Cadiz, Spain-one of the most picturesque cities in the country, washed by the Atlantic Ocean on three sides at once. According to scientists, this is the oldest settlement in Europe, and the largest port of the XVI-XVII centuries.
General information
Cadiz is a city in southwestern Spain. It is part of the autonomous community of Andalusia. The population is 133,000. The total area of the city is 12,100,000 m2.
Cadiz has been claiming the title of the most ancient city in Europe for several years, because its history dates back to 1100 BC-it was founded by the Phoenicians. On the territory of the city and today there are ancient walls, which historians refer to different eras. The largest number of attractions dates back to the XVII-XVIII centuries.
Cadiz is very popular with tourists, because this city has managed to preserve its history and atmosphere. There are still no large glass offices or huge shopping centers here – just narrow streets and snow-white houses of local residents.
Attractions
The sights of Cadiz in Spain are very diverse, and have come down to us from different eras. Most interesting for tourists are ancient fortresses and other defensive structures.
Tavira Tower
The Tavira Tower is just one of the 160 watchtowers that once surrounded medieval Cadiz. The height of the attraction is 45 meters, and from the upper gallery you can clearly see the whole city and the ocean.
The landmark is built in the classic Andalusian style, and is one of the symbols of Cadiz. Now the tower houses a small but very interesting museum:
- The first floor of the attraction is a reception, a gift shop and a small hall for temporary exhibitions.
- On the second tier there is a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of the tower and the unique pinhole camera-the predecessor of modern cameras and video cameras. The number of such devices in the world can be counted on one’s fingers, and tourists are always happy to listen to the history of the creation of this device.
- On the third floor of the attraction there is a small hall with photos of Cadiz and an observation deck with a beautiful view of the city.
- The fourth floor is a small room where the most important exhibit of Cadiz is kept – the camera obscura.
Tourists say that you should not expect too much from the museum, but for the sake of a chic view of the city and a unique pinhole camera, this place is worth a visit.
- Location: Calle Marqués del Real Tesoro, 10, 11001 Cádiz, Spain.
- Opening hours: 10.00-18.00.
- Price: 6 euros for adults and 5 euros for children and seniors.
- Official website: www.torretavira.com
Santa Cruz Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross is the main temple of Cadiz, located in the city center. This is a relatively new building, built in 1744 on the site of the burned-down cathedral. At the moment, the temple is considered one of the richest in Andalusia.
The building is notable for combining features of classicism, Baroque and Rococo. This confusion is explained by the fact that during the construction process, architects were constantly changing, and each brought something new to the project.
The interior of the attraction is rather made in the neoclassical style: tall Corinthian columns, a rather modestly decorated altar, and large oval windows. Above the altar is an image of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, on which Francisco Villegasa worked.
One of the most interesting parts of the Cathedral is the crypt, where many famous people of Spain are buried. So, the poet Jose Maria Peman and the composer Manuel Falla are buried here.
Tourists say that the attraction surprised them with its unusual architecture and a large number of rooms that can be visited.
- Location: Plaza de la Catedral, s / n, 11005 Cádiz, Spain.
- Opening hours: 09.00-18.00.
- Official website: www.catedraldecadiz.com
Roman Theater of Cadiz
The Roman Theater of Cadiz is one of the most interesting places in the city, located near the Cathedral of Santa Cruz. In the first century BC, it was a huge amphitheater that held more than 20 thousand people. The building has the shape of a horseshoe, so it has very good acoustics.
Unfortunately, the theater was used for its intended purpose until the IV century AD. After that, it fell into disrepair, and on the ruins of the sights began to build houses for local residents and a fortress. We discovered the Roman theater completely by accident – in 1980, an old factory was dismantled here, and we came across ancient ruins.
Interestingly, it is the second largest Roman amphitheater in the world. In the first place – Cordoba, which can accommodate 50 thousand people. This fact confirms the opinion of historians that at the beginning of our era Cadiz was a very powerful and important city on the map of Europe.
- Where to find: Calle Mesón, 11, 13, 11005 Cádiz, Spain.
- Open: 10.00-16.30, Sunday – from 10.00 to 14.00.
- Official website: www.juntadeandalucia.es
Central Market
The central market of Cadiz is one of the few places where you can mingle with the locals and experience the flavor of this port town. There are shopping malls in a very unusual building with Doric columns, which once again emphasizes the venerable age of Cadiz.
