Businesses in and around Gibraltar

Museum Spring Lecture Series 2012 – When Nature meets Heritage

The Gibraltar Museum will commence their Spring Lecture Series on Thursday 26^th January and 8:30pm in the John Mackintosh Hall.

All lectures are open to the public. The series will explore the interface between nature and heritage, with particular reference to Gibraltar. The inauguration will be done by Health and environment Minister, Dr. John Cortes.

The programme is as follows;

Thursday 26th January Professor Clive Finlayson, Gibraltar Museum Making the most of our rich Heritage and Natural History.

Thursday 9th February Dr Darren Fa, Gibraltar Museum Pristine Nature or Cultural Landscape?

Thursday 8th March Dr Alex Menez Nature and Heritage: A Question of Selection?

Thursday 24th April Dr Keith Bensusan, Gibraltar Botanic Gardens Heritage under the Lens: History, Wildlife & Collections.

Monday 21st May Mr Mario Mosquera, Gibraltar Heritage Trust Heritage, Education and Tourism…an untapped resource.

Thursday 21st June Dr Geraldine Finlayson, Gibraltar Museum Hidden Worlds.

Gibraltar, located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula, serves as a British overseas territory. It overlooks the Strait of Gibraltar and shares its northern border with Spain. Gibraltar is situated on the southern tip of Europe and forms the western entrance to the Mediterranean. Once an important base for the British Armed Forces, it now plays host to the Royal Navy. The territory derives it name from Jabal Târiq, an Arabic word that means ‘Mountain of Tariq’. Jabal Târiq refers to the Rock of Gibraltar, which was named after Tariq ibn-Ziyad, a Berber Umayyad General. In case you want to explore Gibraltar further, make use of the fun and interesting facts provided below.

Fun & Interesting Facts about Gibraltar

• Gibraltar consists of a long limestone mountain, which has as many as 140 caves. Its highest point is at 426 m.
• Gibraltar was listed as the 5th most stable and prosperous British Territory, in a one-year investigation of 235 countries and territories by Jane’s Country Risk.
• The official language of Gibraltar is English and the unofficial one is Spanish.
• The main ethnic groups in Gibraltar are Gibraltarian (of mixed Genoese, Maltese, Portuguese and Andalusian descent), other British, Moroccan and Indian.
• Majority of people in Gibraltar are Roman Catholics.
• The currency of Gibraltar is Gibraltar Pound.
• Under the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, Spain ceded Gibraltar to Great Britain, in perpetuity. Spain and France laid siege to Gibraltar, during the American War of Independence (1775-1783), with the hope of getting it back.
• Spain has been asserting a claim to the territory of Gibraltar for a long time, seeking its return.
• Gibraltar and the Moroccan mountain of Jbel Musa are known as ‘The Pillars of Hercules’. This is because it is believed that Hercules used them as his hand-grips, when he decided to pull Africa and Spain apart.
• The Strait of Gibraltar links the Mediterranean Sea with the North Atlantic Ocean.
• The evidence of human habitation in Gibraltar has been traced to as far back as Neanderthal man.
• It is believed that modern humans migrated to Gibraltar, from Africa, around one hundred thousand to seventy thousand years ago.
• Gibraltar was visited by Phoneticians, Carthaginian’s, Greeks and Romans, in the past.
• An Arab army, under the leadership of Tariq Ibn Ziyad, annexed Gibraltar in 711. It was then that it came to be known as Jebel Tariq – the Mountain of Tariq.
• In Gibraltar, the British monarch is Chief of State. He/she appoints a Governor and Commander-in-Chief, as local representatives.
• Gibraltar practices self-governance in all the areas, except defence and foreign policy.
• Gibraltarians i.e. the people of Gibraltar are British citizens and most of them want to stay that way.
• In 1967 and 2002, the people of Gibraltar voted to remain a British dependency.

However you arrive into Gibraltar, by air, foot, car or sea, you will very soon experience its intricate layers of history all around you.

An immediate talking point is the runway, built during the Second World War and the shortest in the world. As it crosses the main road into the city, visitors remain incredulous as traffic and passengers are halted to allow aircraft to take off and land.

