Silversea Luxury Cruises À GIBRALTAR

Discover Gibraltar and its history and charm on this leisurely and easy walking tour. Evidence of Neanderthal habitation in Gibraltar between 28,000 and 24,000 BC has been discovered at Gorham's Cave, making Gibraltar the last known holdout of the Neanderthals. Within recorded history, the first inhabitants were the Phoenicians, around 950 BC. Subsequently, Gibraltar became known as one of the Pillars of Hercules, after the Greek legend of the creation of the Strait of Gibraltar by Heracles.

Walking Tour

Transfer by bus from the pier to the Casements to begin your walk. This walking tour of the city centre offers the opportunity of traveling back in time, to discover Gibraltar's history during the Moorish, Spanish and British periods, learning the development of its people and culture. The guide will explain at different stops how Gibraltar evolved to present day.

Discover the many landmarks that make up Gibraltar on a leisurely drive past historic markers. End your tour at the renowned Rock Hotel for a scenic English Tea break. Poised strategically at the jaws of Europe and Africa, Gibraltar, with its Palladian architecture and camera-hogging Barbary macaques, makes for an interesting break from Cádiz province's white towns and tapas.

Europa Point

Departing from the port, your tour makes its way via Queensway Road, alongside the British fortress walls, Ragged Staff Gates, Rosia Road to Rosia Bay. At this point in 1805 the HMS Victory anchored after the Battle of Trafalgar with the body of Nelson on board. Nelson's body was encased in a barrel of rum to preserve him for the journey back to the United Kingdom. The story says that on the journey to England sailors drilled a hole in the barrel and drunk the rum. This is why in the British Navy you toast to Nelson's Blood.

The tour continues via Keightley Way Tunnel to Europa Point. It then continues along the Eastern coastline of Gibraltar through Dudley Ward Tunnel and Sandy Bay.

Rock Hotel

Continue to the renowned Rock Hotel, which overlooks the bay of Gibraltar and offers spectacular views out to Spain and North Africa. Take in your splendid surroundings as you savor a cup of delightful tea.

After Tea, the journey continues via Devil's Tower Road, and finishes at the entrance of Main Street. Those wishing to return to the ship may do so at this point, otherwise you may prefer to visit the City Centre on your own for self-exploration.

Get new perspectives of the iconic Rock of Gibraltar, the massive, 1,398-ft limestone promontory that juts out of the sea. The Rock has been a strategic point of positioning for Britain since the 18^th century, preceded by the Dutch as owners of the territory. Much of the upper portion of The Rock is a Nature Reserve, serving as home to 300 macaques and ancient caves that may have been home to prehistoric man tens of thousands of years ago.

Begin your tour with a panoramic drive around The Rock, which commands the surrounding view with its upwards-jutting precipice. The rock is located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, an important location at the edge of the earth where Africa and Europe meet.

Next board your helicopter for the highlight of the excursion, a panoramic flight above the Rock of Gibraltar. As you circumnavigate The Rock notice its topography, steep from one perspective and sloping from another. See the city from a distance, with as many homes as possible tucked onto Gibraltar's limited land area at the edge of the ocean. Appreciate the way that the manmade structures are completely dwarfed by this impressive creation of nature.

Make the return 20-minute drive to port once your helicopter ride has concluded.

Explore Gibraltar at your leisure during your half-day (4-Hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customize your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore Gibraltar at your leisure during your full-day (8-Hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customize your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore Gibraltar Rock and its unique surroundings during this picturesque orientation tour. Throughout the ages, the Rock of Gibraltar has cast a powerful first impression on those that have seen it. Whether approaching by land, sea or air, the Rock looms stark and isolated as it towers above the region. At the neck of the Strait of Gibraltar, it is the final signpost before the Mediterranean joins the Atlantic and thus has been an important site throughout European history.

Europa Point

Depart the pier for the scenic drive along Winston Churchill Avenue, to the Spanish border and then to the Eastside of the Rock, through the Dudley Ward Tunnel to Europa Point A stop is made here to take in splendid vistas of the famous Straits of Gibraltar and North African coast, and the point where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. On a clear day the Northern coast of Africa is visible.

St. Michael's Cave and Ape Den

The tour then proceeds to the upper part of 'The Rock' for a visit to St. Michael's Cave. This enormous, Gothic-style cavern features a mass of oddly shaped stalagmites and stalactites, and classical music playing in the background. From here, proceed for a look at the 'Rock Apes', a breed of tail-less monkeys that roam free on the rocky slopes.

Old Town/Main Street

Next, your tour continues past the Moorish Castle and Tower of Homage, then along the winding roads of the Upper Town. Upon reaching Main Street, you may opt to be transferred directly back to the pier or dropped off in town to browse the duty-free shops and return to the ship at your own expense.

This tour is based on the WW II history of Gibraltar and discovering the importance of its strategically unique situation. In 1940, Britain was at war with Germany and Italy and the future looked bleak for Gibraltar as the enemy surrounded it. Winston Churchill and the British military leaders believed that an attack on Gibraltar was imminent. The answer was to construct a massive network of tunnels, to build a fortress inside a fortress, a city within a city.

100 Ton Gun

Departing from the pier, drive past the Second World War Evacuation Monument and then follow the British Defense Wall, built during the 18th and 19th Century, in white Portland Limestone. King's Bastion will be seen, where General Elliott defended Gibraltar during the last Great Siege. The first stop is the 100 Ton Gun, a 17.72 inch 100 ton Rifled Muzzle Loader, the Supergun of the Victorian era. Only 4 guns of this type were built in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. This stop includes an exhibition at Napier of Magdala Battery.

O'Hara's Battery

The tour then leads up the winding roads to the summit of Gibraltar at 1,398ft (426m) above sea level, the site of O'Hara's Battery. This Battery affords 360 degree views towards mainland Iberia, the Straits of Gibraltar and Africa. Here the refurbished equipment and the original infrastructure and engines can be viewed.

Barbary Apes

The next stop are the famous Barbary Apes, these Apes have had strong ties with the military and the well-known statement by Sir Winston Churchill that Gibraltar will remain British as long as the Apes are here.

WW II Tunnels

The final stop is the Northern Defenses, the Second World War tunnels where thousands of military personnel lived and worked inside the Rock. Photographs documenting the work of the troops are on display here. Finally, the tour continues past the Tower of Homage, part of the Moorish Castle built in 1333 (2nd Moorish Conquest), the oldest free standing building in Gibraltar.

The tour will end at Casemates Square, where you may shop and relaxation on your own, or if you prefer to return to the port.