The province of Cadiz covers
over 7,000 square kilometres and has a coastline
of 250km from Sanlucar de Barrameda, just
below the national park of Doñana
all the way along the coast as far as Sotogrande
on the Costa del Sol. The Cadiz coastline
has some of Spain's most beautiful golden
beaches and little of the destruction of
the environment associated with mass tourism
along most of Spain's Mediterranean coastline.
Christopher Columbus set off on some of
his voyages from Cadiz and the city is still
a working port and both the city and wider
province are popular holiday destinations
for many Spanish tourists who visit in the
summer.
Inland are the 'Pueblos Blancos', the White
Villages which are a series of stunning small
mountain villages with chalk coated houses
dating back to the Middle Ages. Many
towns in the area are suffixed ' de la Frontera'
which results from the period of the Reconquest
when the border between the Christians and
the Moors was constantly changing as the battle
for territory took place. The most famous
of these towns is Jerez de la Frontera whose
regional airport is now a destination for a
growing number of budget airlines jetting people
in from abroad. Jerez is the world centre
of the sherry industry and daily tours of the
cellars (bodegas) is a popular activity as
is a visit to the Royal Andalucian School of
Equestrian Art where you can watch fabulous
displays by the dancing horses.
Historians claim that Cádiz was founded
over 3,000 years ago, making it the oldest
continually inhabited city in Europe. Over
its history, it has experienced many changes,
with periods of expansion and decline. It has
always been a lively, seafaring trading town
and appeals to visitor with its straight, narrow
streets, towering facades with fine wrought
ironwork and gardens of great botanical variety.
The Baroque Cathedral features bright domes
and sumptuous interior, so different in architectural
style from the majority of Spanish Cathedrals.
As we walk around the busy town centre, visiting
churches and museums, we come upon squares,
such as San Juan de Dios, Mina, Constitución,
España, Mentidero, each of which has
its own style and monuments all so different
and so attractive as are the different quarters
of the centre from El Pópulo to la Viña.
Formerly known as Gades, Cádiz was
for centuries Spain's main port for ships sailing
to and from America. The churches of Cádiz,
San Antonio, El Rosario, Santo Domingo, San
Francisco, Santa Catalina, El Carmen, etc.are
mostly Baroque or Neo-classical and the classical
style obvious in many of its most significant
buildings, such as the Council Building (a
palace of enormous proportions), the Old Prision
and even the traditional Tavira Tower.
The museums in a city are all worth visiting, the Municipal History Museum, and
above all the Archaeological and Fine Arts Museum, with its excellent art collection
and impressive archaeological exhibitions etc.
In February the Carnival, so highly acclaimed here and good reason, has its temple,
the Gran Teatro Falla, recently restored and in a curious Neomudéjar style.
At the beginning of spring, the Easter processions through the narrow streets
are a fascinating sight. And for the summer there are small coves such as La
Caleta, and long beaches all around the city. |
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