History, description and attractions of Gibraltar. Where is Gibraltar located? History, description and attractions of Gibraltar How to get from Malaga to Gibraltar

01. In 2014, for citizens of the CIS (here I was corrected, only the Russian Federation) visa requirements for visiting the state of Gibraltar were simplified. Now you can easily enter here if you have:
- British Multiple Entry Visa ( valid for at least 6 months)
- Schengen multiple entry visa category C ( usual for tourists)
According to these visas, you can stay in Gibraltar for up to 21 calendar days ( usually, one or two is enough with your head).
There is also an option, to get here without a visa at all, as part of a one-day tour organized by Spanish operators ( in this case, upon entry, your passport is taken from you, and returned at the exit), but this is not our method !?) To go as part of an organized tour and pay for this service ... No, we do everything ourselves, and we go where we want, and see what we want!

02.The visas seem to be sorted out ( I'll also tell you about the border control). It remains to figure out how to get here?
The most common way (and perhaps the most expensive) is the airport GIB. Four airlines fly here: British Airways, easyJet, Monarch Airlines from London, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol; and Royal Air Maroc from neighboring Tangier. The cost of tickets from Moscow with a transfer in London, usually start at 30 thousand rubles ( the minimum that I found was 149 euros one way, easyJet when buying three or four months before departure). The flight schedule can be viewed on the airport's official website.
Another variant, go here via Spain, by renting a car for example in Malaga. Distance about 140 km one way, toll road ( there is also free). Car rental cost + gasoline + road + expensive parking in Gibraltar itself = not the most a budget option... Interesting though.
The third option, which I used - this is a regular bus from Malaga. The most budget and quite a comfortable option. You need to go to the Spanish border town of Linea de la Concepcion. The cost of a round-trip ticket is about 30 euros. The ride takes about 2.5-3 hours, depending on the specific flight. The schedule is structured in such a way that you can leave in the morning, see the main sights of Gibraltar in a day, and return back to Malaga on the same day. Agree, it is convenient and quite budget! In addition, interestingly, the bus goes along the coast of the Costa del Sol, stopping by almost all the towns on the way.
Departure from Malaga bus station at: 7:00, 11:30, 14:00, 16:30, 19:15. Return flights to Malaga from La Ligny depart at 8:50, 10:30, 16:30, 19:00 and 20:45, respectively. Thus, I left at 7:00 on a completely empty bus ( maybe because it's Sunday), and returned to Malaga at 21:30 ( leaving La Ligny at 19:00). You can buy a ticket at the bus station right before departure ( in both directions cheaper), or on the website of the car carrier (eng).

03. The bus station in LaLigne is within walking distance ( literally 3 minutes) from border control. In the photo in the very center, the runway of the GIB airport, and the car-pedestrian road crossing it leading from Spain to Gibraltar. We boldly follow the signs, we pass bored Spanish border guards with a passport in their hands, if asked to look, we show a Schengen visa and go quietly on to Gibraltar territory. Here you need to fill out a simple questionnaire, the samples of which are right at the table of the border guards. In addition, especially for Russian-speaking citizens, there is a translation of the questionnaire into Russian ( hangs on the wall). What's in it? Full name, year of birth, place of birth, passport number, when to return and where you plan to stay. If one day, do not write anything. Give the questionnaire with the passport to the border guards, and in a couple of minutes you will receive a stamped passport. Voila!) Hello Gibraltar! We walk calmly through the runway, peek around, take pictures, etc. The main thing is not to leave the walking trail. Naturally, at the time of takeoff or landing, everything is blocked, and you can watch the maneuvers of aircraft like in the stalls of a theater.

To Gibraltar by plane

Only three airlines fly from Gibraltar Airport: Monarch Airlines, GB Airways (a subsidiary of British Airways) and EasyJet - and only to the UK (2.5 hours). It is more convenient to use the much busier airport of nearby Spanish Malaga, which has regular flights and charters from Russia, or other Spanish airports. It is important to remember that a Schengen visa is required to travel to Gibraltar via Spain. It is better to fly without a Schengen visa with British Airways with a stopover in London.

To Gibraltar by train

There is no railway in Gibraltar, the nearest stations are in the Spanish San Roca (just over 10 kilometers from the border) and Algeciras (20 kilometers). The line has a connection with Madrid, Seville, Malaga (with a change in Bobadilla) and other cities in Spain. You can get from Russia to Algeciras with at least three transfers via Paris and Madrid. Estimated travel time from Moscow is 70 hours. It should be emphasized that traveling to Gibraltar by train is an extremely costly and time-consuming undertaking that may only be of interest to railway fans.

To Gibraltar by bus

There are no intercity buses in Gibraltar. The nearest bus station is in the Spanish town of La Linea, just half a kilometer from the border. From there there are regular buses to Algeciras (every half hour in the afternoon and once an hour in the evening), several times a day there are flights to Malaga, Seville, Cadiz, Jerez.

