This is part of the information for my students about our trip to Gibraltar, "a little piece of the spanish U.K." on 16th February. We are all very excited about that. First of all, we present a brief history about how Spain lost that colony. Secondly, our students will have a brief and useful information of the city. Finally, I have summarised some of the main or worth-to-visit places in the Rock. This is a first approach to the topic, it will be widen in the following days.
This can also be very useful for teachers of the area to explain what happened with the colony.

Brief History about Gibraltar:

1492 AD: The Catholic King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella conquer Granada, the last vestige of the Muslim domination of Spain. The Jews are expelled from Spain and many pass through Gibraltar on their way into exile in North Africa.

1501 AD: It was Queen Isabella who, tired of the petty squabbling among her nobility, issued a decree on the 2nd December 1501 AD, making Gibraltar, Spanish crown property.

1704 AD: Life continued at a slow pace until the beginning of the eighteenth century. Then, on the 17th July 1704, a council of war was held aboard the English warship Royal Catherine off the North African town of Tetuan. Four days later the English fleet, under Admiral Sir George Rooke, entered the Gibraltar Bay. So in this way a joint Anglo-Dutch force captured Gibraltar, on behalf of Charles of Austria who was pretender to the throne of Spain.

1705 AD: Gibraltar is declared a 'free port', which leads to its development as an important international trading centre.

1713 AD: Spain under the Terms of the Treaty of Utrecht cedes Gibraltar to Britain in perpetuity.

General and Useful Information:

Languages: English and Spanish.
Population: 28, 750
Currency: Sterling.
Area: 8 km2
Political System: Democracy.


VISITS:

As a VAT free jurisdiction, Gibraltar's popularity with visitors is enhanced by its value added shopping experience in famed Main Street. A wide range of activities from rock touring, to sailing, diving, fishing and bird watching bring visitors back again and again.
Upper Rock:
Stand on top of the Rock of Gibraltar and you feel as if you were on top of the world. Europe is at your feet. Africa fills one horizon, while the gates to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic are on either side.

Great Siege Tunnels:

Tunnelling was made to get a projection of rock to allow the British guns to fire sideways on the attackers.
Apes :

Visit the Apes’ Den, home to some of Gibraltar’s famous Barbary Apes, the only free-to-roam primates in Europe. According to legend, if the Apes leave Gibraltar it will cease to be British. Watch out for monkey business though as they can be mischievous – and remember, they are wild animals. Don’t do anything to annoy them and do not feed them as they are fed fresh food every day.

St Michaels Cave:

The spectacular natural caverns of St Michael’s Cave begin about 350m above sea level and descend into the Rock. St Michael’s Cave forms a huge auditorium, which makes an unforgettable setting for concerts and live shows
Moorish Castle
Dating back to the 11th century, is made up of various buildings, gates, fortified walls and its most dominant features, The Tower of Homage and The Gate House.

THE CENTRE:

The Gibraltar Museum :

is centrally located within the City of Gibraltar, just one minute walking distance from the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned in Main Street. It is the ideal interpretation centre for Gibraltar, covering all aspects of its history and natural history, and is therefore a must for every visitor.
Situated in Bomb House Lane, the Gibraltar Museum houses the best-preserved Moorish Bath House in Europe. The Museum contains a rich collection of artefacts, weapons, medals, costumes, coins and postage stamps, together with a magnificently detailed old model of the Rock, constructed by officers of the Royal Engineers in 1865. Of particular interest is the outstanding collection of natural history.

Main Street:

Main Street, Gibraltar’s principal shopping thoroughfare, runs almost the length of town and the shops are filled with goods of all kinds at attractive prices. Turn off Main Street into the little lanes and alleys and there are even more shops. Gibraltar is a duty-free shopper’s paradise and still continues to offer duty free goods despite changes elsewhere in Europe. Shops are normally open by 9.30 am and stay open all day through to 7pm on weekdays, many close Saturday afternoon.