3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 day weather forecast in Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Overlooking the Straits of Gibraltar at the entrance to the Mediterranean, the Rock of Gibraltar has long been a beacon for travellers returning to Europe; for the last three hundred years, it has also been a bone of contention between Spain and Britain. In the eighth century it was the landing point for the Moorish armies who went on to conquer most of the Iberian Peninsula but it was uninhabited until the 1150s, when Sultan Abd al-Mu’min ordered the construction of a castle, parts of which still remain. Reconquered by the Christian Duke Medina Sidonia in 1462, it was initially granted as a sovereignty to Sephardic Jews fleeing Cordoba; in 1476, however, this was revoked and the Jews were handed over to the Spanish Inquisition.

Gibraltar remained under Spanish control until 1704 when Admiral George Rooke captured the town. Terrified by the British sailors’ reputation for looting, most of the Spanish population fled to the mainland. Spain ceded the territory to the British in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht. Due to its strategic importance, the Spanish authorities have been trying to regain it ever since, whether by military or diplomatic means, but, as a succession of referenda have shown, the population of the Rock is adamant in its determination to stay British.

Although tiny – just 2.642 sq miles in size – Gibraltar offers a lot to tourists seeking a relaxing holiday. The climate is gentle, with temperatures ranging from an average low of 11°C to highs of 27°C. Many visitors arrive by cruise ship to see the looming Rock. Most of the upper area is covered by a nature reserve, home to Barbary Macaques, the only wild monkeys found in Europe. Local superstition states that if the monkeys ever leave, so will the British. From the top you can see over to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. South along Queen’s Road, St Michael’s Cave is an immense natural cavern; the lower part is a series of chambers going ever deeper into the rock ending in a beautiful underground lake. The Tower of Homage is the largest surviving part of the old Moorish Castle; nearby, the Upper Galleries were blasted out of the rock to point guns down at the Spanish during the Great Siege of 1779-82. Back in the lovely old town, the Gibraltar museum is home to two well-preserved Moorish Baths.

The Rock is not just for culture vultures however – as a tax-free zone, this is a popular shopping destination and the golf course is world-famous. There is also a choice of casinos if you’re feeling lucky. Sun lovers do less well – the only really nice beach is at Catalan Bay, which has lots of character and a different vibe to the town. As befits a place so caught between cultures, both the cuisine and the nightlife owe something to Spanish and British influences. Fish and chips are as common as tapas and the only really national food is Calentita, a baked bread-like dish made with chickpea flour, water, olive oil, salt and pepper. Likewise, going out you’re as likely to end up in an Irish pub as a terraza bar – both are good-natured and easy-going.