To Gibraltar by ferry

There is currently no ferry service between Gibraltar and Morocco (prior to 2011). The nearest ports from where ferries leave for Africa are Algeciras and Tarifa, from there ferries to Tangier run hourly. The cost of a one-way ferry ticket is 35-40 euros.

To Gibraltar by car

There is no tax to enter Gibraltar with your own car, however there are queues at the border. Distances from Gibraltar by road: Moscow - 4961 kilometers, Madrid - 701 kilometers, Barcelona - 1164 kilometers, Lisbon - 648 kilometers. The border point between Gibraltar and Spain is located 2.5 kilometers from the center of Gibraltar, just behind the local airport runway.

To Gibraltar on foot

The border crossing from the Spanish La Line to Gibraltar is located 500 meters from the La Line bus station and a kilometer from the center of Gibraltar on the other side. Crossing the border does not take much time, and most often it is nothing more than a formal passage through a small terminal building, where no document checks are carried out at all.

Where you can get now with a regular valid multiple-entry Schengen visa. Gibraltar is located at south coast The Iberian Peninsula, opposite Cape Marroca, in the north shares a common border with the Spanish city of La Linea de la Concepcion. Gibraltar has a population of about 30,000

Climate and weather

The maritime climate is without sudden changes in daily and annual temperatures, in summer daytime temperatures are within 26 degrees, in winter about 10 degrees. Precipitation is pronounced from November to April, it will rain almost every day, but in the summer you can forget about an umbrella.

How to get to Gibraltar

From there you can take a charter flight to Malaga airport. Airlines from the UK fly to the airport of Gibraltar itself, where you need to make a transfer.

It is impossible to get to Gibraltar by train or bus, the nearest bus and train stations are located in the Spanish city of La Liniya, 6 kilometers from the border zone.

Gibraltar can be reached by ferry from Tarifa, Algeciras and Tangier. Gibraltar can be reached by car, for example, the distance to Madrid is 700 kilometers, to Barcelona is 1100 kilometers, to Lisbon is 650 kilometers, and to Moscow is 5000 kilometers.

Also, Gibraltar can be easily reached on foot, passing through the checkpoint, which is located in a building half a kilometer from La Linea station.

Visas to Gibraltar

Citizens and can get to Gibraltar with a multiple-entry Schengen visa, which will be valid for another three weeks, if the period is shorter, then Gibraltar must be left within 7 days. On the other hand, Gibraltar will be admitted with a visa, which must be obtained in the UK.

Customs regulations

It is necessary to declare amounts over 10,000 euros, this rule does not apply to non-cash money. Recall that Gibraltar is part of the European Union, and all customs regulations this association. Russians and Ukrainians can take with them up to 200 cigarettes and up to 1 liter of hard liquor without paying the duty, of course, if you have already reached the age of 17. You can bring gifts or personal items up to £ 145.

Money in Gibraltar

The national currency of the country is the Gibraltar Pound (GIP), which is divided into 100 pence. In the course of the banknotes 50, 20, 10 and 5 pounds, and coins 2 and 1 pound, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 pence. The country accepts the British pound sterling along with the local currency, which is freely convertible. It is better to get rid of the Gibraltar pound before leaving the country, it is almost impossible to change it in other countries with the exception of Great Britain itself. In Gibraltar, you can use international credit cards everywhere, banks are open on weekdays until 3 days, there are exchange offices and ATMs. Some shops, restaurants and hotels can also accept the Euro currency subject to the exchange commission. Gibraltar is an offshore zone, goods and services do not include VAT, which means that you will not be able to take advantage of tax-free. But on the other hand, due to the appearance of international offices of companies and banks here, Gibraltar has turned into, the prices here for everything are almost twice more expensive than in neighboring Spain, locals for food they go to the neighboring La Lina, we also recommend tourists from the point of view of economy to settle in hotels on the Spanish side and walk on excursions to Gibraltar.

Gibraltar landmarks

Gibraltar is a rock on top of which there is a fortress, the city is located on the western side of the cliff, the port can receive deep-sea ferries and ships.

The fortress of Gibraltar was built in the 18th century, but construction began in the 9th century, it is interesting that the fortress walls go into the rock, turning into underground tunnels that connect the defensive walls in the east and the artillery fortifications at the very top of the fortress. Tourists will walk through the Holyland Tunnel to St. George's Hall with a stunning view of the bay, which is nicknamed the Alboran Sea.

One of the tunnels houses the Gibraltar War Heritage Center museum with a collection of historical weapons. You can climb the mountain using a funicular from Monday to Saturday from ten in the morning to four in the afternoon.It is worth paying attention to the intermediate station, where very rare Gibraltarian monkeys live. If you bought a ticket for the funicular, you can get to the cave complex of St. Michael with an underground lake at a level of three hundred meters above sea level. Some caves serve as concert halls.

