bastion.

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King’s Bastion was built in1773 by General Sir Robert Boydon the site of an old Moorish Gateand a Spanish Bastion (1575), anddesigned by Col. Sir WilliamGreen, Chief Engineer. Thebastion, which providedaccommodation for 800 men wasthe keystone of the defencesduring the Great Siege. It was partof the Line Wall and the positionfrom where the red hot shots werefired, and where General Eliottstood during the heaviest shellingby enemy during the grand attackof 1782.

During Victorian times theoriginal bastion was modified andthe cannon, fireproof curtains andother structures could still be seen.When it was no longer requiredfor defence, it was turned into an

electricity generating station. Thestation was designed by localarchitect Natalio Langdon and wasopened in October 1961. It closeddown during the 1990s and waseventually demolished in 2005.The original bastion façades werethen re-exposed.

Today, the bastion has beentotally redeveloped into one ofGibraltar's premiere leisurefacilities, the latest lease of life forthis important monument. “TheKing’s Bastion Leisure Centre”

Landport Gate was built bythe Spaniards in the late sixteenthcentury on the site of an earlierMoorish gate. It was the only landentrance into Gibraltar. It wasdestroyed and had to be rebuilt in1729 by the British. Thedrawbridge went into a state of

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SIGHTSEEINGdecay but in 1922 it was repairedand is now in full working order.During the Great Siege, GeneralEliott's troops stole out throughthis gate for a surprise attack onthe Spanish lines. Bomb ProofBattery (1790), Hesses' DemiBastion (1705) CouveportBattery and King's LinesBattery provided flanking coverfor Gibraltar's only land entrance,Landport Gate.

Line Wall from the time theBritish captured Gibraltar in 1704there has been a co-ordinatedsystem of defence from the NorthFace of the Rock to Europa Point.These defences, which becameknown as the Line Wall, were builton the Moorish sea-wall usingwhite Portland limestone. The sealapped at the foot of the wallswhich were almost entirelyreconstructed and fortified.All theland to the west of this wall has,over the years, been reclaimedfrom the sea.

As a memorial of his regardand welfare of the people ofGibraltar, Governor Sir HoraceLockwood Smith-Dorrien had theesplanade and steps constructedalong the Line Wall in 1921.

The Gibraltar WarMemorial on Line Wall Road is inhonour of the fallen during WorldWar I including a number ofGibraltarians. It was unveiled in

1923 by the Governor General SirCharles Monro and is the work ofJose Piquet Catoli from Barcelona.As the Royal Air Force did not existin its present form until the 1st April1918 (amalgamation of RoyalFlying Corps & Royal NavalService) it relates only to soldiersand sailors. The two Russian gunswere captured during the CrimeanWar and were given to the peopleof Gibraltar for the help Gibraltargave during this war. They arrivedin Gibraltar in 1858.

O’ Hara’s Tower andBattery was named after GeneralCharles O’Hara who was theGovernor of Gibraltar from 1787-1799. He believed that if only theRock was a little higher, hislookouts would be able to see theSpanish ships as they left Cadiz. Hehad a special tower built on top ofthe highest point of the Rock atthe southern end where O’Hara’sBattery stands today.

O’Hara’s Tower proved to be afailure and it became known as“O’Hara’s Folly.” The tower waslater demolished and a gun batterywas constructed in its place. It wassubsequently reconstructed in1935 with a 9.2 inch gun that hada range of 16.82 miles.

O’Hara was very popular with theofficers and men and was nicknamed“The Old Cock of the Rock.”

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Prince Edward’s Gate is inthe Charles V Wall overlookingTrafalgar Cemetery and was namedafter Queen Victoria’s father, theDuke of Kent. From 1802 to 1820he was the Governor of Gibraltar.

Ragged Staff A gate was cutthrough the Line Wall in 1736 toaccess victually warships after awharf 350 feet long was built by acontractor to the Navy VictuallingOffice.The wharf was accessed bya flight of stone steps, and adrawbridge.

There are many theories to theorigin of the name, though noneof them have been verified. Onetheory suggests that the RaggedStaff was a badge of the EmperorCharles V. Another suggests that atthe end of the jetty there was aragged mast that was used to hoistthe barrels from the row boats. (A

naval term for the mast is staff,hence, ragged staff.) Yet anothersuggests the name derived fromthe rough finish of the originalwork because staff can meancement or similar buildingmaterial. Major General SirJohn Jones called the area, “anill-conditioned spot...”

The gates provide passagethrough the wall at a site that wasknown as the Ragged StaffCouvreport.

Rock Gun Battery duringthe Great Siege work was startedon a road up to the highest pointof the North Face (1300 ft), but ittook far too long so the impatientgunners took matters into theirown hands. Using block and tacklethey hauled a large cannon to thesummit where they establishedRock Gun Battery. From this lofty

Southport Gate


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position they could harass themain Spanish camp.

During the World War II thebattery was reconstructed and alight anti-aircraft gun platform waspositioned on the very edge of theNorth Face of the Rock.

Southport Gates wereconstructed in 1552 during thereign of Emperor Charles V. TheArms of Gibraltar and the SpanishArms are above the original gateand a second gate, opened in 1883bears the arms of Queen Victoriaand General Sir John Adye, aGovernor of Gibraltar. The third,and widest of these gates isReferendum Gate. It wasopened in 1967 andcommemorates the referendum in

which Gibraltarians voted by anoverwhelming majority, to retaintheir links with Britain. All thesegates provide access through anancient Moorish wall.

Wellington Front wasconstructed by convict labour in1840. Over 900 convicts workedon the construction of walls andother defensive work. The OwenGlenower (named after a WelshPrince) anchored off the Front wasthe home for the convicts. Theship’s bell, which is now in theGibraltar Museum, was rungwhenever a convict escaped.

In 1875 it was decided that itwould be cheaper to employ locallabour as the prisoners did not workhard enough to pay for their keep.


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Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned on Main Street

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CHURCHESCathedral of StMary the Crowned

The Cathederal of St Mary theCrowned is built on the site ofwhat used to be a very beautifuland richly decorated mosque.Afterthe Christians drove the Moorsfrom the Rock in 1462 themosque was used as a church untilthe Spanish King Ferdinand andhis wife Isabella decreed that it bestripped of its Islamic past and beenlarged. They donated the bellsand clock for the 100 ft tower,which remain to this day. Theircoat of arms was placed in thecourtyard where it can still be seen.

The courtyard was four timesits present size and contained anorange grove surrounded bycloisters. The church itselfextended to the opposite side ofwhat is now Main Street.

During the Great Siege, thechurch suffered extensive damage,and despite attempts to rebuild itlittle progress was made.

In 1790, Governor Boydoffered his assistance in return fora third of the land, which enabledhim to re-route Main Street. Anon-going after affect of this loss ofground is that mortal remains arefrequently uncovered duringroutine excavations of the roadoutside. During the recentbeautification of Main Street theopportunity was taken to do an

archeological investigation whenthe asphalt was removed to makeway for the paving stones.

Inside the Cathedral the highaltar is very grandiose, done in thestyle of that of St. Peter’s in Rome.The beautiful marble plinths andcolumns, with the six ton bogatinotop were originally bound forSouth America when the shipcarrying this precious cargo sankin the harbour. It was salvaged andplaced in the church.

The Cathedral is named afterOur Lady of Europe. There is astatue in her honour at the altar, aduplicate of the original in theShrine at Europa Point.

Another statue has been giventhe unusual name of Our Lady ofthe Flannels. It was found floatingin a box in the harbour sometimein the 18th century in flannels!

Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned

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Cathedral of theHoly Trinity

The foundation stone for HolyTrinity was laid in 1825 and thedesign was done in the Moorish styleto commemorate the fact that theMoors first landed in Europe atGibraltar in 711. It was not first usedas a church but as an emergencyhospital when a ravaging epidemicof yellow fever broke out in 1828.Although the church wasn’tcompleted at that time, it was farenough along to be used in thiscapacity.

With the Dowager QueenAdelaide present, Holy Trinity wasconsecrated in 1838. With thecreation of the Diocese of Gibraltarthe church became a cathedral in1838. In 1979 it was extended to theDiocese of Gibraltar in Europewhich means the Anglican Bishop ofGibraltar is responsible for allAnglican churches in Europeexcepting the British Isles.

Holy Trinity is located atCathedral Square

Church of ScotlandThe Church of Scotland has a

small but devout congregation inGibraltar. Scotland’s nationalchurch found its way to Gibraltarwith Presbyterians in the militaryforces. Its followers experiencedmany years of persecution for theirworship. It was not until 1840 that

Presbyterianism became anestablished church in Gibraltar. Itserved expatriates, servicemen andmembers of other Reformchurches.

This did not stop theopposition, and it says much of thefaith and the generosity of theChurch’s followers that thebeautiful Church of St Andrews inGovernor’s Parade was built about140 years ago from their ownresources. Neither the governmentnor the armed forces made acontribution.

St Andrews (Church of Scotland)

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SIGHTSEEINGCAVES AND TUNNELS

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King’s ChapelKing’s Chapel is the name of

the Garrison church beside theConvent. Although is was knownas Queen’s Chapel duringVictorian times, Queen ElizabethII did not wish to change its namea second time. The wife of theSpanish governor (1648) is buriedhere as are British governorsO’Hara (1802) and Campbell(1813.) Regular Sunday servicesare open to the public.

Located in the heart of the town.Its five bells, hanging from thetowers, give it a unique andappealing beauty. Inside are manystatues that were brought fromGenoa. The Government beganconstruction in 1812 and thechurch was meant to serve both themilitary and civilian population.

CavesThere are over 140 caves

in Gibraltar, some of whichhave proven to be valuablearcheological sites as Neanderthalsand early humans found them tobe accommodating homes.

Gorham’s Cave has had twomajor excavations which haveyielded valuable information andartefacts.The first dig occurred inthe 1950’s while a second began inthe early ’90s.

Gorham’s Cave is difficult toreach from land as it is one of anumber of caves formed by the seaat the southeastern tip of the Rocknear Europa Point.There are stonetools and other artifacts left byhumans and deposits which are

Stalagmite in one of Gibraltar’smany caves

King’s Chapel on Main Street

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Neanderthalic (40,000 B.C.) andNeolithic (6,000 B.C.) in origin.

Romans, Carthaginians,Phoenicians, and Moors leftremains of camp fires, glass beads,broaches and lamps in the upperlevels. Bones of animals that nolonger live in the area, such ashyenas, lion and grey seals havebeen found.

Great Siege TunnelsThe Great Siege Tunnels, once

known as the Upper Galleries, areone of Gibraltar’s most populartourist attractions.

During the Great Siege, (1779-1783) Spanish troops weregathered on the eastern side of theisthmus where they were shelteredfrom British fire by the Rockitself. A projection called “TheNotch” on the northern facewould have been an excellentplace for a gun but the problemwas how to get it up there.

Sergeant Major Ince offered totry to blast a way through therock. Work commenced May 25,1782 and after six weeks thetroops had advanced 36 metres.However, the air in the tunnel wasthick with blasting fumes and itwas clear that ventilation wasneeded.

A hole was blown in the sideof the tunnel overlooking what isnow La Linea and it wasimmediately realised that such ahole would prove a wonderfulposition for a gun. By the timepeace was declared four guns hadbeen mounted in prime positionsoverlooking the Spanish lines.

By the following June nearly230 metres of tunnel had beenexcavated and “The Notch” wasreached. A large chamber, nowknown as St George’s Hall, washollowed out and embrasures wereput in place.Great Siege Tunnels

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The heavy guns were put intoplace with the aid of large ironrings attached to the rock by spikeof over 30 centimetres long.Molten lead was used as the adhesive.

Two large chambers, calledmagazines, were created in whichto store gun powder. Considerablesteps were taken to preventaccidental explosion. During theGreat Siege the garrison usednearly 800 barrels of gun powderand fired 200,600 rounds of shot.

During World War II searchlights and a generator wereinstalled and a group of RoyalEngineers were detailed to operateand maintain them. TheCornwall's Chamber, with threeembrasures overlooking WesternBeach, served as their livingquarters and remains of the originalaccess steps can still be seen.

Also during World War II theHolyland tunnel, which leads fromSt. George’s Hall to the easternside of the Rock, was excavated.

Now, inside the tunnel 18 life-like figures depict scenes from thetime of the Great Siege.

