Long famous as the “key to the Mediterranean,” Gibraltar has been a British Overseas Territory since 1713 after being seized during the War of Spanish Succession. Situated near the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula and overlooking one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, the “Rock of Gibraltar,” as it’s still often known, rises out of the sea on the east side of Algeciras Bay and is linked with mainland Spain by a narrow isthmus. The Apes of Gibraltar – Gibraltar is famous for its Barbary macaques, a species native to Morocco and the only monkeys living wild anywhere in Europe.

Legend has it that if the apes ever leave Gibraltar, so too will the British, but with more than 160 of the animals thriving on the island, this eventuality seems remote. The best place to see them is in the Gibraltar Nature Reserve in the Upper Rock area of the island. Here, you’ll find the famous Apes’ Den, a great place for you to get up close with these fascinating creatures without fear of being harassed. But visitors beware: as cute as these apes are, they’re wild and do bite. Also, from time-to-time they venture into the town, so watch your belongings. Feeding is strictly prohibited.