Tourists will be interested in the city Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Mary and the Gibraltar Museum with a replica of the "Gibraltar Skull". You can walk along the main street of the city of La Calle Real, which runs through the entire territory of Gibraltar, pubs, restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops are available to tourists here.

There are also numerous beaches in Gibraltar that are hidden between the rocks, take a walk in the area of ​​the pier or in the many parks and gardens of the city, for example, near the Elliot Memorial. Some of the attractions are hidden under water, diving centers will provide an opportunity to dive and inspect countless shipwrecks along the rocky coast of the fortress.

Gibraltar is an overseas territory owned by Great Britain. In ancient times, this peninsula was known as Mons Calpe (translated from Latin - Mount Calpe). Subsequently, it was renamed Gibraltar (from the Arabic Jebel Tariq or Mount Tariq).

A bit of history

Sometimes the country is called in one word - Rock. For 13 centuries, 5 countries have continuously fought for the right to possess this narrow strip of land, and today the beauty of the peninsula attracts thousands of tourists every year. The area where Gibraltar is located is known for its attractions to every experienced tourist.

However, it is also interesting from a scientific point of view. After all, it was here that the first remains of the Neanderthals were found. All kinds of ancient African animals were found in this territory in those distant times. However, in addition to hunting and fishing, people were already engaged in agriculture. The area where Gibraltar is located was then much more extensive than it is now. It was a huge, flat valley that was very well suited for ancient people.

Strategic site

Why did various countries constantly fight for the possession of Gibraltar? The fact is that the Rock is a very important strategic site. Whoever owns it can control the exit from the Mediterranean and approaches to it from the Atlantic. For a long period of time, it was the property of Spain.

But in 1704 it was captured by the Anglo-Dutch flotilla. Since then, the Rock has been owned by Great Britain. The capital of Gibraltar is the city of Gibraltar (since the state itself consists of one settlement, then their names are the same).

Political structure and currency

The executive power in the country belongs to the head of government, and the legislative power belongs to the unicameral House of Assembly. The state is not divided into regions. The capital of Gibraltar is the only administrative unit in the entire country. However, for the convenience of government, its territory is divided into seven regions. They are also subdivided into strategic territories - quarters. The country on which Gibraltar depends is Great Britain. However, it is also a self-governing territory. Defense and diplomatic relations are decided by the representatives of Great Britain.

But taxation and corporate law is the realm of Parliament. According to the Treaty of Rome, the territory of Gibraltar is part of the EU. In order to get to Gibraltar, you need to obtain a visa at the British Consulate. You can pay in overseas territory both in Spanish currency - pesetas, and in British pounds sterling. Also on the territory of Gibraltar there is also its own currency - the Gibraltarian pound. However, it exists only in paper form; English coins are circulating on the territory of the country.

Geographical position

On the map, Gibraltar borders on Spain. Residential areas of the country come close to the northern border of Gibraltar. The border is only 1.2 km long. On the southern side, along the Strait of Gibraltar, there is a border with the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, located in Africa. Weather permitting, you can see both the Spanish enclave and Morocco.

From the west, the territory of Gibraltar is washed by the waters of the Algeciras Bay, and from the east - by the warm Mediterranean Sea. Anyone who first sees Gibraltar on the map immediately notes the small size of this state. Its area is only 6.5 km 2. If all the tourists who come to the country arrived in Gibraltar at once, then life there would be completely paralyzed. After all, more than 6 million tourists visit the country every year.

Population of the Rock

The population of Gibraltar is about 29.1 thousand people. A variety of nationalities live on the same territory. About 15 thousand people are citizens of other countries and have dual citizenship. Moreover, most of those who consider themselves indigenous are in fact the descendants of the Spaniards, Italians, Maltese, British, citizens of the Maghreb.

The population of Gibraltar is constantly increasing. The building density is constantly increasing. About 4 thousand people live on one square kilometer. There is a constant lack of land here, and buildings are being erected even on water. For example, the strip for the Gibraltar airport was laid out on an artificial embankment.

Climate

The temperature in summer here is often above 30 ° C, and in winter it does not drop below 18 ° C. 300 days a year are considered sunny in Gibraltar. We can say that tourist season on the Rock lasts literally all year round. In general, the climate in the country can be described as Mediterranean. The maximum precipitation occurs during the cold season.

Economy

However, what is of constant interest to travelers is a real disaster for the state itself. After all, Gibraltar, although surrounded on all sides by waters, is actually literally languishing in the heat. There are no natural resources here - there are no rivers or lakes. Residents extract fresh water almost drop by drop from the sea using distillation apparatus. With the help of collectors, rainwater is also collected, which is then stored in special reservoirs made of stone.