10.30am
Beginning your adventuring in the morning, the best way to familiarise yourself with Gibraltar’s diverse heritage, as well as witnessing some of its natural beauty, is to take an official Rock Tour to the upper rock nature reserve. A tour can be taken in a number of ways, by official taxi or tour company, by private car or by foot. Alternatively, you can take the cable car from Grand Parade.

A basic tour lasts around two hours and takes in thousands of years of Rock evolution, including the famous Barbary Ape Den, habitat to Europe’s only free roaming primates, St Michael’s Cave with its stunning stalagmites and stalactites and once home to Neanderthal and Neolithic man. The Upper and Middle galleries form part of the honeycombed inside of the limestone Rock, and illustrate the defence of Gibraltar during the Great Siege of 1789, when the forerunners to the Royal Engineers scraped out tunnel systems to position guns to fight off the enemy. Other highlights include a stop at Europa Point, the southernmost tip of Europe with its breathtaking views across the Strait to North Africa.

12.30
Feeling peckish now, head back towards one of Gibraltar’s stylish marinas. The Waterfront restaurant in the west facing Queensway Quay has an extensive menu to suit all tastes. Enjoy your meal overlooking the many luxury apartments and large yachts that are moored there, while taking a break before the afternoon’s activities.

15.00
It is a little known fact that in addition to prize-winning fishing, the Bay of Gibraltar is home to several species of dolphin. Visitors are able to go out into the Bay in one of the many dolphin safari boats to watch pods of dolphin at play. The tour takes approximately 2 hours.

Arriving back into the Marina there’s time for some afternoon refreshment, before heading back to your hotel for a rest before dinner.

20.00
Casemates Square at the end of Main Street was once the centre of public executions. Today it is the thriving hub of Gibraltar’s nightlife, filled with numerous lively bars and cafes that stay open into the early hours. There is a wide selection of places to eat to suit all palates, but we’re heading for Café Solo for its relaxed ambience and eclectic menu.

After dinner stop off at any one of the trendy bars, many offering live music, for a late night drink. Alternatively, if you fancy a little more glamour and sophistication, head out of town to the International Casino in Ocean Village, for a flutter at the tables and cocktail in the champagne bar.

DAY TWO
10.30
After a refreshing night’s rest and a hearty breakfast, it’s back to Main Street for some city touring. Gibraltar’s town centre is largely protected by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust and part of a continual restoration programme. Its original city walls and fortifications date back to the 1800’s including Casemates Gates, Charles V Wall and Kings Bastion.

The ‘Let’s Go’ walking tour will take you around the town area and introduce you to some of Gibraltar’s unique architecture reflecting it’s blend of Genoese, Portuguese, Spanish, Moorish and British Regency style buildings.

The Catholic Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned in the centre of Main Street and part of the walking tour, was built on the original site of the chief mosque but was demolished during the Great Siege. It was later rebuilt as a Cathedral. Some of the early structures can still be seen.

Gibraltar’s museum situated on the original site of a Moorish bathhouse is a short walk from Main Street.

13.00
After a morning of walking around the city, head towards Irish Town, a sub-district of Main Street and named over two hundred years ago when Gibraltar was split into differing quarters. Enjoy lunch with a historical flavour, at The House of Sacarello’s, Gibraltar’s oldest coffee house restaurant.

Founded in 1888 by Bartholomew Sacarello, a Genoese immigrant and grandfather of the current owners, Sacarello’s roasts its own coffee beans and supplies most of Gibraltar’s cafés and hotels with its delicious blended coffees. A wide variety of snacks, sandwiches, salads and fresh homemade cakes are on offer in the cosy coffee shop.

14.30
Main Street is recognised today as Gibraltar’s main commercial and shopping district. After a morning of skirting around its intricate lanes and streets you may now be tempted to stop and look at some of the VAT free bargains to be had. Gibraltar offers exceptional value added shopping. Popular purchases include, cosmetics, perfumery, tobacco, spirits, electronic goods and jewellery. It’s the perfect weekend shoppers’ destination with everything in close proximity.

16.00
Once you’ve walked your feet off in Main Street, there’s one more stroll worth taking, up towards the Rock Hotel. If you’re too tired or laden down with shopping bags jump into a taxi. Passing the Trafalgar Cemetery the taxi ride will take 5 minutes or at a slow walk 20 minutes.