A life-like tableaux in St.George’s Hall depicts Lord Napierof Magdala dining with formerPresident Ulysses S. Grant of theUnited States in 1878, althoughmost historians do not believe theydined inside the tunnel, but at theConvent.

Sound and visual effects bringto life what it would have beenlike to be in the caves when theywere being used by the military.

Open 9.30am - 7.15pm daily.Cost included in Nature Reservefee.Tel: (350) 20043832.

TunnelsThe Tunnels through the rock,

over 30 miles (48.28 km) aregreater in length than the 27 milesof outside road in Gibraltar. Priorto World War II there were onlyseven miles of tunnels, and five ofthose were added just prior to theFirst World War. Some of theexcavation after 1940 was done bythe Royal Canadian Engineerswho were pioneers in the use ofdiamond drill equipment. DuringWorld War II the longest and maintunnel was named “The GreatNorth Road” as a tribute to them.The Engineers constructed anunderground city with its owntelephone exchanges, frozen meatstores, water distilleries andhospitals with enough provisionsto be able to survive for sixmonths in the chambers in theevent of an attack by the Axispowers. One drive-through tunnelis easily accessed: the tunnelbetween Camp Bay and EuropaPoint.

Harley Street Tunnel acrossfrom the Royal Naval Hospital,leads to Gorts Hospital that wasnamed after General The ViscountGort of the Grenadier Guards who

CAVES AND TUNNELS

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was the Governor of Gibraltar in1941. Several hospitals were builtinside the tunnels to be used in theevent of an attack on Gibraltarduring World War II.

Landport Tunnel was builtby the Spanish in the late 16thcentury and was the only landentrance into Gibraltar. It wasdestroyed and had to be rebuilt in1729.

The 1898 Tunnel to theDockyard is a half mile longtunnel and has recently housed theoffices of the MaritimeHeadquarters and NATOcommunication centre.The offices

were also used by GeneralEisenhower and his staff duringWorld War II as they prepared theNorth African campaign“Operation Torch.”

The tunnel was excavated totransport stones from the quarryto build the dockyards, which, atthe time, was the biggestexcavation in the world.

The quarry, situated where theoil tanks are, was worked byEnglish and Scottish convicts.TheScots were called “Red Legs”because their legs were sunburnedbecause they wore kilts.

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Gibraltar’s leading mobile services provider

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FLORA & FAUNA

46Alameda Botanical Gardens

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Gibraltar Botanic(Alameda) Gardens

The land for the AlamedaGardens was dedicated in 1816,outside the city walls. It was thevision of General Sir George Donwho wanted to create a placewhere the people of the Garrisoncould stroll in peace.

Trees are central to the beautyof the gardens and the namemeans “Poplar Grove.” There aremany trees now well over 200years old as they were mature atthe time the garden was formed.

A period of neglect allowedthe gardens to go to ruin but in1990 a programme of revitalisationbegan which finished in 1996 withthe completion of the beautifuloutdoor theatre.

The main walkway leadingfrom the Rock Hotel entrancefeatures an exhibition of thedifferent groups of plants found allover the world while other areasare dedicated to the unique plantlife of Gibraltar.

Flora and Fauna,Birds and Butterflies

Gibraltar has over 600 speciesof wild flowers, some of which areunique to the Rock such as theGibraltar Sea Lavender and

Gibraltar Chickweed.The Rock isthe only place in Europe that theGibraltar Candytuft grows.

Gibraltar’s position betweenEurope and Africa, the Atlanticand the Mediterranean makes it animportant crossing point formigrating birds, whales anddolphins. Migration counts inGibraltar have reached 11,500birds of prey, of up to fifteenspecies in a single day during peakmovements.The Rock is a popularlocation for bird watchers.Gibraltar has its own unique bird,the Barbary Partridge. Like theape, the bird was imported by theBritish during the 18th century

Alameda Gardens

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Rock Monkeys are Gibraltar’s most famous attraction

and the ones that live here areunique to Europe though nativeto Morocco and Algeria.

Butterflies also migrate alongthe same path, and on a calmspring day the Painted LadyButterflies are sometimes spotted.

Rock MonkeysOne of Gibraltar’s more

popular attractions is the monkeyswhich live on the upper rock.They are often called BarbaryApes but they are tailless MacacasSylvanus. One of the popularstories about the monkeys comesfrom World War II.When WinstonChurchill was in Gibraltar heworried that the apes would die

out and provide propaganda forthe enemy (legend has it thatwhen the apes leave Gibraltar sowill the British). He ordered themilitary authorities to care for theapes, and to import more ifnecessary, which they did untilJuly 1992 when the governmenttook over their care.

There are now 230-240 apesliving in six packs on the Rockand they are a major touristattraction but, unfortunately forthe apes, the tourists are a majorhealth hazard. People often feedthem chocolate and other thingsthat aren’t good for their health.They are fed regularly, thoughthey could survive on their own.

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The regular feeding ensures theyget a healthy supply of fruit andkeeps them from descending intotown where they would search forfood. Care must be advised as apeshave a tendancy to appropriatefoods in plastic bags and otheritems loosely held. You arereminded that feeding the apes isnot permitted.

The Ape’s Den is open 9.30am- 7.15pm daily. Cost included inNature Reserve fee.

Cable CarThe Cable Car is the best way to

the “Top of the Rock” and a must-seeattraction for all visitors to Gibraltar.The journey takes passengers 412m

above sea level in approximately 6minutes offering spectacular views allthe way.The Top Station is perched atthe very summit of the Rock ofGibraltar, with the sheer cliffs to theeast and tree-covered slopes leading tothe City of Gibraltar to the west.

Visitors to the Cable Car TopStation will be able to meet Gibraltar’soldest residents, the famous BarbaryApes, in their natural environment.The Cable Car Middle Station islocated at Apes Den. Should visitorswish to visit Apes Den it is suggestedthat they do this on their way down.

Included in the above price foradults is the Multimedia Tour, apersonal state-of-the-art InteractiveMultimedia tour which allows visitorsto gain an insight into Gibraltar’s

View from the Cable Car

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fascinating history whilst being guidedaround the Top Station terraces. Thecommentary is available in sevenlanguages: English, Spanish, French,German, Italian, Swedish andPortuguese.

Visitors have access to the UpperRock Nature Reserve from the Top ofthe Rock. Sites include St. Michael’sCave, the Ape’s Den, the Great SiegeTunnels and the Moorish Castle.Tickets are available at the Cable Carticket office and at the Souvenir Shop.St Michael’s Cave is located 0.9kmdown hill from the Cable Car TopStation (approx 15/20 min walk).Visitors can then continue down hillfor a further 0.8km to the Cable CarMiddle Station. (Approx 15/20 minfrom St Michael’s Cave)

Also located at the Cable Car TopStation is the Top of the Rock selfservice, air conditioned restaurantwhere visitors can enjoy a meal whilstenjoying the spectacular views and aSouvenir Shop with a unique range ofgifts.

Opening Times:09.30 hrs-19.15 hrs 7 days a week.Last Cable Car down 19.45 hrs(Except 1st Nov to 31st March 09.30hrs-17.15 hrs. Last Cable Car down17.45 hrs).The Cable Car runs continuouslythroughout the day, approx every 10minutes.

No reservation required

Prices and times may be subject tochange.

Dolphin Watching Gibraltar Harbour is a natural

breeding areas for three types ofdolphins, the Striped, Commonand Bottlenose.Whales and turtlesare occasionally spotted.

Dolphin watching trips areavailable from Ferry Terminal,Marina Bay and Queensway Quaydocks. All trips feature thebeautiful scenery of the Strait ofGibraltar with views of Africa, thecoastline and the Rock ofGibraltar.

A unique and unforgettableopportunity to get close to threespecies of dolphin and up to ninespecies of whale, together withflying fish, turtles and sunfish -often just inches away.

Gibraltar harbour is home to manydolphins

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Sailing in GibraltarGibraltar is a fantastic place to

set sail from. With 2 continentsand 2 seas there is so much to seeand do right on our doorstep!Sailing the straits with theirunique conditions, consistentwinds and abundance of marinewildlife, there is never a dullmoment!

Sailing in the bay of Gibraltaris a fantastic experience with themany pods of dolphins, marinewildlife and of course the amazingview of the rock itself. You havethe opportunity to see the rock ofthe Gibraltar from a new angle andare able to sail around Europapoint to the eastern beaches.

Here you are able to enjoy allaspects of sailing with theopportunity to have a gentle sail

around the bay or an exhilaratingsail out in the straits for the moreadventurous.

Sailing here is not to be takenlightly. With one of the busiestshipping lanes in the world,Gibraltar and Algeciras ports withtheir ferries, cargo ships and oiltankers, a good look out must bekept at all times.

Gibraltar is one of the mainstopping points for yachts on theirway into the med or over to theCaribbean via the Canaries. Theworld famous Blue Water Rallystarts from Marina Bay Gibraltar.

Article supplied by:Tomboy Sailing,PO Box 80, Marina Bay.Tel: (+44) (0) 8458388695 / (+34) 655271202E-mail: [email protected]

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Do-it-yourself Historical WalkingTour

This is a do-it-yourself tourthat takes about 1 hour and 10minutes including taking time ateach stop to flip through this bookand read the relevant passagealoud. Time spent in the museumor on the optional tours is notincluded. This tour is along veryflat ground, and only if theoptional tour to Alameda Gardensis taken, is there any uphillwalking. Be very careful crossingthe streets as traffic can be veryheavy at certain times of the day.

The starting point for this touris the Line Wall (Waterport,Casemates) opposite the fountainroundabout on your way intoGibraltar town centre. Walktowards the Grand CasematesGates (p.27) The bus stop is onyour left and the Public Marketon your right. Go through thegates and continue on straightahead toward Casemates square.Turn right onto Main Street.

On your right is the KoehlerGun (p.10) and then a Statue of aGibraltar Defence Force SoldierContinue up Main Street, past theInternational Commercial Centreand turn right on to Cooperage

Lane. Carry along CooperageLane until you are past the back ofthe Shopping Centre and go upthe flight of stairs in the wall onyou left.Turn left at the top of thestairs. Cross at the light (60 metreson the right.) In front of you is theAmerican War Memorial (p.11)Go up the steps to the left ofthe memorial. There are gunmountings along the Line Wall (p.30). Remember that in front ofthese gun mountings was the sea -the land that is here now has beenreclaimed since the guns wereused in the Great Siege (1779-83.)

The start of our do-it-yourselfhistorical walking tour

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The Spanish gun that once sathere is now missing.

Return up the memorial stepsto cross the street at the trafficlights, turn to your right and walkon down Line Wall until firstopening on your left and continuedown the steps (there is a greenrailing here which leads to IrishPlace). Turn right at the firstturning - this is Irish Town.Continue past the old policestation (p.96) and turn right at theend of Irish Town (at JohnMackintosh square) and left infront of City Hall (p.22). Directlyopposite City Hall is theParliament House (p.25). FromCity Hall we do a short detour,turn right, go to the Traffic Lights,Cross Line Wall Road and decendthe English Steps going left whenyou reach the bottom about100metres on, you will come tothe entrance of King’s BastionLeisure Centre (p.29). Once againsite for a break. From here retraceyour steps to City Hall. Cross thePiazza (square) to Main Street andturn right. Go past the Cathedralof St. Mary the Crowned (p.34).Just past the Cathedral turn rightat the statue of the Garrisonsoldier down Bomb House Lane.

Turn left to pass the GibraltarMuseum (p.8) and Moorish Baths(p.15). At the end of this street is

the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity(p.35). Cross over to the squareand turn right past the children’splayground. Cross Line Wall Road.Go up the ramp. To your right isKing’s Bastion (p.29) and Line Wallesplanade. Again, remember thatthe cannons which are here wouldhave been firing over water, notland.

Return to the ramp, and godown.Turn right and go down thestairs through the archway toQueensway.Turn left.

Carry along the same side toWellington Front (p.32). Cross atthe crosswalk to reach QueenswayQuay (p.62) and walk along theharbourside. Leave QueenswayQuay and cross the road near theroundabout. At Ragged Staff Gate(p.31) turn left. Continue alongRagged Staff Road and go straightthrough the intersection to TrafalgarCemetery (p.19). Opposite is theSouth Bastion (1540) and a Statueof Nelson (p.14). (Here there areseveral options, noted below).

