The Rock of Gibraltar
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Gibraltar is a British territory separated from Spain at La Linea de la Concepción by a narrow sandy isthmus. The airport and town are located on this flat
part of the island very close to the border.
The Rock's culture is a strange mix of British, Spanish and other influences.
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You must see The Changing of the Guard performed
by the island's own regiment outside The Convent - the Governor's official residence. Watching the British soldiers drilling in full military uniform under the
scorching Spanish sun is almost surreal.
If you're interested in military history, you'll be fascinated by its walls and military fortifications. The island's strategic importance goes back 800
years to
the Moors - the Moorish Castle complex is the oldest section - but there are remnants of the Spanish period and, more obviously, the British domination
which began in 1713. All
the history is brilliantly explained at the Gibraltar Museum.
The South Area at the southern tip of the island is walking distance from the town is features several interesting sites, such as the 100 Ton Gun, the Europa Point
Lighthouse and the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque. Don't miss
Parson's Lodge and the
bay where Lord Nelson's body was brought ashore from HMS Victory after the Battle of Trafalgar.
The East Side is home to the island's best beach at Catalan Bay, where there's a small fishing village and some truly spectacular views.
The focus of any visit to the Rock has to be the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. The area is the object of serious study by botanists and
geologists, but for the tourist, it's the Barbary Macaques - the famous free-roaming apes of Gibraltar - that have to be the highlight. If you're short on
time,
I can highly recommend taking the 90-minute Rock Tour that leaves from the town centre.
Football on The Rock
Football is quite limited on the Rock because Spain doesn't allow local teams to participate in the Andalusian Federation tournaments.
However, the Gibraltar Football Association - which has been going since 1895 - does a very good job of keeping the Beautiful Game alive on the island. They run a
league with two divisions and a cup competition and big games are played at FIFA-approved Victoria Stadium.
The island has applied for UEFA membership and hopes one day to have a national Gibraltan team competing at international level.
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