Did You Know…

There is a saying that goes along the lines of: “All good things come in small packages.” This is true when you talk about Gibraltar. Despite being small, the “Rock” has a lot to offer you and your wedding guests.

Did you know that:

Most of the upper areas in Gibraltar are all natural reserves and home over 400 Barbary monkeys. It’s definitely worth a visit. If you feel like a good stroll, you can walk up. Or, if you prefer to take the more relaxed approach, there are taxis that will take you on excursions. A word of caution though. Hold on tightly to your handbags. They are definitely cheeky those monkeys! They’ll even get in on your wedding photos if you let them!

For those who love something a bit more energetic, there is a beautiful trek around the rock; known as the Mediterranean steps. Not only is it a good workout but you’ll see some of the most impressive views over Africa and the Spanish coastline as well as take in some of Gibraltar’s natural beauty.

If you love the sea and marine fauna, Gibraltar offers regular boat trips, several times a day, out to see schools of dolphins in their natural habitat. On a good day, you might even see a few whales. It’s rare, but not impossible to, also, see Orca whales during their migration. Dolphin watching boats are moored in Ocean Village very close to the Sunborn  Yacht Hotel. Many ticket sellers can be found along the perimeter of where the boats moor.

The Rock boasts a network of tunnels and caves, also known as the Great Siege Tunnels, which are visited every year by thousands of tourists. So, if you’re not afraid of the dark, it’s a must! Amazingly enough, these tunnels were dug out, by hand by the British forces towards the end of the 18th century. They used gunpowder explosions, sledgehammers and crowbars.  They were excavated in order to protect Gibraltar from the French and the Spanish who were trying to get Gibraltar out of the hands of the British. The tunnels themselves are made out of pure limestone. The tunnels are situated on the north side of the Gibraltar’s Rock and are sometimes referred to as the Upper Galleries. They became a way for the British forces to move their cannons around to strategic defence positions.

For 710 years, Gibraltar was under Moorish rule. The Tower of Homage, which was part of a Moorish castle built approximately 711 A.D., for Tariq ibn-Ziyad, still stands. Legend has it, that after landing on Gibraltar’s shores, Tariq ordered the burning of all his ships. He was a very determined man! Up until 2010, the Tower of Homage was used as Gibraltar’s prison. Nowadays, it is one of Gibraltar’s main tourist attractions and definitely worth a visit.

Here at Sweet Gibraltar Weddings we are proud of our heritage and our history. That’s why we want to share it with you, and show you that there is so much more here than meets the eye.

Choose us as your wedding planners and we will give you a memorable experience to take away from our home. We’ll suggest where you should visit and how to get there.

We’re waiting for you in Gibraltar!