Turn left (toward City Centre)and continue through SouthportGates (p.32) down Main Streetpast John Mackintosh Hall (p.25).Continue along past the Convent(p.23) and cross Convent Squarestaying on Main Street. On yourright inside the gardens are theLaw Courts (p.26). Continue

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along Main Street, and turn rightup Library Street.

At the top of the street is theChurch of Scotland (p.35). CrossGovernor’s Street and go throughthe white archway next to the oldGibraltar Chronicle office. TheGibraltar Chronicle is one ofthe oldest English languagenewspapers in the world and wasfirst published in 1801. Go up thestairs. At the top is the GarrisonLibrary (p.24). If the gate is open,go through the gate and cross thestreet to Governor’s Parade, if not,go back down the stairs andthrough the archway. AtGovernor’s Parade there is amonument to Queen Victoria(p.13).You can continue along andreach Main Street from here - thePiazza is quite close and this isanother opportunity to take theTaxi Tour (p.54) or there isshopping on Main Street.Alternatively, you can go back upto Governor’s Street and walkalong this street until it takes youback to Main Street, near theInternational Commercial Centre.

Optional Tours for theDo-it-yourselfHistorical Tour atTrafalgar Cemetery

Alameda Gardens: FromTrafalgar Cemetery, continue upthe hill and turn right at EuropaRoad. Continue along the righthand side of the street until youreach Alameda Gardens (p.41). Astroll in the gardens will lead youto Eliott’s Monument (p.13) andWellington’s Monument (p.14).Go back out the way you went inand backtrack down EuropaRoad. Do not turn left at TrafalgarCemetery, but carry on throughPrince Edward’s Gate (p.31) in theCharles V Wall (p.27).

Take your first left andcontinue along this road. Takeyour first left to Main Street andJohn Mackintosh Hall (p.25).Continue along as above.

Taxi Tour: You can get theofficial Gibraltar Taxi Tour (p.54)at Trafalgar Cemetery (p.19). Thisis recommended for those whowant a guided tour of the UpperRock.You can return to TrafalgarCemetery and continue alongwith the above tour.

Cable Car: Turn right atTrafalgar Cemetery (p.19)(towards Queen’s Hotel) and cross

TOURS

SIGHTSEEINGTOURSat the roundabout. Turn left andthen right to find the Cable Car(p.44) in Grand Parade.

World War II TunnelTours

Licensed tour guides willtake you on a tour lastingapproximately 52 minutes with a15-minute comfort break whererefreshments are available. Tourincludes static exhibitions andphotographic displays. Tours arerunning throughout the dayMonday to Friday from 10:30am -4:00pm (last entrance, may closeearlier at weekends, it is advisableto check prior to your visit).

ROCK AND FORTRESS,Princess Caroline’s Battery, UpperRock. Tel: +350 20045957.E-mail: [email protected]: www.discovergibraltar.com

M.O.D.TunnelTours

These tunnels were excavatedduring 1939-1944 and are anextension to The Great SiegeTunnels excavated during TheGreat Siege of 1778-83. TheRock is in fact honeycombed witha 32 mile-long network of tunnels.Persons wishing to go on thesefascinating tours are advised to

bring a torch and to wearcomfortable shoes. Recommendedparty sizes are a maximum offifteen and a minimum of six orseven. The average duration of atour is three hours. Furtherinformation on dates, times andprices of tours conducted by theM.O.D. may be obtained from theGibraltar Tourist Board or RalphCapurro,Tel: (350) 58009251.

Lower St Michael’sCave

Lower St. Michael’s Cave wasdiscovered in 1942, accidentally,whilst blasting a second entranceat St Michael’s Cave in order toprepare it for use as an emergencyhospital during the Second WorldWar.

Lower St Michael’s Cave Tour

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There are reasonably pricedorganised tours available to thegeneral public. The tour normallylasts around three hours, howeverdue to the fact that there is somescrambling and minor climbingwith ropes involved, durationtimes may vary.

The cave is totally in its originalnatural state (although it is fully lit).This cave could be referred to as ashow cave as many unique andinteresting formations are found here.One of the sites visited during thistour is a beautiful underground lakeand fortunately for the visitor, whowill no doubt not want to forget thiswonderful speleological experience,photography is permitted.

People are advised to wearstout shoes and casual clothing.Group sizes range from 5-10people. Due to the unusual natureof this tour, children under the ageof ten years are not allowed.Threedays prior notice is also necessaryfor bookings.

Mr.Tito Vallejo,Tel: (350) 20071871 / (350) 56639000Mr. Dale Vallejo,Tel: (350) 54231000 Mr. Mario Balloqui,Tel: (350) 20050021 / (350) 20078105 / (350) 54004160Pete Jackson M.B.E.

Tel: (350) 20076849 / (350) 54011358,E-mail: [email protected] Mr Raymond Bellido,Tel: (350) 20074637 / (350) 58821000, E-mail:[email protected] Mr.W.Walker / Mr.Sean Walker,Tel: +350 20040561

Mini Bus and TaxiTours

If you have only a brief time inGibraltar one of the quicker waysof taking in the highlights of theRock is with a guided tour. Thedriver not only knows his wayaround Gibraltar but isknowledgeable about the history,the flora and fauna, and thelegends of the Rock. Plus heknows where to take the bestpictures!

Sights include the Great SiegeTunnels, St Michael’s Cave, theRock Apes, Europa Point,O’Hara’s Battery, etc.

Various tours are offered andyou can negotiate your owncustomised tour.Parodytur Tel. (350) 20076070Bland Travel Tel. (350) 20048880Calypso Tours Tel. (350) 20076226 Exchange Travel Tel. (350) 20076151Taxi Association Tel. (350) 20070027www.gibtaxi.com

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TOURS

TOURS

Tunnel ToursThe Rock is honeycombed

with a 32 mile-long network oftunnels. As may be expected withmilitary tunnels, parts of thesystem are inaccessible to thepublic.

Guided Tunnel Tours start atHays Level (Exhibition ofphotographs on Tunnels) and runMonday - Friday from 10.00am -4.00pm, cost £6.00.Tel: (350) 20045957.

The tunnels covered wereexcavated from 1939-1944. Sitesincluded are the Great NorthRoad, Calpe Hole, ClaphamJunction and Jock’s Balcony. Youwill also visit the undergroundpower station, undergroundhospital and the gun divisions inthe North Phase.

GibjetsPrivate jet hire has become an

increasingly popular and civilisedmode of air travel in recent timesavoiding crowded airports, delayedflights and bad connections.

At gibjets we realise time is ofessence and tailor-make yourarrangements according to yourneeds whether travelling onbusiness, leisure or air ambulance,thus guaranteeing maximumflexibility point to point air travelsafely and in privacy.

For further informationcontact us on:

Tel no: +350 200 47990E-mail: [email protected] enquiring please quote Ref: Discover Gibjets.

St Michael’s Cave

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THINGS TO DOTHINGS TO DO

BEACHES

What Else doesGibraltar offer?

Well, besides the sightseeing,touring, caving, wildflowerspotting, bird, dolphin watching,and wildlife watching mentionedin the last chapter, Gibraltar hassome great beaches, scuba diving,fishing, as well as shopping. Aswell, there are some excellentrestaurants to go to...

Catalan BayNestled on the eastern side of

the rock there is a feeling ofisolation in the little village that

curls around the bay beneath thesteep slopes of the rock ofGibraltar. Catalan Bay was settledunder Spanish rule by Genoesewho lived in the fishing hutsaround the bay. They decided toremain there when the Britishtook power and they were joinedby other Italians, Portuguese,British and Spaniards who fledNapoleon’s army during thePeninsular War.

Improvements to the beachhave made this already populararea even more so. Great quantitiesof sand were hauled in and a mini

Our Lady of Sorrows at CatalanBay.Catalan Bay

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65

breakwater was formed belowCaleta Palace to protect the shore.During the hot days of summerthis is one place where locals andtourists like to cool off.

The four star Caleta Hoteloverlooks the beach on the southedge of the village. Some of thebest seafood in Gibraltar can beenjoyed at the beach restaurantshere.

Eastern BeachEastern Beach is located off

Devil Tower’s Road stretching upto the end of the airport runway.This is the longest of Gibraltar’sbeaches. There are changingfacilities and a number of foodkiosks operate in the summer.

Sandy BaySandy Bay is located beneath

Both Worlds on the eastern side ofthe Rock a short distance south ofCatalan Bay. Although it is called“sandy” bay, the beach is a mixtureof pebbles and sand. There is asmall bar/café located at beachlevel which is a pleasant place towhile away an afternoon enjoyingviews of the Mediterranean.

Marina BayExcellent dining is available at

Marina Bay’s many restaurantswhere views of the water and themarina make for an interesting andrelaxing ambience for dinner or anearly evening drink. For souvenirs,gifts and postcards there are anumber of stores to explore. OnSaturdays a small market is heldwhere local crafts and homemadeitems can be purchased.

For the adventurous, divingcourses and excursions areavailable. Dolphin excursions anddeep sea fishing trips are madefrequently from the docks.

Marina Bay also offers all theservices the boater requires whileon the water or ashore. Gibraltarhas been an important harbour forhundreds of years so there isextensive experience in all facetsof the service industry.

Eastern Beach

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66

Marina Bay has water,electricity, TV and phoneconnections and a security systemto protect boaters and theirvaluables. Laundry and showers areclose at hand.

Chandlery services, insurance,and bonded storage for duty freegoods are available. Internationalboaters will find all the facilitiesthey would expect from a top classmarina and there is no problemwith live aboards - people can stayas long as they want, but there is ahalf day minimum stay.

Sailboats occupy most of theMarina Bay’s berths but powerboats are certainly welcome. Thesmallest they take is 6-7 metres,because the piers are fixed so if theboat is too small it may be difficultto get on and off at low tide.

Every year in September abeer festival is held at Marina Baywhere a variety of beers are sold ata discounted price. Liveentertainment is on hand and theparty goes on until the earlymorning hours.

Dining outT h e va r i e d re s t a u r a n t s

situated on the waters edge inGibraltar’s foremost yachtingmarina, Marina Bay. Offer anextensive range of a la Carte and

freshly cooked daily specials,steaks, fish & pizza. Children’smenus, vegetarian menus and asuperb selection of wines.

DivingThe waters around Gibraltar

have been witness to the sea goingvessels which have plied the watersfrom the earliest of man’s seafaring days.

A combination of accidents,sea battles and the scuttling ofvessels have contributed to the

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interesting dive sites which natureprovided.

Diving in Gibraltar is differentfrom diving in other areas of theMediterranean.The flow of waterfrom the Atlantic, although not asclear as other areas of theMediterranean, is less polluted andfull of nutrition leading to a vastarray of marine life.

Visibility is normally near the10m+ mark with better visibilityin the winter months. It is colderthan the rest of the Mediterraneanso divers need a full wet suit allyear round and a semi-dry suit inwinter.

Some of the 30 sites include:SS Rosslyn - a huge freighter

foundered during a fierce storm in1890, lying just 20metres belowthe surface the bow and sternsections are fairly intact althoughthe mid section has not stood thetest of time quite so well. Coveredin bright soft corals she is certainlyone of the Rock’s prettiest wrecks.

Seven Sisters - a group ofrocks and a must for anyunderwater photographer.Stunning rock formations anddense marine life will keep eventhe most discerning photographersnapping away for hours. Themost popular wreck in Gibraltarhas got to be the 482 cable laying

barge, scuttled less than ten yearsago she has evolved into a mostexciting dive. Only 17 metresdeep, divers have plenty of time toexplore this large wreck that isnow home to Octopus, SpiderCrabs and some rather largeConger Eels.

Europa Reef - a reef withdepths of 15 - 40m and abundantmarine life. The top of the reef isfairly flat with the odd rocky ridgeand trench to add to its interest.This reef is littered withPhoenician and Roman anchors aswell as a large Admiralty anchor.Tides in the area can producegood drift divers.

SS Excellent - a 1600 ton,260 foot steam schooner whichsank after a series of collisions onthe 29th of February 1888. She sitsupside down in a maximum depthof 30m. Much of her remainsintact with a large cavernousinterior. Her engine remains inplace as does one of the boilers.The large iron screw makes animpressive sight with the rudderlying on the sea-bed. Portholes canbe seen on this wreck along with aprofusion of marine life.

