Cadiz Mini Guide
Cadiz
Spain seaport on the south Atlantic coast, just north of the Strait of
Gibraltar.
Delightful to look at with beautiful beaches and a rich history, no tour of Spain would be complete without visiting Cadiz.The port and city of Cadiz in Southwestern Spain lies on a peninsula in Andalucia and is the oldest walled city in the country.
Strolling through Cadiz you will see fantastic views and well preserved monuments which is why the Spanish call it Casco Viejo, or old city. Huge trees which shade the many parks of the city were brought to Cadiz by Christopher Columbus, and later Cadiz became home to the Spanish treasure fleet.
It saw many wars over the years as the British battled with the Spanish Armada there in the 16th century and then the inhabitants of Cadiz were proudly able to repel the invasion of Napoleon in the 19th century.
Few cities in Spain can claim to have as many beautiful landmarks and squares as Cadiz and the old town is very densely populated and packed with streets.
There are cathedrals, municipal buildings, a fine ancient Roman theatre and an eighteenth-century watchtower all built in a variety of architectural styles.
But if you are not interested in European history there is still much to do in Cadiz. Its beaches are among the best in Spain and are not crowded so you can enjoy the Spanish sun in peace. Windsurfing and surfing are also possible in Cadiz because of the windy conditions and decent waves.
If you are looking for reasonably priced food, the Plaza de Juan Dios is a good bet or head to the harbour to seek out the seafood which is always good value for money. Among them, the El Faro restaurant is well decorated with its hams hanging from the roof and Seville oranges laid out on tables.
Cadiz holds a carnival every year which is modeled on the famous Venice carnival. Huge crowds dress up in burlesque costumes, clown around and sing songs and there is plenty of satire and humour.
To get to and from Cadiz daily buses run to the cities of
Madrid,
Malaga and
Seville and trains can also be taken to
Cordoba and
Barcelona. If you plan to hire a car in Cadiz bear in mind that there is a toll of 783 pesetas to use the A4 autopista from Seville to Puerto Real. There is an alternative route, the NV1 for which you do not have to pay a toll, but it is busier and a lot slower.