Gibraltar – the cosmopolitan village

Though it is little more than 15 minutes from Sotogrande, Gibraltar offers a very different and indeed unique ambience that is the product of its rich history. Settled by different civilisations over time, this strategic outpost changed forever when an Anglo-Dutch force landing here in 1704 during the War of Spanish Succession.

Lost to Spain, it became a British naval outpost not unlike Singapore, Hong Kong or Cape Town. But while a certain colonial charm still pervades this lively little town, its real character is the sum of the many parts that make up its population. Gibraltarians are a fascinating mix of Spanish, Jewish, Maltese, Genovese, British and more recently also Indian and Moroccan elements.

There are few places where such diverse groups live together to harmoniously and cohesively, a fact that can probably be attributed Gibraltar’s size and the fact that it remains a somewhat beleaguered exclave on the Spanish mainland. Those expecting pomp and ceremony will mostly be disappointed – the forces have all but left – but if you like an exotic melting pot with a unique flavour of its own, so much the better.

Many Sotogrande residents just hop over to shop, heading straight for the Morrisons or the high street, but for others Gibraltar offers above all the chance to feel like you’re travelling although you’re less than half an hour from home. Slightly hectic and balmy as a port should be, this cosmopolitan village is a place where history envelops a very lively present to produce a surprising number of things to see and experience in such a tiny area.