Where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea known as the end of the ancient world. The Straits of Gibraltar separate Gibraltar from North Africa/Morocco with a distance of 21 kms / 14.5 miles.

Ships that sailed out of the Mediterranean, stopped at the straits and turned back looking at the Atlantic's horizan, thinking they would fall off the edge, as they thought the earth was flat and not round.

The cave has interested visitors ever since the days of the Romans. It's name is said to have come from a similar cave in Gargano De La Pulla/Italy, where St. Michael is said to have appeared.

The cave consists of an Upper Hall filled with stalactites and stalagmites, connected with five passages with drops of 40-150 feet / 12-45 m to a smaller hall. Beyond this point a series of narrow holes lead to a further succession of chambers, reaching a depth of some 250 ft / 62 m.

During WWII the cave was prepared as an emergency hospital, but was never used, it's entrance is now the tourist exit. The cave is now opened to visitors and makes a unique auditorium for concerts, ballet and drama. Son et lumiere shows are staged throughout the year.

Apes are in fact a tail-less breed of monkey, (Macaca Silvanus) whose natural habitat is in the mountains of Morocco and Algeria. They were most probably first brought here by the British in the early eighteenth century. The earliest written record of the apes in Gibraltar dates back to 1740. Legend has it that the apes are a symbol of British sovereignty and if they go the British will leave Gibraltar, "That's why we have to feed them". When their numbers diminished during WWII, Sir Winston Churchill gave strict orders that a minimum of 24 should be maintained.

Today there are over 200 apes living free on the Upper Nature Reserve. They are divided into five packs and are quite territorial. A male ape which can grow up to 15 - 20 kgs reaches maturity at 5 yrs and is in his prime at 7 yrs. The female starts breeding from the age of 3 yrs and produces 1 offspring each year on average. The usual lifespan of an ape is from 18 to 21.

All the apes feed on wild roots, berries, veg and fruit.

For over six centuries people approaching Gibraltar from the mainland have been impressed with the sight of a great squared tower right up in the hillside. This tower is the only Tower Of Homage of the ancient Moorish Castle, which at one time dominated the surrounding area. The walls of the old castle enclosed a considerable area, reaching almost to the sea.

Today it lies over 650 years old , still scarred with cannon ball hits, flying the Union Jack.

During the American War Of Independence, France and Spain made an all out attempt to recapture the Rock frm the british in Gibraltar's fourteenth siege, always called the Great Siege, which lasted frm July 1779 to February 1783. Gradually the enemy advanced their trenches on the isthmus, until in 1782 the enemy were so close to the Rock that none of the existing batteries in Gibraltar could not fire upon them.

The governor, General Elliot is said to have offered a reward to anyone who could tell him how to get cannons on the steep north face of the Rock, known as the "Notch".

Sergeant-Major Ince, a member of the company of Military Artificers, suggested that this could be done by tunnelling and permission was granted to start the works.

The tunnellers relied on the strength of their arms, on their skill with a sledgehammer and a crowbar and were aided with gunpowder for blasting. Originally there was no idea of mounting cannons in this gallery, but as work progressed the fumes from the blasting almost suffocated the miners, so it was decided to open a vent to let air ventilate the tunnel. Almost at once it was realised what an excellent embrasure this would make for a cannon, so one was mounted without waiting to reach the "Notch".

Other embrasures were cut and mounted forming a gallery of cannons , defending the entrance to the Rock.

WWII the Royal Engineers , equipt with a diamond- drill opened some 30 miles of tunnels.