The Rock Hotel built in 1932 by the Marquis of Bute is the epitome of colonial Britain. Its Wisteria Terrace with its views across the Bay is the perfect spot to take a full English tea with cucumber sandwiches, scones and teacakes. As you look out across the Bay you may catch a glimpse of the Alameda gardens, Gibraltar’s Botanical gardens designed in 1815 and linked to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew.

20.00
Dinner this evening is on the east side of the Rock at Catalan Bay, evolved from a Genoese fishing village whose original inhabitants famously had red hair. La Mamela is an unassuming specialist fish restaurant with superb fish and a vibrant atmosphere you would expect from a favourite locals haunt.

Just further along Catalan Bay is the Caleta Hotel whose in-house Italian restaurant offers musical entertainment at certain times of the year and a welcoming lobby bar for your last nightcap in Gibraltar. As you retire for your last night, you’ll be wishing you had one day more, there’s still much to explore.

We hope you come back and visit us again soon.

Spain is an eclectic and beautiful country. Spain was ruled from 1939 to 1975 by Dictator Francisco Franco. This regime wanted to unify Spain and outlaw regional languages and promoting the Roman Catholic Church. He also wanted to cut off Spain from other countries. After his death in 1975, King Juan Carlos I returned to democracy. So began a night culture called La Movida and artistic expressions including music, art and fun.

The currency in Spain is the Euro. €

Spain has 4,964 km of coastline.

Spain’s population is around 45 million.

Spain is 5 times bigger than the UK and has two thirds of its population.

Spain produces 44% of all the earth’s olive oil.

Spain’s symbol of Granada is the pomegranate.

The night life is jumping with 344.000 bars!

Spain has over 8,000 km of beaches.

Spain’s climate is varied. Some areas resemble desert and in winter it can rain 20 days out of the month.

There are many animals in Spain. However, bats are prevalent and the symbol of Valencia. Scientists found that one bat actually eats birds!

Madrid is Spain’s capital city and it is located directly in the centre of the country.

You may not be aware but Spanish food is not spicy! They use a lot of Chile peppers but the food has more of a tangy flavour than hot. However, you can taste the garlic.

If you drink hot chocolate in Spain you will find it very thick almost like drinking warm pudding! It is also accompanied with Churros (similar to doughnuts).

Each household in Spain buys fresh bread every day! They are called barras or pistolas.

If you are in Spain you won’t find corn or flour tortillas because they are so popular! If you do visit Spain you will probably notice that there are other languages being spoken like Galician, Basque and Catalan.

You may have heard the phrase, “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the Plain.” Well that is not true. In 2007, it rained every day ending a drought.

Spain is the country closet to Africa!

Spain likes its sports but in particular football is the most popular sport!

Some popular and well known artists have come from Spain like Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro and not forgetting of course the famous buildings of Barcelona by Gaudi.

Bullfighting is also considered an art in Spain. It is one of the popular attractions and the biggest and most controversial sports in Spain. It is actually a part of the Spanish history, art and culture. There are bull rings in all major cities and outlying areas!

The tooth fairy is not recognized in Spain. Instead, they have a tooth mouse named Ratoncito Perez!

Flamenco is the musical genre in Spain that uses rapid passages and intricate footwork.

Alcaidesa is at the far western end of the Costa del Sol, far enough away from the main resorts to be quiet and peaceful and located approximately one and half hours from Malaga Airport, one hour from Jerez and less than 15 minutes from low duty shopping in Gibraltar. Alcaidesa is situated between San Roque and Sotogrande at kilometer 124 of the A7 motorway, with access by a service road from Junction 124.The area known as Arcades Beach comprises approximately 4 square kilometers that stretch from the motorway two kilometers down to the beachfornt.

Alcaidesa enjoys beautiful Mediterranean views and great beaches, far superior to areas like Marbella though more windy. The two kilometers stretch accompanying the village has earned blue flag status for meeting high standards regarding cleanliness and environmental friendliness.

The village square is located in the centre of Alcaidesa where local amenities include supermarket, pharmacy and bars/restaurants.