With such problems, it is not surprising that there is no agriculture in the country at all. All food products (excluding fish) are brought from abroad. There is no industry either - just a few enterprises and a tiny shipyard. However, there are a large number of banks, various insurance agencies and financial companies. Gibraltar offers the world's most pleasant taxation option: no taxes. According to some studies, more than 60 thousand different companies are registered on the island, the wealthy owners of which prefer to get to the coast of the country on personal yachts.

Gibraltar airport

However, most of the tourists arriving in the country use the plane. Where does the air transport sit? Straight to the isthmus that connects Spain to the Rock. Its length is about 3 km, and its width is 2 km. Not far from the airstrip there is an asphalt road that provides easy access to Gibraltar from Spain. In this respect, Gibraltar airport is one of the most unusual in the world.

When the plane descends, traffic has to be stopped by traffic lights. However, fortunately for the Gibraltarians themselves, no more than three dozen flights are served here every week. Observing the planes and the flights themselves are absolutely safe. The airport has been operating since 2003, and since then not a single accident has occurred here: neither on the runway, nor on the city avenue.

Gibraltar: how to get to the country?

As noted, the most popular form of transport among tourists is airplane. There are direct connections only with the airports of the UK and Morocco. The nearest airport in Spain, located 137 km northeast, is Malaga.

You can also get to the Scala by renting a car in one of the Spanish cities: Barcelona, ​​Alicante, Madrid, Lisbon. You can also travel by taxi. However, one point must be taken into account: drivers from Spain will not take the traveler to Gibraltar itself, but drop him off right at the border. Another way to get to Gibraltar is by taking a regular bus from La Linea town.

Rock of gibraltar

One of the main tourist attractions. Its height is 426 meters, it is one of the most popular natural attractions in the area where Gibraltar is located. The rock is located on southern territory Iberian Peninsula, in the Strait of Gibraltar.

It also has another name - Mount Tariq, which was given to it in honor of the Arab commander Tariq ibn Ziyad. The very name of Gibraltar originally comes from his name. At the top of the mountain there is a conservation area, where 250 Barbary macaques (the only species of wild monkeys in the whole of Europe) have found refuge.

Also on the territory of the reserve there are wild plants that moved here from Africa millions of years ago. They were never able to spread across Europe and remained only on a mountain peak. According to Plato, on the Rock of Gibraltar, as well as on the opposite Abila Rock, two huge statues were once erected on tall columns. They were a kind of gateway to the Atlantic, but were destroyed by the commander Tariq ibn Ziyad for the glory of Allah.

Famous caves

One of the unusual features of the rock is that it has a system of underground tunnels underneath. Their length is over 50 km. The maze of underground tunnels and the Barbary monkeys are the main attractions that attract a large number of tourists to Gibraltar.

The rock itself is composed of calcite rocks. Over the course of inexorable time, they are washed away by the waves of the strait, and caves are formed in the rock (at the moment there are more than a hundred of them). The largest of them is St. Michael's Cave, which is also popular with tourists. The Gorhama cave is also notable. It contained traces of the presence of human ancestors - Neanderthals. They lived here about 30 thousand years ago.

St. Michael's cave

The main attraction of Gibraltar, which attracts travelers to this territory, is its unusual nature. There are a large number of caves, palms, pines. There are over 600 types of different colors on the territory of Gibraltar. One of the most visited caves is St. Michael's Cave. It is one of the largest caves in the Rock of Gibraltar. There are about 100 more such objects located here.

The cave is famous for its giant stalactites that grew here several tens of millennia before the city of Gibraltar. Interest is also attracted by the remains of primitive people found here in 1974. Another archaeological find is rock paintings that depict mountain goats. Archaeologists believe that they were made about 20 thousand years ago.

Ibrahim Al Ibrahim Mosque

The region where Gibraltar is located is also attractive in terms of religion. The Ibrahim Al Ibrahim Mosque, erected here in 1997, is located just a few kilometers from Africa. The building was a gift from the ruler of Saudi Arabia, Fahd, and is one of the largest mosques in a non-Muslim state.

Its complex includes a school, a lecture hall, and a library. The building is located on a high platform, and three flights of stairs lead to the main entrance. Each of them has 22 steps. The main entrance is decorated with a large number of turrets. In the southeastern corner of the mosque there is a high minaret with a spiral staircase inside.

Moorish castle

The building was built by representatives of the Marinid dynasty in the 7th century BC. e., and is a medieval fortification, consisting of gates, fortress walls and the Tower of Memory - the main building of the entire structure. This is one of the unique attractions of Gibraltar, which invariably attracts tourists from the most remote corners of the globe.

The castle can be seen from afar thanks to its unusual architecture. Its height is more than 100 meters, it is a symbol of the domination of the Arabs in the Pyrenees, which lasted more than 800 years. After many historical events, the building has become a museum open to visitors to Gibraltar.