What do you know about Gibraltar? Today we give you some very interesting reasons to visit this small peninsula, located in the southernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula. Gibraltar is a British overseas territory with its own peculiarities. For starters, it is a paradise for nature lovers. On the other hand, it has a strong cultural and historical heritage that it has to discover.

For now, we leave you with 5 essential facts to whet your desire to visit Gibraltar.

The Monkeys of Gibraltar

We had to start with the nicest point of all: the Gibraltar Monkeys (Barbary Macaque) - the only wild monkeys that can be seen in freedom on the European continent. Their home is the famous Rock of Gibraltar, a limestone rock formation that rises 426 metres above sea level.

According to a local legend, if the Barbary macaques disappear from Gibraltar, the British will lose control of the territory. For this reason, the monkeys are protected by law and receive regular veterinary care. It is even known that Sir Winston Churchill imported several monkeys from Morocco during the Second World War, because the population of this primate was dwindling on the Rock.

Isn't it wonderful to be able to observe the behavior of these animals, totally inserted in their natural habitat? And they are truly friendly!

You can find many curiosities about these monkeys in our previous blog article.

Still, beware of the Monkeys!

Although these monkeys are accustomed to human interaction, never forget that they are wild animals! Take pictures, laugh with them, but always respect its space. Did you know that feeding these monkeys is punishable by a fine of up to £5,000 (almost €5,570)?

Always keep your distance and do not forget the expression "friendly but not tamed".

John Lennon and Yoko Ono got married in Gibraltar

Yeah. The legendary John Lennon of the Beatles married on 20 March 1969 in Gibraltar. As he said in an interview, the couple wanted to get married on a ferry, crossing a canal, for the romanticism of the moment. So they chose Gibraltar to witness their love in a ceremony that lasted just over 10 minutes.

John Lennon was always totally out of the box, right?

Origin of the name

The name Gibraltar comes from the Arabic jabal al-Tariq, which means "mountain of Tárique". Tárique was a Berber general who invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 711, beginning the Muslim conquest of the region. Before that, the Phoenicians called the place Calpe, one of the Columns of Hercules, which, according to Greek mythology, were created by Hercules to separate Europe from Africa.

Fun fact: The first referendum was held in Gibraltar on 10 September 1967.  This day became Gibraltar National Day.

Llanito, an amazing dialect

Despite being a British territory, Gibraltar has a strong Spanish cultural influence, as it borders Spain and is close to Morocco. Although English is the official language of Gibraltar, this territory has its own language, the Llanito. This dialectic is somewhat bizarre, being a mixture of Spanish (Andalusian), English, Portuguese, Italian, Hebrew, and Maltese. Even more surprising is that Llanito joins words from different languages in one sentence.

Gibraltar really deserves a visit and this is a strong reason. Fantastic!

Tax-free

Gibraltar can be a dream for nature lovers, but it certainly is also for those in love with shopping and fashion. It's that this region is duty-free, that is, tax-free, which attracts many buyers of products such as cigarettes, drinks, electronic devices, fashion and jewellery. There are even those who visit Gibraltar for the sole purpose of shopping! Main Street has a huge collection of shops and bazaars of the best brands at very exclusive prices.

It's like an endless outlet! For many, the perfect dream, huh?

Dangerous airport

Gibraltar has one of the most dangerous airports in Europe because its runway crosses one of the city's main thoroughfares, Winston Churchill Avenue. This means that every time an aeroplane lands or takes off, traffic has to be stopped by barriers and traffic lights. In addition, the airport is close to the cliff and the sea, which can cause turbulence and strong winds. The airport was built during the Second World War for military purposes and today it also serves commercial flights.

Gibraltar Tunnels and Caves

The Gibraltar Tunnels are a network of underground galleries that were dug during the Second World War to protect and supply the British forces defending the territory against a possible German or Italian invasion. Even though it was never used as such, St. Michael's Cave was prepared as an emergency hospital during the Second World War. It is currently used as an auditorium and is open to hire for all kinds of events.

The tunnels stretch for more than 50 kilometres and can accommodate up to 16,000 people, as well as weapons, ammunition, vehicles, hospitals, barracks and even a power station. The Gibraltar Tunnels are an impressive example of military engineering and human endurance in the face of adversity. They bear witness to Gibraltar's strategic importance during the Second World War and its role in the Allied victory against the Axis powers.

Fun fact: Gibraltar may have been one of the last Neanderthal strongholds. Below the Rock of Gibraltar is Gorham's Cave, where the skulls of this 24,000-year-old hominid were found, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016.

Fun facts about Gibraltar

• Dolphins in Gibraltar are able to help local fishermen catch fish by leading the shoals towards the boats and signalling the right moment to cast the nets. This co-operation between humans and dolphins has been observed for decades and is an example of the animals' intelligence and sociability.

• There is the jawbone of a whale located inside the Alameda Botanical Gardens, at one end of the bridge over The Dell. 

• Gibraltar was admitted to UEFA in 2013: Its regional team is made up of non-professional footballers and must compete under the minimum attendance rules of 8,000 people. Their international matches are both played at home, at the Algarve Stadium in Portugal.

Now you know some reasons that make Gibraltar an impressive destination.