Los Pecos - A spectacularrock reef with a vertical wall from20 - 60 m+. Abundant largemarine life makes it one of the

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best dives in the westernMediterranean. Situated south ofEuropa Point in the Strait betweenEurope and Africa this area issusceptible to strong andunpredictable currents, but it iswell worth the effort forexperienced divers.

Aircraft Wrecks - locatednear the end of the airport runwayat Eastern Beach. They lie in 7 -20 metres of water but they arenot always visible because ofmoving sand.

Gibraltar has two experienceddive companies:

Dive Charters,4 Admiral’s Walk, Marina Bay Tel: (350) 20045649,Mobile: (34) 685608208,

E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.divegib.giDive Hire 1st, Coaling Island,Tel: +350 20073616,Mobile: +350 56668000E-mail:[email protected]

Ocean VillageMarina

Ocean Village is Gibraltar’sonly integrated residential, retailand leisure complex…its marinahas been developed to featurestate-of-the-art facilities andsuperb modern services. Whilethe marina location providessecure berthing all year round andin all weather's, the brand newwaterfront also features

Queensway Quay is a very scenic marina with a selection of goodrestaurants and bars, as well as interesting shops to explore

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international bars and restaurants.The further addition of LeisureIsland, an ambitious and impressiveland reclamation project, nowoffers members of the OceanVillage community and visitors acasino, nightclub, champagne barand performance area for outdoorevents and concerts.

Queensway QuayMarina

Queensway Quay is one ofGibraltar’s newest marinas, and aswell as giving safe harbour forboats, the quay is a pleasant placefor a stroll, and it has someexcellent dining available with topquality restaurants and bars, as wellas a few interesting shops.

Queensway has floatingpontoons, which makes it easierfor smaller boats to moor here,although large yachts can also takeadvantage of the Queensway Quayfacilities. All services boaters needin a marina are available, includinga laundry, and the managementtries to give that personal touch,something you might not find inlarger marinas. One of thoseservices is dealing with thecumbersome customs andimmigration forms mariners arerequired to fill out when enteringGibraltar.

Like the other marinas,though at the south end of theharbour, it is only minutes away onfoot from Main Street shopping.

Fishing With its unique position with

regards to the Atlantic Ocean,Mediterranean Sea and Strait ofGibraltar, the Rock is an angler’sparadise.Both fighting fish, like theConger Eel, and delicious eatingfish, like 14 species of bream, arefound in the waters off Gibraltar.

Bar/RestaurantsDining out in Gibraltar is

always a pleasure - whether it bebreakfast, lunch or dinner.

If you are looking forbreakfast, Corks and the Clipperin Irish Town, as well as the EliottHotel and the Rock Hotel willget you going in the morning.

Corks also has a selection ofdaily lunch specials and is popularwith local businessmen. At night,Corks becomes one of the liveliestplaces in Gibraltar. A place to seeand be seen.

The House of Sacarello, alsoin Irish Town, is famous for itscoffee, but don’t miss out on itsafternoon teas as well! They alsohave great pasta dishes andelaborate sandwiches.

The Clipper Bar / Restaurantsituated at the heart of Irish Town,offering a warm welcome withour friendly staff and nauticaltheme. With large TV screens anda mouth watering selection offoods ranging from sandwiches tofish & chips, are looking forwardto seeing you.

Located in the centre ofGibraltar, the Eliott Hotel hastwo restaurants - the Palm Courtand the Victoria Garden with agood selection of internationalcuisine,specialising in Mediterraneanflavours. And during theafternoon, enjoy high tea in thelobby. Later in the evening, savourthe good life at Eliott Hotel’s

Piano Bar, Verandah, whichfeatures melodies at the grandpiano in a tranquil ambience.

Another family favourite,PizzaHut, is located on the ground floorof the International CommercialCentre and they have the famoussalad bar, piping hot pasta dishesand deep dish and pan pizza.

For lighter meals, check outGibraltar’s pubs.The Angry Friar(opposite The Convent) servestraditional English meals anddrinks, and if you’re lucky, you’llsee the changing of the guard fromtheir terrace. The Royal Calpe,further down on Main Street,offers a wide range of pub grub.For al fresco diners, there is an

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73

outdoor courtyard you can eat inas well as tables out front.

Lek Bankok, the finest,authentic Thai cuisine preparedfrom the very best ingredientsincluding fresh herbs, spices andexotic vegetables sent to us everyweek from growers in Thailand.

Lek Bangkok’s menu is aboutchoice, flavours, quality andpresentation - a true taste ofThailand.

The traditional Thai food iscertainly full-flavoured, soupssparkle with chilli and lemon grassand curries are rich with aromaticand spicy tastes.

Theme: Lek Bangkok in amodern Thai restaurant withinfluences from both east and west.

The restaurant is situated inone of the most modern parts ofGibraltar, Europort is a hive ofbusiness activity with surprisinglyfew places to eat. The restauranthas two floors decorated in Thaiartefacts with modern light effectsto set the feel.

Lek Bangkok’s menu is aboutchoice, flavours, quality and

presentation - a true taste ofThailand.

The meal can be formal orinformal with family, friends orbusiness colleagues, we have theability to make every meal aculinary experience that you willnever forget.

Bianca’s situated on thewaters edge in Gibraltar’s foremostyachting Marina Bay. We offer anextensive a la Carte menu withfreshly cooked daily specials,specialising in steaks, fish & pizza.We also have a children's menu,vegetarian menu and a superbwine list. Lovely surroundings toenjoy our popular Sunday roastcarvery, a Gibraltar favourite. Ifyou are looking for quality foodand drink at competitive prices,then come to Biancas.

Located overlooking themarina at Queensway Quay, TheWaterfront Bar/Restaurant hasfabulous views from its terrace andserves a wide selection ofinternational dishes. Try it forlunch, dinner, snacks, drinks or itsfamous summer barbecue.Chicken, steaks, fish and seafoodand pasta dishes are all on thevaried menu.

If you are looking for aSpanish-style tapas restaurant bar,you will find no better than CasaPepe in Queensway Quay.This is


the real thing and you can getpaella, jamón pata negra, chorizo,as well as a large selection of tapasand canapes.

A little farther up the Rock,you will find the world famousRock Hotel. Dine informally onthe Wisteria Terrace where theyserve lunches, dinners, andafternoon teas. Or choose themore formal restaurant with itsstunning views and 3 course housemenu or full a la carte menu.

Shopping inGibraltar

Price and selection makeshopping enjoyable in Gibraltarbut there is far more to attract theserious shopper who is looking forquality, diversity or a very specialgift. It isn’t just price that attractsvisitors because not all goods arecheaper than elsewhere. There are

many factors that lure shoppers tothe Rock.

Most of the shop assistants inGibraltar are bilingual providingservice in either English orSpanish.

Tobacco is one of the greatbargains in Gibraltar. A carton ofCigarettes will cost half of what itdoes in Spain and a third of whatit does in Britain.Cigars and spiritsare also good buys.

Those looking for electronicgoods and photographicequipment have a number ofstores to choose from. Videocameras and some SLR camerasare the best deals to be found.

Men looking for a very specialgift for their sweethearts will findjewellery a good buy - some itemsare about 35% cheaper than inSpain. Gold, silver, pearls,diamonds and watches can be

Casemates busy for lunch

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SHOPPING

found at well established jewellerslocated on Main Street.

Special gifts can be found atsome very unique stores. Checkout the perfumeries located onMain Street, for all your perfumesand cosmetics. Prices are 15 to20% cheaper than in Spain while20 to 25% lower than in the U.K.

There are franchises for someof Britain’s best-known HighStreet shops including BritishHome Stores, Marks & Spencer,Peacocks, Mango, Top ShopMothercare and the beautifuldesigner wear of Monsoon.Shoppers can find the quality andselection they expect from thesestores and everything comes in agood range of sizes.

If you are looking for U.K.or international newspapers,magazines, stationery, or children’sbooks drop into the ImperialNews Agency - established in1919 and still going strong. It’slocated opposite The Convent.

There are several antiquestores in Gibraltar specialising initems particular to Gibraltar.Thereis a great interest in anythingmilitary. Prints, plates from oldbooks and charts are very popular.

For a gift made in Gibraltar,you can watch glass-blowers createa genuine piece of GibraltarCrystal.

Remember, not all ofGibraltar’s shops are located onMain Street, and a little exploringmay lead the way to somebargains. Located on Engineer’sLane, just one block east of MainStreet, you will find BargainStores, which specialises in everytoy or game a child (or adult)could want.

Whatever you are in search of,it is a good bet that it will be easyto find in Gibraltar and everythingis VAT free here.

Shopping on Gibraltar’s Main Street

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THE HERITAGE

OF GIBRALTAR

THE HERITAGE

OF GIBRALTAR

StampsOn the 1st January 1886 the

Colonial Government of Gibraltarassumed control of its PostalServices. As an interim measure,Bermuda plates were overprintedwith ‘Gibraltar’ using differentcolours. These were replaced byGibraltar's own design inDecember of that same year.

Gibraltar's stamps were usedwith peseta values from 1889 to1898 since trade was carried out inthis currency. Stamp designs wererather stereotyped until 1931when, at the Governor’s request,Captain Garrood, Gibraltar’sCrown Surveyor and Engineer,produced the first pictorialDefinitive.

The first commemorative issuewas in 1935. The release of suchissues were confined up to 1966 toCrown Agents 'Omnibus' issuesand marked events of internationalinterest. Since 1966 subjects of apredominantly local flavour havebeen chosen though internationalevents are also featured.

Today Gibraltar continues toadopt a conservative stamp issuingpolicy thus maintaining its highreputation amongst the philatelicfraternity. Current stamp issuesrange from seven to eightcommemorative issues a year

together with a change ofdefinitive issue every five or sixyears.

CoinsAll of Gibraltar’s coins have

been struck by the Pobjoy Mint inSutton, Surrey since 1988. Beforethis time, only Sterling coins werein circulation. In 1991, theGovernment introduced threelegal tender ECU coins. Limitededition coins can be purchased atthe General Post Office on MainStreet.

Neanderthal ManBut for a quirk of fate

Neanderthal Man - the bestknown of the primitives - maywell have been called GibraltarMan as it was in a cave in Gibraltarthat the first remains of HomoNeanderthalensis was found.

Neanderthal Man lived in thecaves around Gibraltar between120,000 and 60,000 years ago. Itwas in Forbes’ Quarry Cave at thenorthern end of Gibraltar in 1848that an almost entire female skullwas found.The significance of thisfind was not realised until 16 yearslater when Fuhlrott discoveredanother skull in the NeanderthalValley near Düsseldorf inGermany. It was only later, after

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HISTORYthis new species had becomeknown as Neanderthal Man, thatthe Gibraltar skull’s characteristicsidentified it as being of the samespecies.

In the meantime thecircumstances of the Gibraltar findhad been forgotten and the skulltaken to Britain for further study.It is now on display in the BritishMuseum in England along withsubsequent discoveries.

Well over 100 Neanderthalshave been uncovered worldwideincluding a child’s skull found inForbes’ Quarry Cave in 1926.Gorham’s Cave, on the south sideof the Rock has been the siteof numerous archeologicalexpeditions and many implementsof bone, flint and other materialsrelated to the Neanderthals havebeen uncovered.

Replicas of the skulls, and findsfrom Gorham’s Cave are on displayin the Gibraltar Museum.

Mons CalpeThe Romans christened

Gibraltar ‘Mons Calpe’ inreference to the numerous cavespermeating the Rock.They had abase at Carteia, which had been aPhoenician colony west ofGibraltar and they left evidence oftheir presence here.

Both Greek and Romanmythology tell the tale of theLabours of Hercules, which hadhim opening a waterway bysplitting apart what is now Europeand Africa and creating the Straitsof Gibraltar. Hence Mons Calpe isone of the Pillars of Hercules withthe other being Mons Abyla, a hilleast of Ceuta.

The Roman name lives on,most notably in the coat of arms ofGibraltar which was presented tothe people of Gibraltar by QueenIsabella and King Ferdinand in theearly 1500’s. Much later the officialRoyal college of Heralds addedthe words Montis Insignis Calpe inthe scroll at the base of the shieldon the coat of arms.

The Pillars of Hercules appear inGreek and Roman mythology

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82

Moorish andSpanish Dominion

The Muslim invasion ofEurope began in the Bay ofGibraltar where the Visigoths sidedwith Muslims by lending theirships to the Berber Chief, TarikIbn Zeyad. Tarik conqueredGibraltar in 711, naming it “JebelTarik” (Tarik’s mountain), fromwhich Gibraltar is derived.

