Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of 6.843 square kilometres (2.642 square miles) and has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region. At its foot is the densely populated city area, home to 31,000 Gibraltarians and other nationalities.

An Anglo-Dutch force captured Gibraltar from Spain in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. The territory was subsequently ceded to Britain “in perpetuity” under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. It was an important base for the Royal Navy. Today its economy is based largely on tourism, financial services, and shipping.

The sovereignty of Gibraltar is a major point of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations, as Spain asserts a claim to the territory. Gibraltarians rejected proposals for Spanish sovereignty in a 1967 referendum and again in 2002. Under the Gibraltar constitution of 2006, Gibraltar governs its own affairs, though some powers – such as defence and foreign relations – remain the responsibility of the UK. Gibraltarians speak English and ‘Llanito’ Spanish, a unique local dialect that mixes English and Spanish.

The Currency is Sterling – Gibraltar Pounds, which is different to UK Sterling, but is worth exactly the same. You can get a mixture of Gibraltarian currency and UK currency in change. Euros are accepted in most places, subject to exchange rates. The Gibraltar Summer is dry and warm with 10.7 hours average sunshine per day, August is the hottest month, at a mean temperature of 24.4C. In winter, November to March, there are wet and dry days, where the mean temperature is 13.4C.

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