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About the place
Gibraltar stands at the south eastern tip of the Iberian peninsula (Spain), by the entrance to the Mediterranean. Gibraltar is classified as a British overseas territory.
Gibraltar is approximately 2.642 Square Miles, or if you prefer, 6.843 Square Kilometres - And growing! - This isn't because the rock itself is growing, but land is being added (via the "fill in" method) at extraordinary rates by the government for the development of luxury marinas, apartments, commercial premises, housing and even a hospital.
A Brief History
Hewn out millions of years ago by tectonic forces between the African continent and Europe. the Rock is made of Limestone and took millions and millions of years to form below the sea before being pushed out by the continents.
Formerly classified as a colony, it was won from twenty four years of Spanish occupation, by a joint Anglo-Dutch Force way back in 1704 and formally ceded to Britain in the treaty of Utrect in 1713
About the people
Gibraltar is a really great place to holiday and some who come never leave, making it their permanent home. Gibraltarians are taught English from an early age and you would have to go some way to find one that can't speak it, having said that, Gibraltarians will speak their own language "llanito" which is a mixture of mostly Spanish with a liberal amount of English and some Genoese thrown in for good measure. (sometimes all three in the same sentence)
This is because Gibraltar has always been a port of refuge or trade over the centuries and some that came settled, notably the British, however a large proportion of Gibraltarians can trace their roots back to Geneoese traders. The main religion of Gibraltar is Roman Catholic, but there are strong Jewish, Spanish, Moroccan and Indian communities too within this tiny isthmus. Not to mention English, Scot, Welsh and notably the Irish, the latter explaining why there is an area called Irish Town crowded with loads of Pubs and Bars!
Road Signs, Information Points, Menus, etc are in written English, So you won't have any language problems here. The only exception to feeling that you are in the UK is that driving is on the right, so that when you cross the border with Spain, there isn't any mishaps.
British Influence can be seen everywhere in Gibraltar, for example, Red telephone boxes and Red Post boxes, the Royal Gibraltar Police wear standard British Police uniforms and you can buy your UK daily newspaper by about 2:00pm on the same day of printing in the UK. At the same time though, you have architecture reflecting an ecclectic mix of Maroccan, Genoese, Spanish, Jewish and of course British styles dotted throughout the place.Regardless of whether you are just visiting or staying for ever, I hope you will find something useful in this guide.