Gibraltar continued underMoorish dominion for 700 years,but in the early 14th century, it

was taken by Spain for 24 years. In1462 Spain re-captured the Rock.

Coat of ArmsThe Gibraltar Coat of Arms

was granted to the people ofGibraltar in 1502 during theSpanish occupation of the Rock(1462-1704). It is said that whenthe Gibraltarians asked theirmonarch for a Coat of Arms,Queen Isabella, passing the time atSanta Fe during the Spanish siegeof Granada designed and

The Gibraltar flag (flanked by the Union Jack and EU flags) is red andwhite with the Gibraltar Coat of Arms in the centre

83

HISTORYembroidered the banner. She usedfine golden thread stitchedcarefully onto a square of brightred damask.

The emblem incorporates athree turreted castle, representingthe fortress of Gibraltar, fromwhich hung a large golden key.The key represents the Crown’sbelief that Gibraltar was the key tothe Spanish territories - after all, itwas through Gibraltar that theMoors had entered andsubsequently conquered a largepart of Spain.

Above the emblem sits acrown, representing the Spanishmonarchy, and a golden wreathencloses the design.

At the surrender of Gibraltarto the Anglo-Dutch force in 1704,the Spanish residents fled. Many ofthem settled just a few miles awayin San Roque where they are stillknow as “the citizens of Gibraltarin San Roque.” They took withthem the coat of arms which nowhangs in San Roque’s Town Hall.

The flag that now flies overGibraltar has changed little fromthe original. The crown of Spainhas gone and the background isnow one-third red and two-thirdswhite. The castle and the keyremain unaltered. To the Britishthe key has come to symbolise

Gibraltar’s role as the ‘Key to theMediterranean.’

British ‘inperpetuity’

Gibraltar remained a Spanishpossession from 1462 until 1704when it fell to a combined Anglo-Dutch Force. The Treaty ofUtrecht (1813) ceded Gibraltar tothe ‘Crown of Great Britain’ inperpetuity, but Gibraltar continuedto be subject to bloody conflictwith Spain, and in 1782, workbegan on the Great Siege Tunnels.

The Battle of Trafalgar wasfought close to Gibraltar in 1805.

20th centuryDuring World War II Gibraltar

was home to naval fleet Force Hand was the focal point fromwhere General Eisenhowermasterminded the North Africanlandings in 1942.

Spain attempted to revive herclaim to Gibraltar during theFranco era. This conflict resultedin the closure of the borderbetween Spain and Gibraltar in1969 and it remained closed for 13years.

Today there is still conflictbetween Spain and Gibraltar, asthe Spanish government continues

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to want to make the Rock aSpanish possession.

The HinduCommunity

Following the opening of theSuez Canal in 1869 the firstmerchants from India arrived inGibraltar with the permission ofthe Governor, and had the samerights as any other traders in thearea. The present population iscomprised almost entirely ofdescendants from Hyderabad,Sindh (now Pakistan.)

Because Gibraltar wasregarded as nothing more than atrading outpost, it was not until1925 (over 50 years after thearrival of the first merchant) thatthe first Indian was born inGibraltar. In the mid-1920sproprietors and senior employeesbegan to reside here with theirfamilies.

Until 1921 there were onlyabout seven licensed Indiantraders. Once licensed theyenjoyed freedom of trade and theright to have as many alienemployees resident in Gibraltar asthey deemed necessary.

By this time the civilianpopulation of Gibraltar wasgrowing rapidly and the shortageof housing and poor living

conditions resulted in aliens beingrestricted to one place of businessfor each license holder and thenumber of alien employeesrestricted to the number necessaryfor the conduct of business.

The Governor also decidedthat no further aliens should bepermitted to open businesses here.This culminated in the TradeRestrictions Ordinance whichlimited Indian traders to deal onlyin goods which Gibraltarians werenot interested in selling.

After World War II a largenumber of Hindus moved out ofthe sub-continent and somesettled in Gibraltar.

In 1950 there were 23 licensedIndian traders and by 1961 thenumber had risen to 26. Traderswere allowed two non-Gibraltarian employees to residein Gibraltar.This resulted in about

Hindu Temple, Al Mandir.

85

COMMUNITIES50 Indian families living inGibraltar with the remainderliving in the ‘Campo’ area andcommuting to work each day.

The 1950s saw a radicalchange in the legal status of (butnot the rights enjoyed by) Indiansin Gibraltar. The BritishNationality Act 1948 conferredupon British subjects aged over 21and living in a British territory fornot less than five years the right tobe registered as citizens of the U.K. and colonies. Indians wereBritish subjects and, those whohad lived in Gibraltar for morethan five years, were registered asU.K. citizens.

The withdrawal of Spanishlabour in 1969 forced theGovernment to ease restrictionson expatriate labour residing inGibraltar. Hindus who held U.K.citizenship and resided in Spaintook up residence in Gibraltar.Hindu traders were allowed torecruit more Indian nationals toreplace Spanish shop assistants.Restrictions on trading licensesand immigration controlsremained.

1973 saw a dramatic change inthe fortunes of the HinduCommunity with the entry of theU.K. (and with it Gibraltar) intothe EEC. Those members of theCommunity who had acquired

British citizenship qualifiedovernight for treatment as EECnationals with the same rights as300 million Englishmen,Frenchmen, Italians and citizens ofthe member states.

The right to live, trade andwork in Gibraltar has transformedthe Hindu Community into amore dynamic and outwardlooking people. This has broughtnot only increased investment inproperty and trade but also achange in the nature of thebusiness conducted.

The increased confidence andthe sense of belonging to Gibraltarand a sense of integration into thewider Gibraltarian community hasenabled Gibraltarian Hindus toparticipate fully in serviceorganisations such as the RotaryClub, the Lions Club of Gibraltar,in the Chamber of Commerce andin other walks of public life. In2004, Mr Haresh Budhrani QCwas appointed Speaker of theHouse of Assembly (now theGibraltar Parliament) and over theyears these members of theCommunity have also beenappointed Justices of the Peace.

COMMUNITIES

86

The JewishCommunity

Though only numberingabout 600, the Jews in Gibraltarhave a strong presence in localbusiness and social affairs.

The Community’s ManagingBoard has overall responsibility forcommunal matters and policyranging from finance toeducation.The Board is headed bya president and comprises 11elected members.

Sephardi Jews, who had beenexpelled by Queen Isabella in1492 and had dispersed to manycountries, settled here soon afterthe British took control in 1704.However, Article X of the Treatyof Utrecht, which formalisedBritish ownership of Gibraltar,

prohibited both Jewsand Moors fromresiding here.

As the Jews andMoors were traders,bringing in muchneeded goods, localauthorities werereluctant to complywith the treaty. Orderscame from Britain toexpel them, which thegovernors did theirutmost to get around.In 1714 it was reported that allJews had been expelled, except forthose who had not paid theiraccounts. This turned out to bemost of them.

In 1717 there were more than300 Jews in Gibraltar and thepressure was still on to have themremoved, and many were. From1719 - 1721 relations with Spainagain deteriorated and Jews wereallowed to return to Gibraltar,which was due as much to theSultan of Morocco as to Britishauthorities.

The Sultan said that hissubjects in Gibraltar must betreated as well as the British weretreated in Morocco. The Britishsigned a treaty with the Sultanagreeing to his terms. Many Jewsreturned to Gibraltar as citizens ofMorocco.

87

COMMUNITIESThose that were here during

the first siege by the Spanish in1727 were of help to the garrison.This is hardly surprisingconsidering the treatment theirancestors had received at the handsof the Spanish.

In general, the Jews weretreated equitably and though therewere a number of nationalitiesliving on the Rock everyonemanaged to live in harmony. Someattribute this to both the severityand even handedness of themilitary justice.

In 1724 land was granted toIsaack Netto who was given “apiece of waste ground” on whichhe built the first synagogue. It wasseriously damaged in January 1766when a landslide caved in manyadjacent houses and killed 50people. It was rebuilt in 1768 on amore lavish scale with a newentrance on Engineers Lane.

In 1749 a grant of land, in thename of Mr. Isaac Aboab, wasmade in order to erect asynagogue. It wasn’t until 1768that the synagogue opened forservice.

There was another smallsynagogue in Irish Town, “EsHayim.” It had been a “yeshiba,”an academy, before becoming aplace of worship in 1759.

The Spanish attacked again1779. Many Jews became soldiersand some distinguishedthemselves. One was AbrahamHassan who was granted a houseon Southport Street by GeneralEliott for his service. TheSynagogue was shelled and burnedon May 17, 1781.

The Nefusot YehudahSynagogue was built on Line WallRoad in 1800 from a houseowned by Semtob Sequerra. It hadto be redone in 1812 when itsuffered fire damage. It was knownas the “Flemish Synagogue” asmany of the people had comefrom Holland and the synagoguewas done in a Flemish style. TheSynagogue was again damaged in1951, along with a great deal ofGibraltar, when an ammunitionship blew up in the harbour.

Abudarham Synagogue wasbuilt in Parliament Lane in 1820.

In 1858 the law was changedto allow Jews to swear an oath ofallegiance that did not conflictwith their faith. From then onJews have occupied all posts inGibraltar, including that of ChiefMinister.

There are two Jewishcemeteries in Gibraltar. NorthGate cemetery is located near theairport. The cemetery on theUpper Rock, is older and is worth

COMMUNITIESa visit. It is known as the WindmillHill Cemetery and it was closedMay 6, 1848.

The MoorishConnection

When General Franco closedthe Gibraltar-Spanish border in1967 not only was the steadystream of workers which flowedacross the border halted but so wasthe import of food and water.Gibraltar turned to Morocco forworkers and supplies.

A ferry connected Gibraltarwith Tangier bringing in freshvegetables and workers. Atlas

Mountain water was brought overon water barges.

In the first year workersnumbered 5,000, but now thereare about 3,000. Many lived in theold barracks at Grand Battery, thelowest part of the originalMoorish northern defence wall.Inside it is easy to imagine you arein Morocco. Men squatted hereand there, everyone is speakingArabic and there were vegetablesand general goods for sale.

A café offers mint tea, andthere is a small mosque. As well,there is the Ibrahim Al-Ibrahimmosque at Europa Point.

Most of the Moroccans arefrom Tangier and Tetuan, whichwas once called Spanish Morocco.Many of the Moroccans from therespeak Spanish, which made themnatural recruits for Gibraltar wheremany residents speak Spanish.

Roman CatholicCommunity

About 80% of Gibraltarians areRoman Catholics and they areserved by five parishes, each withtheir own church. There arechapels at Catalan Bay, St.Bernard’s, Mount Alvernia, and theShrine of Our Lady of Europe, atEuropa Point.

MILITARY CEREMONIES

It was in 1462, when Spainexpelled the Moors, thatCatholicism became permanentlyestablished on the Rock. Until1704 Gibraltar was part of theDiocese of Cadiz. During Britishrule the Catholic Church formeddirect links with Rome, and thisrelationship remains.

In 1704 the Catholics were, ofcourse, in the majority, in Gibraltar.However, at the time, they werebeing persecuted in England. InGibraltar the Protestantgovernment went to great lengthsto protect the Catholics, going sofar as to post guards outside theCathedral. Spanish speakingCatholic priests were brought fromMinorca, then a British territory, torun the church.

Today Catholics live inharmony with the Protestants,Jews, Hindus and Muslims withwhom they share this territory.

Military Ceremonies

At the frontier dividingGibraltar and Spain a model of thePort Sergeant holding the Keys ofGibraltar can be seen.The model isa reminder of the tradition beganby General Sir George Elliot whowas Governor of Gibraltar duringthe Great Siege. He carried the

keys of the Garrison on him at alltimes and was even said to haveslept with them under his pillow(currently removed due to majorlocal works).

Since this time successiveGovernors have kept up thetradition by carrying the keys at allofficial functions. The only timewhen the keys were not in thepossession of the governor waswhen they were handed over tothe Port Sergeant for the dailyceremonial opening and closing ofthe gates of Gibraltar. This was adaily task which was carried outby the Garrison until thebeginning of the century. Thisceremony is now re-enacted onlyonce a year during May.

