Local Area

An old Jewish Cemetery, used up until 1848, tucked away behind the trees, a fascinating piece of history that reflects the important role the Jewish people have played in moulding Gibraltar’s history. The steep Mediterranean Steps take the walker from Jews’ Gate at the southern entrance of the Upper Rock up towards O’Hara’s Battery at the summit of the Rock. The path runs mainly along the eastern side of the Rock.

St Michael’s Cave has interested visitors to Gibraltar ever since the days of the Romans. The Cave was long believed to be bottomless. This probably gave birth to the story that the Rock of Gibraltar was linked to the Continent of Africa by a subterranean passage over 15 miles (24km) long under the Strait of Gibraltar. The famous Rock Apes were said to have come to Gibraltar through this subterranean passage.

Gibraltar’s newest tourist attraction is definitely not for the faint-hearted, but more intrepid residents and visitors can visit the new suspension bridge at Royal Anglian Way. This spectacular feat of engineering is 71metres in length, across a 50-metre-deep gorge.

Located at the highest point of the Rock it is named after Gen. Charles O’Hara, governor from 1795-1802 who was of the opinion that if he could raise a tower on this south summit of the Rock, he would be able to observe the comings and goings of the enemy at Cadiz harbour, over sixty miles away. His tower was built but was unsuccessful, and was named O’Hara’s Folly by the garrison. A 6” gun was later mounted at this spot in 1890, but it was replaced in 1901 by a 9.2 with a range of 29,000 yard

World famous, and perhaps Gibraltar's most important tourist attraction, the Barbary Macaques, Macaca Sylvanus, are actually tail-less monkeys. Natives of North Africa, their presence in Gibraltar probably dates from the early days of the British garrison when it is presumed that they were imported as pets or even game, inevitably finding the rough limestone cliffs and scrub vegetation a congenial habitat. In fact, many legends have grown up around them.