The range of products on the market is wide: here you can find vegetables, fruits, meat and dairy products, sweets. Tourists recommend buying seafood and trying ready-made fruit salads.
Locals recommend buying here in the morning – all the products are still fresh, and the choice is large. By the evening, most of the goods disappear from the shelves, and it is unlikely that you will be able to buy anything interesting. Also, don’t forget that the time from 15:00 to 18:30 is a siesta, and the sellers go home.
- Location: Plaza de la Libertad, S / N, 11005 Cádiz, Spain.
- Opening hours: 09.00-16.00, 18.30-23.00. On Monday, the market is open only in the evening, on Sunday – from 12.00 to 17.00.
Archaeological Museum (Yacimiento Arqueologico Gadir)
Yacimiento Arqueologico Gadir is one of the largest and most informative archaeological museums in Spain, dedicated to the rich history of Cadiz. The most interesting and popular part of the museum is the preserved layer of earth, which was once found by archaeologists during excavations. It clearly shows the foundations of the first buildings in the territory of Cadiz, traditional Dorian and Corinthian pillars.
No less interesting are the ancient sculptural compositions that were found both on the territory of Cadiz, and brought from Egypt and Rome.
Before visiting the museum (and it is, by the way, free), tourists recommend to study a little bit the history of Spain in order to better understand what is presented in the museum. The disadvantages of this attraction include the lack of audio guides and signs in Russian (all information is provided only in Spanish and English).
- Location: Calle San Miguel, 15, 11001 Cádiz, Spain.
- Opening hours: 11.00-13.00, 16.00-19.00, Monday-closed.
Park Genoves
Genovez Park appeared on the map of Cadiz at the beginning of the XVIII century. At first, it was a small boardwalk on the Atlantic Ocean, created by locals for evening walks. Over the decades, it was constantly rebuilt, new plants were planted and sculptures were installed.
The landmark acquired its present appearance at the end of the XIX century, when landscape designer Jeronimo Genoves y Puig created a miracle park, unlike other green corners of Europe. Today the garden bears the name of its creator.
At the moment, the park has over 100 species of trees and shrubs, more than 200 varieties of flowers are presented. However, the main highlight of this place is not in the species diversity of plants, but in their unusual appearance – all the trees are cut in an original way, and the flowers are planted in a special order. One of the most picturesque places in the park is an artificial grotto where ducks and swans live.
- Location: Av. Dr. Gómez Ulla, s / n, 11003 Cádiz, Spain.
- Opening hours: 08.00-18.30.
San Sebastian Fortress
San Sebastian is the largest and most famous tourist attraction in Cadiz, which for a long time protected the locals from the raids of neighbors. The first part of the castle was built in 1603, and the second was built in the early 1710s.
It is very easy to find a tourist attraction – it is clearly visible from the embankment and from the beaches. There is a large embankment road leading to the main gate, so you can’t get lost.
There is no permanent exhibition inside the fortress, so most tourists make only an external inspection of the building. Periodically, exhibitions are held here, which you can visit for free.
Tourists say that the fortress of San Sebastian is one of the main points of Cadiz, which you need to visit in order to feel the atmosphere of this city, to see the ocean from such a perspective as the guards in the fortress saw it from. Also here you can take a couple of beautiful photos of Cadiz in Spain.
Location: Paseo Fernando Quiñones, s / n, Cádiz, Spain.
Beaches
In Cadiz, there are several beaches that give off both local and tourist tastes.
Victoria Beach
Victoria Beach is one of the most popular beaches in southwestern Spain, and there are several reasons for this. First of all, it is absolutely free, and, at the same time, quite clean. Secondly, it offers a beautiful view of the Old Town of Cadiz. Third, Victoria is one of the TOP 6 best beaches in Spain.
Victoria is the longest beach in Cadiz, with a length of more than 3 km and a width of at least 200 meters. The sand is fine and clean, and there are no rocks. The water is also very clean and clear (which is very rare for the city). The entrance to the water is gentle. Waves are rare, so you can rarely meet surfers here.
Victoria Beach is well equipped. There is:
- Cafes and restaurants. There are approximately 6 restaurants serving Spanish, European and Asian cuisine.
- Children’s areas. There are playgrounds with swings and attractions for children.
- Sports grounds. There are also special areas for athletes on the beach. There are exercise bikes and treadmills.