Changing of the Guard Thechanging of the Guard is a dailyceremony performed by theGibraltar Regiment. It takes placeseveral times daily, on weekdays,outside the Convent - the officialresidence of the Governor of

MILITARY CEREMONIES

90

INFORMATION

and

SERVICES

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INFORMATION

Gibraltar. Special ceremonialevents are held at regular intervalsthroughout the year, but the datesare not announced very far inadvance for security reasons.

AccommodationBristol Hotel10 Cathedral SquareTel: + 350 20076800 E-mail: [email protected] Caleta HotelSir Herbert Miles Road Tel: +350 20076501E-mail: [email protected] Hotel9 Cannon LaneTel: +350 20051711E-mail: [email protected] Emile Youth HostelTel: (350) 20051106

O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel Governor’s ParadeTel: +350 20070500E-mail: [email protected]’s HotelBoyd StreetTel: +350 20074000 / +35020041682 E-mail: [email protected] Rock Hotel Europa RoadTel: +350 20073000E-mail: [email protected]

Airport/AirlineAir Terminal Tel: (350) 20073026Air Terminal Car ParkTel: (350) 20073913Flight InformationTel: (350) 8998British AirwaysDestinations: London Heathrow(LHR), UKwww.ba.com EasyJetDestinations: London Gatwick(LGW), UKLiverpool (LPL), UKwww.easyjet.com Monarch AirlinesDestinations: London Luton(LTN), UK

Above: Olden days relived.Below: Daily changing of the guard.

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Manchester (MAN), UKwww.flymonarch.com Tel: (350) 20047477Malaga Airport InformationTel: (0034) 95 204 8404 or (0034) 95 204 8484

Bank HolidaysJanuary 1 (New Year’s Day,) MidMarch (Commonwealth Day,)March/April (Good Friday, EasterMonday,) May 1 (May Day,) LateMay (Spring Bank Holiday,) MidJune (Queen’s Birthday,) LateAugust (Bank Holiday,)September 10 (National Day,)

December 25 (Christmas Day,)

December 26 (Boxing Day.)

BookmakersRock Turf Accountants

Tel: (350) 20079720, (350) 20076865

Victor Chandler

Tel: (350) 20006996

Business ServicesFine Design Ltd

Tel: (350) 20076204

InvestGibraltar Office

Tel: (350) 20052634

There are flights available to and from Gibraltar daily by British Airways,Monarch Airlines and Easyjet. Gibraltar’s airstrip is on the narrow isthmusconnecting the Rock with Spain.

INFORMATION

Bus RoutesThe new routes will be

numbered 1 to 5. In keeping withthe Government’s commitment tointroduce a free bus service routes1 to 4 will be a free service for allpassengers.These routes will coverall points in Gibraltar except ajourney to the frontier.

Route 5, will be the only farepaying route. This route willoperate from the Frontier viaMarket Place to ReclamationRoad and return to the Frontiervia Europort Avenue, WaterportRoad and Market Place.

The Gibraltar Bus CompanyTel: 200 47622.

CasinoIf you have a gambling streak

in you, you can satisfy it atThe Gala Casino which, unlikeother European casinos, hasno entrance fee. There areno membership or passportrequirements. Coral SportsLounge,VIP high stakes area, 150+Jackpot slot machines, Cocktailbalcony with stunning views ofthe African coast, chargrill &mediterranean restaurant, 18Degree Below Zero Ice Line Bar,Casino Magic & Poker Zones, orjust want to relax with a drink andwatch the action.

The Gala Casino, Located inGibraltar’s new Ocean VillageMarina, Tel: (350) 200 76666www.galacasinogibraltar.com

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INFORMATION

Coach/Car ParksAirport Car ParkTel: (350) 20073913Devil’s Tower Road Car ParkTel: (350) 20049202 Europlaza Car ParkTel: (350) 20049202I.C.C. Car Park (Line Wall Road)Tel: (350) 20074643Marina Bay Car ParkTel: (350) 20073300 Ocean Village Car Parkentrance near Casemates -Waterport fountainQueensway (Reclamation Road) Tel: (350) 20048632 / 20051694Rotunda Car Park Tel: (350) 20073621Waterport Coach ParkTel: (350) 20074326

Consular OfficesBELGIUMP L Imossi Esq47 Irish TownTel: +350 20078353E-mail: [email protected] DENMARKJohn A Gaggero EsqCloister Building, Market LaneTel: +350 20076821E-mail: [email protected] GREECEJ J Imossi EsqSuite 33, Portland HouseGlacis Road

Tel: +350 20076651E-mail:[email protected] FINLANDA J S Capurro Esq20 Line Wall RoadTel: +350 20075149E-mail: [email protected] FRANCEPierre Fayaud EsqSuite 10.3, 10th Floor, ICC BuildingTel: +350 20048070E-mail: [email protected] LundinTel: +350 54342000E-mail:[email protected]

ISRAELD Benaim Esq39 Glacis Road, Marina ViewPO Box 238Tel: +350 20077735E-mail: [email protected] ITALYMaj P H Canessa ED Esq3/1 Irish Place, PO Box 437Tel: +350 20047096E-mail: [email protected] MALTAFranco Cassar EsqBarclays BankTel: +350 20052342E-mail:[email protected]

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INFORMATION

MORROCCOVisitors to Gibraltar needing aMoroccan Consul have to contactMAIMA in Algeciras.Tel: 956 66180 - Mornings OnlyNETHERLANDSRaacida AmenzouPricewaterhouseCoopers LtdICC BuildingCasemates Square Tel: +350 20052036E-mail:[email protected] L Savignon Esq MBELower Ground Floor, Regal House,Queensway P.O. Box 928Tel: +350 20048352E-mail: [email protected] /[email protected] POLANDA J P Lombard Esq LLB35 Governor’s ParadeTel: +350 20074593E-mail:[email protected] SWEDENJ P Gaggero EsqPO Box 212, Cloister BuildingTel: +350 20072663E-mail: [email protected] SWITZERLANDYves J. Guisan MD, Msc11/1 Gardiner’s RoadTel/Fax: +350 20041138Mobile: +34 676 338169E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.eda.admin.ch THAILANDMark J P Porral ESQ4th Floor, Leon HouseTel: +350 20072685E-mail:[email protected]

CurrencyGibraltar Government notes

are legal tender in Gibraltar, and itis accepted at par with PoundsSterling. U.K. notes and coins areaccepted and circulate freely.Credit cards and traveller’s chequesare widely accepted.

There is a full range ofinternational banks which aregenerally open from 9.00am -3.30pm weekdays. There are anumber of Bureaux de Changeopen regular business hours forexchanging money.

DrivingDriving is on the right. Hire

cars are available for trips intoSpain, for which you need a validfull licence. Generally, car hirecompanies expect you to returnthe car to the point of collection.

Electricity240 V, 3 pin plug (as in U.K.)

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INFORMATION

EmergencyEmergency Tel: 112Ambulance Tel: 199Fire Tel: 190Police Tel: 199Fire Brigade Tel: (350) 20079507Police Headquarters

Tel: (350) 20072500St. Bernard’s Hospital

Tel: (350) 20079700

EU StatusGibraltar entered the EU with

the United Kingdom in 1973 andit derives its membership from theU.K. and is not a separate memberstate. Gibraltar is consideredoutside the customs territory ofthe EU, but has free movement ofcapital, services and persons.

The citizens of Gibraltar areBritish Dependent TerritoryCitizens, but are considered U.K.nationals for Community purposeswith all the rights and entitlementsof any EU state.

Facilities fordisabled persons

TOURIST SITES:• Clear access / • Some difficulty/ • Difficult access

Upper Rock Nature Reserveattractions

• St. Michael’s Cave Entranceaccessible, bridge and steps• Apes Den Accessible • Great Siege Tunnels Accessiblehalf way, steep hill and set of steps • Moorish Castle Access difficult,steps and narrow corridors

Whilst steps are being taken tomeet the special requirements ofsome of our visitors, some ofGibraltar’s major attractions faceparticular difficulties in providingaccess for those who are inwheelchairs. However, tocompensate in some small measurefor this, the Gibraltar Tourist Boardhas arranged for free access todisabled persons into the UpperRock.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS:• World War II Rock andFortress Tunnel Tour :Accessible• Nelson’s Anchorage:Access toexhibition only, steps and narrowcorridors leading to gun • Gibraltar Museum:Access tolower floor only • Cable Car: Difficult access, anumber of flights of steps • Alameda Botanical Gardens :Accessible• Alameda Wildlife ConservationPark : Partly accessible, someflights of steps • Trafalgar Cemetery: Partlyaccessible

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INFORMATION

• Gibraltar Crystal Glass Factory:Step into factory, assistanceprovided by staff • Gibraltar Arts and CraftsExhibition : Good access, lifts toupper floor• John Mackintosh Hall ( library& cultural centre ) : Good access,lifts to first floor• Shrine of Our Lady of Europe:Good access, ramp at entrance• Flat Bastion Magazine : Partlyaccessible, narrow corridors

We hope that the friendliness,helpfulness and attention of localpeople can go some way towardscompensating for any deficienciesin the physical provisions inbuildings and amenities some ofwhich are difficult to satisfactorilyadapt.

Golf Courses(Spain)Alcaidesa

Tel: (0034) 956 79 10 40San Roque

Tel: (0034) 956 61 30 30Valderrama

Tel: (0034) 956 79 12 00Almenara

Tel: (0034) 956 79 50 60Sotogrande

Tel: (0034) 956 79 50 14* *wait for tone, then dial 3

La CañadaTel: (0034) 956 79 41 00

La DuquesaTel: (0034) 95 289 04 25

EsteponaTel: (0034) 95 211 30 81

Health/MedicalChiropractic Clinic

Tel: (350) 20044226Crown Pharmacy

Tel: (350) 20078598Foot Health Clinic

Tel: (350) 20041576College Clinic

Tel: (350) 20077777Louis Pharmacy

Tel: (350) 20044797Passano Opticians

Tel: (350) 20076544

Internetwww.discover.giwww.finedesignstudio.comwww.gibraltar.giwww.gibraltar.gov.ukwww.gibmuseum.giwww.gibraltar-stamps.comwww.investgibraltar.gov.gi

LlanitoGibraltar has its own unique

vernacular, Llanito, a corruption ofEnglish and Andaluz with asmattering of Genoese.

Llanito has its own specificwords and even its own dictionary,

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INFORMATION

compiled by Manuel Cavilla OBE.Many of the Llanito words werebrought by immigrants who camefrom many diverse areas of theworld. The words worked theirway into the language untileventually their origin becameobscured.

During the 19th century manyItalian words entered the language.

MarinasMarina Bay Complex

Tel: (350) 20074322

Queensway Quay Tel: (350) 20044700

Yacht Terminal (Shell)Tel: (350) 20048218

Measuring UpGibraltar is 6.4sq km (3.5 sq

miles) approx. in total. Much ofthis is precipitous rock and cliffwhich measures 426 metres (1400feet) in height.The highest point isat O’Hara’s Battery. The Rock canbe seen from up to 100 km away,Morocco is 13 km (8 miles) acrossthe Strait of Gibraltar.

The Rock measures 426 metres (1400 feet) in height

INFORMATION

104

Latitude 36 7’ North,longitude 5 21’West.

Length: 5 km (3.10 miles)approx.

Circumference Length: 16 km(10 miles) approx.

Average width: 1.25 km (1mile) approx.

The Rock is mainly Jurassiclimestone some 200 million years old.

Getting ThereRegular flights from the UK toGibraltar are operated by Easyjet,British Airways and MonarchScheduled. Flight time isapproximately 2.5 hours. Flightsto Madrid are also operated. Theland frontier between Gibraltarand Spain is open 24 hours a day,seven days a week both forvehicles and pedestrians. There isno limit on the number offrontier crossings you can make.There are also a number of cruisecompanies which make Gibraltara regular destination on theiritineraries and two marinasprovide for private yachts andsailing ships.

Passports,Visas andVaccinations

A full passport is required tovisit Spain and North Africa.Visas

are not necessary for EC nationals,but citizens of other countriesshould check with the appropriateauthorities.

No vaccinations are requiredfor Gibraltar, Spain or NorthAfrica.

Customs Allowance Importation from Gibraltar intoSpain

For travellers buying in Gibraltarand intending to import intoSpain.

200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or250 gms of tobacco.

The purchase of tobacco islimited to a single purchase permonth for the above mentionedquantities.

1 litre of spirits or strongliqueurs over 22% volume or 2litres wine or 48 bottles of beer.

€300 worth of a variety ofgoods including perfume andtoilet water (Singular expensiveitems may be valued by SpanishCustoms at a rate they considerthe item should cost).

Children 17 years and undermay import half this allowance.

People under 17 cannot havethe tobacco or alcohol allowance.

Goods bought in Gibraltarmay only be imported into Spain

105

INFORMATIONbetween 0900 hours and 2100hours.

The above information is onlyto be used as a guideline. Westrongly recommend that anyenquiries regarding importation ofgoods from Gibraltar into Spain bedirected to Spanish Customs at theFrontier. The Gibraltar TouristBoard does not accept responsibilityfor any changes to the above.

Places of WorshipAnglican:Cathedral of Holy Trinity,Cathedral Square,Tel: (350) 20075745King’s Chapel,302 Main StreetBethel Christian Fellowship,95 Main Street,Tel: (350) 20052002

Church of Scotland:St. Andrew’s,Governor’s Parade,Tel: (350) 20043351Church of Jesus Christ of theLatter-Day Saints,2nd Floor, Don House,30-38 Main Street,Tel: (350) 20050433Evangelical Church of Gibraltar:Ragged Staff Gates,Tel: (350) 20078656

Hindu Temple,Engineer Lane,Tel: (350) 20042515

Methodist:Wesley House, 296 Main Street,Tel: (350) 20040870

New Apostolic Church:14 Victoria House, 26 Main Street,Tel: (350) 20079305

Roman Catholic:Cathedral of St Mary,215 Main Street,Tel: (350) 20076688Our Lady of Sorrows,32 Catalan Bay,Tel: (350) 20073474Shrine of Our Lady of Europe,Europa Point,Tel: (350) 20071230St Bernard’s Parish Church,Europa Road,Tel: (350) 20055484St Joseph’s Parish Church,28 Witham’s Road,Tel: (350) 20075682St Paul’s Parish Church,Varyl Begg Estate,Tel: (350) 20077135St Theresa’s Parish Church,30b Devil’s Tower Road,Tel: (350) 2003962

INFORMATION

106

Synagogues:Shaar HashamayimSynagogue,47 Engineer Lane,Tel: (350) 20078069,Enquiries Tel: (350) 20074030.Nefusot Yehuda Synagogue,Line Wall Road,Tel: (350) 20076477Etz Hayim Synagogue,Irish Town.Abudarham Synagogue,20 Parliament Lane,Tel: (350) 20040223

Police ForceThe Royal Gibraltar Police

Force is the second oldest BritishPolice force in the world. SirRobert Peel formed theMetropolitan Police in 1829, justnine months before the GibraltarPolice became operational andofficers from the Met were senthere to assist in the formation.

The Force operated inconjunction with militaryauthorities until 1871 when itassumed a more dominant role, butthere has always been greatco-operation between the two.

The old police station in Irish Town

107

In 1876 whistles were issued aspart of the uniform and eight yearslater long night sticks werereplaced by truncheons. In 1992the Queen conferred a greathonour on the Force by bestowingthe “Royal” prefix.

Post OfficeGeneral Post Office:104 Main Street,Tel: (350) 20075624Philatelic Bureau:Tel: (350) 20075662Rates: Postcard or letter: 8pGibraltar (under 50g); 42p Europe(under 20g); 49p all othercountries (under 10g). Surfacemail (under 20g): all countries 30p.

Hours:Mid-September to mid-June 9.00am - 4.30pm Mon-Fri,10.00am - 1.00pm Sat;Mid-June to mid-September 8.45am - 2.15pm Mon-Fri,10.00am - 1.00pm Sat.

PrintersFine Design Ltd provide acomplete service in graphicdesign, advertising and qualitybespoke printing.Fine Design LtdTel: (350) 20076204Email: [email protected]

INFORMATION

108

Public LibraryJohn Mackintosh Public Library:308 Main Street. Open: Monday -Friday 9:30am - 7:30pm.Tel: (350) 20078000.

SportsFootball, cricket, athletics, grass

hockey, basketball, volleyball,netball, badminton, 5-a-sidefootball, martial arts, gymnasticsand squash facilities are available atVictoria Stadium Sports Centre.Ice Skating an 10 Pin Bowlingfacilities are available at King’sBastion Leisure Centre.

Tattoo ArtistsRitual Tattoo Tel: (350) 20072227

TaxiThere are eight taxi stands in

Gibraltar: at the Frontier, the

Coach Park, Casemates, Piazza

(town centre,) Cathedral of St

Mary (Main Street,) Cathedral of

Holy Trinity (Cathedral Square,)

Trafalgar Cemetery and the Cruise

Terminal.Tel: (350) 20070027 (24

hours.)

INFORMATION

TelephonesOperator Assistance

Tel: (+350) 100International Operator

Tel: (+350) 100Local Directory Enquiries

Tel: (+350) 11811International Directory Enquiries Tel: (+350) 11888Maritime calls Tel: (+350) 100

Calling Spain: dial direct.Mobile numbers: dial 00+34+mobile number.

Calling Abroad: dial 00 +country code + area code (U.K. -drop first 0 in area code) + localnumber. Country codes: Australia61, Belgium 32, Canada 1,

Denmark 45, Finland 358, France33, Germany 49, Italy 39,Morocco 212, Netherlands 31,Norway 47, Portugal 351, Sweden46, U.K. 44, U.S.A. 1. Other codesavailable in front of phone book.Mobile phones: dial 00+ countrycode + mobile number (U.K. -drop first 0 in area code)

Calling Gibraltar from Spain:Dial 00350 + local number.

Calling Gibraltar from Abroad:dial international code 00350 +local number.

Calling U.K. direct: dial 8400for a free call to a BT operator.Thiscan be used to make collect, creditcard and third party billing calls.

Calling U.S.A. direct: dial 8800for a free call to an AT&Toperator.This can be used to makecollect, credit card and third partybilling calls or to access 800numbers in the United States. (AnAT&T charge applies to thesecalls.)

Phone cards: CollectableGNC phone cards are availablefrom GNC Customer Services atJohn Mackintosh Square, theGibraltar Philatelic Bureau at thePost office and other sales outletsin Gibraltar.Note: GSM phones can be used inGibraltar.

Old style telephone box

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INFORMATION

110

Tourist InfoGibraltar Museum

Tel: (350) 20074289Gibraltar Tourist InformationOffice:

Casemates OfficeWatergate House, Casemates Square, GibraltarTel: (350) 20074982 / (350) 20045000,E-mail:[email protected] Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am - 5:30pm Saturday 10:00am - 3:00pm Sunday 10:00am - 1:00pmFrontier OfficeCustoms Building,Winston Churchill Avenue, GibraltarTel: (350) 20050762 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am - 4:30pmSaturday & Sunday ClosedCoach TerminusWaterport Wharf, GibraltarTel: (350) 20047602Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am - 4:30pmSaturday 10:00am - 1:00pmSunday ClosedCruise TerminalNorth Mole, GibraltarTel: (350) 20047671,Fax: (350) 20047672Opening Hours:When vessel is in port, see monthly

schedule.Airport Arrivals HallGibraltar Airport, GibraltarTel: (350) 20047227 Opening Hours:As per daytime flight, see daily schedule for flight arrivals times (weekdays only)

Gibraltar Information BureauTel: (350) 20074950

Weather InfoTel: (350) 20053416

Speaking Clock Tel: (350) 150

Useful NumbersSenior Port Officer

Tel: (350) 20077044Chamber of Commerce

Tel: (350) 20078376Clamp Removal

Tel: (350) 20076999 orTel: (350) 20076312 or

(after hours) Tel: (350) 58857000Customs Enquiries

Tel: (350) 20078879Financial Services Commission

Tel: (350) 20040283Frontier Queue Information

Outbound Tel: (350) 20042777Inbound Tel: (350) 8987

H.M. Forces Tel. InfoTel: (350) 20053666

Immigration OfficeTel: (350) 20051725

InvestGibraltar OfficeTel: (350) 20052634

INFORMATIONHealth Centre

Tel: (350) 20072355Passport Office

Tel: (350) 20051725Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages

Tel: (350) 20051725Yacht Registry

Tel: (350) 20078343

WeatherTwo major winds influence

the weather in Gibraltar - theLevanter from the east and thePoniente from the west.

In the summer, the Levanterbrings warm and humidconditions and there is often apersistent cloud which overhangsthe top of the Rock. ThePoniente, however, brings hot,clear and dry weather.

Winter in Gibraltar is its rainyseason. December is normally themonth with the most rain and onaverage there is about 143 mm(5.6 inches of rain), but this canvary greatly. Some years there hasbeen no rain in December andsome years there has been up to556 mm (21.9 inches.)

Weather Forecasts andInformation

The Met Office at RAFGibraltar can be relied upon togive accurate weather forecasts forsailors and for travellers.You can

receive daily weather reports fromthe Met Officer on BFBS 1 radio(93.5, 97.8 FM) Monday-Friday10.05am and 4.05pm, Saturdayand Sunday at 12.02pm and5.02pm.

As well, BFBS 1 broadcastsdaily weather information atvaried times throughout the day,on local shows.

Radio Gibraltar (GBC) at1458kHz has weather reportsMonday to Friday at 7.30am,8.30am, 12.30am, 13.06pm,14.00pm, 16.01pm, 17.30pm and18.30pm; Saturday and Sunday08.30am.

Tel: (350) 20053416 forweather updates.

Median Monthly TemperaturesJanuary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14°CFebruary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14°CMarch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15°CApril . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16°CMay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19°CJune. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21°CJuly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29°CAugust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30°CSeptember . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28°COctober . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20°CNovember . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17°CDecember . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14°C

WeddingsGibraltar is a popular

destination for weddings.Marriages held in the registry

111

INFORMATIONoffice may only take place onweekdays between 10.00 and12.00 hours excluding publicholidays. However, some flexibilitymay be exercised, where possible,to accommodate weddings at 9.30and 12.30 hours, particularlyduring the summer months.

No marriages will be heldduring the period between 21December and 3 January inclusive.

Marriage ceremonies heldoutside the Registry must complywith any conditions imposed bythe Registrar.

Those interested in a Gibraltarwedding should contact theCIVIL STATUS &

REGISTRATION OFFICE,Joshua Hassan House, Secretary’sLane, Tel: +350 20072289 Fax:+350 20042706 E-mail:[email protected] visitwww.gibraltar.gov.gi/about_gib/wed_registry.htm

Gibraltar has many florists andjewellers, a party planning service,and restaurants which will caterfor receptions. As well, some ofGibraltar’s hotels will help planyour wedding, give guests a placeto stay, cater for the reception, andare, of course, the perfect spot tohoneymoon!

112

113

FINANCE

Setting up aBusiness

The Government of Gibraltarset up a strategic operation labelledInvestGibraltar to be the frontlineoffice acting as a bridge betweenthe private and public sector. Itprovides advice and support aswell as on-the-spot informationand guidance on a wide variety ofbusiness topics.

The Government aims toencourage, promote and facilitatedomestic private sectordevelopment and investment.Consequently, one of the mainroles of the InvestGibraltar Office

is to ensure that experiencedinvestors and potentialentrepreneurs alike receive aprofessional, tailor-made service.

For further information, pleasecontact Javier Redondo or DustinOrfila from the InvestGibraltarOffice, Department of Enterprise& Development, Suite 771,Europort, Gibraltar, Tel: +35020052634, Fax: +350 20052635,in fo@inves tg ibra l t a r.gov.g i ,www.investgibraltar.gov.gi

BankingGibraltar offers many well

known international namesproviding the full service expected

FINANCE

in modern banking. The industryis well established with total assetsat 31 March 2008 in the region ofSterling £11 billion.

As a location Gibraltar hasadvantages for bankers and clientswhich include: banking

confidentiality, sterling as well asother currencies, no exchangecontrol, English language andEuropean time zone.

The standards of supervisionand regulation match those of theUK and are under the FinancialServices Commission controlledby a Commissioner of Banking.