- The shops. There are several small shops on the beach where you can buy souvenirs and things you need for your holiday in Cadiz, Spain.
The main disadvantages of the beach are the lack of changing rooms and toilets. There are also problems with the number of sun beds and umbrellas.
La Caleta
La Caleta is the smallest beach in Cadiz, located right at the entrance to the Old Town. There are always a lot of tourists here, because the place is very picturesque and cozy. It is only 500 meters long and about 100 meters wide.
The surface is sandy, and rocks and shells are extremely rare. The entrance to the sea is smooth. Unfortunately, the beach can not be attributed to clean-it is always crowded, and there is plenty of garbage.
As for the infrastructure, there are no problems here. Right on the beach there are several cafes and bars, there are showers and toilets. Shops and parking are within walking distance of La Caleta.
Accomodation
There are about 300 hotels and hostels in Cadiz. The city is popular with tourists, so the demand for housing (especially in the summer months) is very high.
The cost of a room for two in a 3* hotel will be from $ 80 to $ 110. This price includes a good breakfast, a spacious room and basic necessities in the room. Most of the hotels have a swimming pool and fitness room, which can be used for free.
Apartments will cost twice as much – prices start from $ 40. This price includes a one-or two-bedroom apartment with household appliances and a terrace, as well as round-the-clock communication with the owner.
It is worth remembering that Cadiz is a small town, and you should not pay much for a room in the Old City.
Weather and climate, when it’s best to arrive
The climate in Cadiz is subtropical. Since the Atlantic Ocean is located nearby, even in summer there is no extreme heat, and in winter the temperature does not fall below +15°C.Spring
March is the rainiest month in Cadiz. About 90 mm of rain falls in 30 days. At the same time, the temperature is set quite comfortably-around +17°C. In April and May, the thermometer already reaches +23°C.
It is better to come to Cadiz in the spring for those tourists who love sightseeing holidays and want to visit the most famous places in Spain.Summer
In the summer months, the thermometer is kept at around +26 to +29°C. The hottest month is August, and the water temperature in the ocean rises to +23°C. Summer is perfect for relaxing by the ocean.Autumn
Autumn in Cadiz is mild and warm, so there are still few available places on the beaches. September and October are considered the velvet season, as the sun is not so hot anymore, and the water is still warm (+22°C).
In November, tourists are almost impossible to meet – the rains begin, and the water temperature in the ocean drops to +18°C.Winter
Winter is the coldest time of the year in Cadiz. The temperature is kept at +15°C, often there are short but heavy rains. This time of year can not be called a tourist one, so prices for housing and food are much lower than in summer. If you are only interested in sightseeing holidays, then you can come to Spain in winter.
How to get
The distance from Cadiz to Barcelona is 1000 km, to Madrid-600 km, to Malaga-225 km, to Jerez-30 km, to Setenil de Las Bodegas (province of Cadiz, Spain) – 140 km. Despite the fact that Cadiz is separated from most Spanish cities, it is quite easy to get to it. Transport links are well established to all cities of Andalusia and to major centers of the country. You can get to Cadiz by:
By bus
Spain has a well-developed bus service, and you can get to Cadiz by bus from many cities. The most popular carrier is Alsa, whose buses run 2-3 times a day. Detailed information and up-to-date schedule can be found on the official website: https://www.alsa.com/e. You can also buy tickets here.
By train
The first train to the province of Cadiz in Spain arrives at 06.00 am, and the last-just before 12 am. The train connection is well established, and you can get to Cadiz, for example, from Seville, in 2 hours. The most popular carrier in Spain is RENFE, and you can find all the latest information, as well as purchase a ticket on the official website: http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/
Interesting facts
- The central market of Cadiz is the oldest in Spain. The first visitors he began to receive at the beginning of the XIX century.
- The San Sebastian Fortress Lighthouse is the second electrified one in Spain.
- According to one version, it was from the beach of La Caleta in Cadiz that Christopher Columbus went on long journeys. In addition, the filming of one of the bond parts took place here.
- Interestingly, in the first century BC, Cadiz was the largest city in Europe, with the exception of Rome. It was often called the ” edge of the world”, because until the era of “Great Geographical Discoveries”, Europeans did not even suspect that the New World lands were hidden behind the Atlantic Ocean.
Cadiz, Spain – the oldest city in Europe with a huge number of historical attractions.
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