InvestmentsSubject to compliance with

the Financial Services Act a rangeof opportunities exist for UnitTrusts, Experienced InvestorFunds, mutual funds and otherinvestment vehicles to be

Europort

115

FINANCEcontrolled from Gibraltar. Some ofthe obvious benefits for suchcontrolled operations include, nocapital gains tax, no profits tax (incertain conditions), nowithholding taxes and minimumstamp duty requirements. Gibraltarhas investor protection in the formof a Deposit Guarantee Scheme(in compliance with EU DepositGuarantee Directive) and anInvestor Compensation Scheme(in compliance with EU Directiveon Investor CompensationSchemes).

The ShippingBusiness

With its strong navalassociations over the centuriesGibraltar offers considerableshipping expertise.Over 8,000 shipstotalling more than 200 milliontonnes make use of Gibraltar’s portand harbour facilities every year.

Gibraltar is ideally located toserve the requirements of allmerchant and cruise ships, withoutcostly deviation or off-hire, as theypass through the Straits of Gibraltar.

Efficient pilot assistance,facilities for the maintenance andrepair of communications andnavigational equipment, theprovision of bunkering andvictualling requirements enablesGibraltar to provide acomprehensive marine service to

all types of vessels.Gibraltar is a highly competitive

supply point in this region andsupplies over 1 million tonnes offuel to over 1,800 ships a year.

Gibraltar registered ships aredeemed British and may fly theRed Ensign. The Registry alsooffers ship owners nationalityrequirements for Commonwealthcountries as well as beneficialownership in law and the advantageof asset protection through aGibraltar “exempt” company.

Gibraltar has been undertakingmajor shipping repairs for nearly100 years. Since 1985 the dockyardhas operated commercially, servicingall types of vessels. Facilitiesinclude three dry docks able to

FINANCE

116

handle vessels up to 90,000 tonsdead weight.

There are three custom builtmarinas providing completeberthing facilities for yachts. Over4,500 yachts visit Gibraltar yearly.

There is a wide range ofprofessional specialist firms, someestablished for well over 100 years,offering stevedore, harbour launchand lighter services.

Gibraltar as aconference centre

Gibraltar is rapidly growing inthe conference business and offersunique opportunities for incentiveand in house arrangements. Thefacilities available are such that

Gibraltar can cope with up to 400

delegates but the more usual

numbers after considering flights

etc are in the region of 40 to 100.

Apart from the state of the art

facilities available Gibraltar can

provide spouse and delegate social

programmes that cannot be

matched in other territories. For

example, visits to two continents

and three countries in one day,

historical tours showing 300 years

of British control and a chance to

feed the dolphins in their own

environment, just to mention a

few. Contact the Gibraltar

Federation of Small Businesses.

Tel: 200 47722 Fax: 200 47733

Gibraltar is ideally located to serve the requirements of all merchant andcruise ships.

117

FINANCE

118

MEDICAL

St BernardsHospital

When General Sir GeorgeDon arrived in Gibraltar to takeup his role as Governor in 1814 hefound a population of some10,000 souls living in appallingconditions with the Fever rampantthrough the colony. Following awide-ranging enquiry in 1815 heset about major improvements insanitation, drainage, water supplyand the installation of general civicpride among the inhabitants of theday.

Don’s work of reconstructionwas exemplified by the conversionof the Blue Barracks site above theCity into a hospital, that was latercalled the Colonial Hospital untilit was renamed St. Bernard’s in thelate 19th century.

In late February 2005 thehospital opened in Blocks 1-4Europort with some 210 bedscovering orthopaedic, trauma,maternity, surgical, medical andpaediatric wards;

• two main operating theatresand an emergency back uptheatre;• a hydrotherapy pool with afull rehabilitation clinic;• a day surgery unit and cardiacrehabilitation facility;

• an accident and emergencydepartment, with provision formajor and minor problems;• out-patient suites andophthalmic clinics.

Visiting hours are GeneralWards 5:45pm until 7:45pm dailyincluding weekends I.T.U.6:30pm. until 7:00pm. Rainbow(Childrens Ward) 11:00am until7:45pm. Maternity Wards willcontinue to have special visitinghours. If in doubt call the HelpCentre on Tel.: 200 79700.

Louis PharmacyUnit F12, First FloorInt. Commercial CentreTel.: 200 44797

Full range of U.K. andinternational drugs and medicinesstocked. Qualified chemist onpremises. Everything you’d expectfrom a quality chemist - toiletriesand sundries, baby products, firstaid, cough medicines, dietaryproducts, hair colouring, sleepingaids, contraceptives, pregnancytests, blood pressure tests.

Open Monday-Friday 9:00am - 7:00pm.

Copyright © 2010Discover Pocket Guide(s) Gibraltar Ltd.

Suite 1, 209 Main Street, P.O. Box 759, Gibraltar.Tel/Fax: (+350) 200 76204E-mail: [email protected]

www.discover.giPrinted By:

7th Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced ortransmitted in any form or by any means, electronic ormechanical, including photocopying, recording or by anyinformation storage and retrieval system without permission inwriting from the publisher.

Every effort has been made to make sure the informationcontained in this guide is accurate.We would like to thank thepeople of Gibraltar for their helpful suggestions and comments,and special thanks to the Gibraltar Tourist Board for theircontinued support and photographs, and to John J.Wood,WarrenVassallo, Spencer Montero, Stephen Gross, Phil Langley andSandra Routier for photographs and Haresh Budhrani for hisarticle on the Hindus in Gibraltar. Prices were correct at time ofpublication but are, of course, subject to change.

120

100 Ton Gun . . . . . . . . . 16

Accommodation . . . . . . . 91

Airline/Airport . . . . . . . . 91

Alameda Gardens . . . . . . 47

American War Memorial . 11

Apes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 48

Aqueduct . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Bank Holidays. . . . . . . . . 92

Banking . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Bar / Restaurants . . . . . . 70

Beaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Black Watch Memorial . . 11

Bookmakers . . . . . . . . . . 92

British possession . . . . . . 83

Business Services . . . . . . . 92

Bus Routes . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Bus Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Cable Car . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Car Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Casemates Gates . . . . . . . 32

Casino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Catalan Bay. . . . . . . . . . . 64

Cathedral of Holy Trinity. . 40

Cathedral of St Mary. . . . 39

Caves and Tunnels . . . . . . 41

Ceremony of the Keys. . . 89

Changing of the Guard . . 89

Charles V Wall . . . . . . . . . 32

Church of Scotland . . . . . 40

Churches . . . . . . . . 39, 105

City Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Coach Parks . . . . . . . . . . 99

Coat of Arms . . . . . . . . . 82

Coins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Commonwealth War

Graves . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Communities,

Multicultural . . . . . . . . 84

Consular Offices . . . . . . . 99

Convent . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Currency . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Customs Allowance . . . . 104

Devil’s Tongue. . . . . . . . . 33

Devil’s Tower. . . . . . . . . . 33

Dining Out. . . . . . . . . . . 66

Disabled Access . . . . . . 101

Diving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Do-it-yourself tour . . . . . 56

Dolphin Watching . . . . . . 52

Driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Eastern Beach . . . . . . . . . 65

Electricity . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Eliott’s Monument . . . . . 13

Emergency Numbers. . . 101

Europa Point Lighthouse . . 7

EU status . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Financial Services . . . . . 113

Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Flora and Fauna . . . . . . . 47

Fortifications . . . . . . . . . . 32

Garrison Library . . . . . . . 29

Gates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

General Information . . . . 90

Gibjets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Gibraltar, a City Under

Siege . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Gibraltar Botanic Gardens . 47

Gibraltar Museum. . . . . . . 8

Gibraltar War Memorial. . 35

Golf Courses (Spain) . . . 102

Gorham’s Cave . . . . . . . . 41

Grand Battery . . . . . . . . . 33

Great Siege Tunnels . . . . . 42

Great Synagogue . . . . . . . 10

Harley Street Tunnel . . . . 43

Health/Medical . . . . . . . 102

Hindu Community . . . . . 84

Historic Buildings and

Fortifications . . . . . . . . 26

Historical Walking Tour . . 58

History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Hotels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

Ibrahim Al-Ibrahim

Mosque . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Information . . . . . . . . . . 90

Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Investing . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Jewish Community . . . . . 86

John Mackintosh Hall . . . 30

John Mackintosh Library 108

Jumpers’ Bastion . . . . . . . 33

King’s Lines Battery. . . . . 35

King’s Bastion . . . . . . . . . 34

King’s Chapel . . . . . . . . . 41

Koelher Gun. . . . . . . . . . 10

Landport Gate. . . . . . . . . 34

Landport Tunnel . . . . . . . 44

Law Courts. . . . . . . . . . . 31

Line Wall . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Llanito . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Lower St Michael’s Cave

Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Main Guard . . . . . . . . . . 32

Maps . . . . . . . . . . See Back

Marina Bay . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Marinas . . . . . . . . . . 68, 103

Measurements . . . . . . . . 103

Medical Services . . . . . . 118

Mediterranean Steps . . . . 10

Military Ceremonies . . . . 89

Military Heritage Centre . 11

Mons Calpe . . . . . . . . . . 81

Montagu Counterguard. . 33

Monuments . . . . . . . . . . 11

Moorish Baths . . . . . . . . 14

Moorish Castle . . . . . . . . 15

Moorish Dominion. . . . . 82

Moroccan Community . . 82

Index

SIGHTSEEING

121

National Holidays . . . . . . 87

Neanderthal Man . . . . . . 80

Nelson’s Anchorage . . . . . 16

Nelson Statue . . . . . . . . . 14

Nun’s Well . . . . . . . . . . . 17

O' Hara's Tower . . . . . . . 35

O' Hara's Battery . . . . . . 35

Ocean Village Marina . . . 68

Our Lady of Sorrows . . . 64

Parliament House . . . . . . 30

Parsons Lodge . . . . . . . . 27

Passports . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Police Force . . . . . . . . . 106

Post Office . . . . . . . . . . 107

Prince Edward’s Gate . . . 36

Printers. . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Public Library . . . . . . . . 108

Queensway Quay Marina . 69

Queen Victoria Memorial . 13

Ragged Staff Gate . . . . . . 36

Referendum Gate . . . . . . 37

Restaurants and Bars . . . . 70

Rings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Rock Gun Battery . . . . . 36

Roman Catholic

Community . . . . . . . . . 88

Rooke Statue . . . . . . . . . 14

Sandy Bay. . . . . . . . . . . . 65

St Michael’s Cave. . . . 18, 59

Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Setting up a Business . . 113

Shipping Business . . . . . 114

Shopping . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Shrine of Our Lady of

Europe. . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Sightseeing . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Sikorski Propeller . . . . . . 13

Southport Gates . . . . . . . 37

Spanish Dominion . . . . . 76

Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Stamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Synagogues . . . . . . . 10, 106

Tattoo Artists. . . . . . . . . 108

Taxi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Taxi Tours. . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Telephone Assistance . . . 109

Telephoning to/from

abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Temples . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Time Tables . . . . . . . . . . 22

Tourist Information. . . . 110

Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Trafalgar Cemetery . . . . . 20

Tunnel to Dockyard . . . . 44

Tunnel Tours. . . . . . . . . . 61

Tunnels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Upper Rock Nature

Reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Useful Telephone

Numbers . . . . . . . . . . 110

Vaccinations . . . . . . . . . 104

Visas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Weddings . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Wellington Front. . . . . . . 37

Wellington's Monument . 14

World War II. . . . . . . . . . 59

Angry Friar ...................... 72 I-2Cable Car ......................... 51 F-4Casino .............................. 93 B-5Discover Pocket Guide ..... 107 F-3Dolphin World .................. 53 B-4Europa Trust ................... 117 B-5Fine Design Ltd ................ 112 F-3Gibtelecom ....................... 45 E-3Gibraltar Tourist Board ...... 5,49Invest Gibraltar .................. 21 D-7Jewel Box ......................... 77 E-3King’s Bastion ................... 122 F-4Lek Bangkok .................... 21 D-6

O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel ... Back CoverPhotography & Art Direction . 37Regency ........................... 75,78 D-3Rock IT ........................... 117Ritual Tattoo .................... 108 F-3Seekers ............................. 21 C-2Taxi .................................. 65The Rock Hotel ............... 2 H-4Tomboy Sailing ................ 54 B-5Vassallo Images ................. 44Waterfront ........................ 71 J-4

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Advertiser’s Index & Map Location

Index

gibraltar discover pocket guide - july 2011

Documents

history of gibraltar

heritage of gibraltar

today gibraltar

visitorsto gibraltar

gibraltar andin

rock of gibraltar canbe

overall plan of gibraltar

andthe services