Where is your home?
To get here is so easy, wherever you came from; if you are coming by the Sevilla Airport, take the bus to Santa Justa train station and pick the train to Cadiz, the same train pass by the Jerez de la Frontera Airport.
In almost 1 hour and 30 minutes, you will be in Cadiz Central Station, where you can get the bus 2 to Plaza España or maybe you can just walk down the pretty cobbled narrow streets for 15 minutes and you will find the way home.
History
Cádiz is considered the oldest city in the Western World. It was founded (in 1100 B.C.) by the Phoenicians, a seafaring people who turned Gadir into an important trading colony where the Carthaginians, the Romans, the Visigoths and the Muslims would all subsequently settle. The city would then become, after the decline of Seville, the port to The Indies, drawing the flow of trade with the American Continent. This frantic commercial activity then brought about an era of economic, cultural splendour, when Baroque palaces with their characteristic towers offering amazing views were built.
The Cathedral, which can be seen from the sea, and its golden tiled dome fit perfectly into the Cádiz cityscape with its colonial air. It combines both the Baroque and Neoclassical styles, and its treasure is amongst the most important in Spain.
The intense trading activity with The Indies awakened the greedy interest of pirates, which led to the city being fortified. The remains of the original although renovated cross-fire defence system designed by Vauban make up an important part of the heritage of Cadiz.
Las Puertas de Tierra, the city gates, retains sections of walls and semi-bastions such as those of San Roque and Santa Elena, on both sides. A stroll through the Campo del Sur affords the visitor a view of the Los Mártires and Capuchinos defence bastions, by La Caleta, which is guarded by San Sebastián and Santa Catalina Castles. Heading towards the boulevard Alameda Apodaca, the La Candelaria Bastion and the San Carlos Walls can also be seen.
In fact, the Puertas de Tierra Walls clearly divide the new city regained from the sea –built along a great avenue and along the extensive, landscaped promenade– and the old. The historic centre of the city has narrow streets and small squares in popular districts such as la Viña (the fishing district) Mentidero, Santa María (true home of the flamenco) and el Pópulo (the oldest neighbourhood in Cadiz)
El Pópulo District retains the three gates to the original Medieval city: Del Pópulo Arch, De la Rosa Arch and De los Blancos Arch, apart from the Roman Theatre and the old Santa Cruz Church. You can enjoy our gastronomy at the emblematic San Juan de Dios Square, where plenty of small dinning houses and sophisticated restaurant will cook for you a sort of traditional dishes, such us the fried fish, tuna stew, and mackerel with ‘piriñaca’.
Santa María is one of districts with most history in the city, with stately residences such as the Baroque Casa Lasquetty and the Royal Jail, an important Neoclassical building. Walking up towards the quiet San Francisco Square, we find La Santa Cueva, The Holy Cave, with Goya paintings inside. Nearby the Plaza de San Antonio, in the Mentidero Quarter, where our house is located, was the nervous centre of the city for many years. There is the Oratory of San Felipe Neri, the seat of the Cádiz Cortes in 1812, where the first Spanish Constitution was drawn up (“la Pepa”).
The Plaza Mina, home to the Museum of Cadiz, with its famous Phoenician sarcophagi and works in its Fine Art section which make it one of the most important picture galleries in the country.
Calle Zorrilla, the tapa-bar street par excellence, leads to the Alameda Apodaca Gardens the Genovés Park, which offer perfect views of the sea. Continuing to stroll a little further round, the visitor comes to Cádiz port, regular stopping-off point for tourist cruise ships travelling between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.
A stroll along the seafront, from La Caleta beach to Campo del Sur, will remind the visitor of the image of the avenue the Malecón in Havana, as there are many similarities between the city and Latin American cities, thanks to the constant flow of people travelling between Cádiz and the New World.
Leisure, culture and festivals
Every day is the perfect moment to celebrate you are in Cadiz
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Cadiz is hosting many fairs, festivals and events along the year in so many spots. However, San Antonio Square is always the best place to go, because of its dimensions and central location, most of the concerts, art & craft fairs, Christmas market, exhibitions and even the winter ice rink are placed there.
Always there is something to do in the city, so keep your eyes open and be ready to celebrate with the locals and visitors.
Let us tell you briefly about the cultural agenda of Cadiz:
After Christmas everyone start getting nervous because in February take place the most important festival on the city, the Carnival of Cadiz call thousands of visitors to go out with their fancy-dress to take part in the fun, the laughter and the partying in the midst of the satirical “chirigotas” and “comparsas”, who parody and criticise the year’s events.
La Viña Quarter is the traditional Cádiz quarter par excellence, and its welcoming, friendly atmosphere is the inspiration for many carnival song lyrics however, this celebration spread along the city.
The next in the agenda is the Holly Week and Easter, when many people visit the city centre to see the impressive “pasos” representing scenes of the life of Jesus Christ.
These “pasos” are real pieces of arts and you can feel the passion thanks to the smell of the incense and the sound of the music.
Then, a couple international festivals will show you up a bit more about the connections between Cadiz and the rest of the world, to know more about this, follow the office of tourism’ social medias and do not lose the chance to book your tickets, actually some of the events and performances have a free entry.
In Cadiz we love so much the summer, this is why the first night of this season is a big beach party and everyone meet along the 4 km. beach to celebrate the San Juan night.
This is very typical the bonfires where the “Juanillo” get burn with your dreams written down in a piece of paper to make it real.
If you want more, in August you have another opportunity to enjoy the best of the summer with the Carranza Trophy and the barbecue on the beach.
To complete the rest of the year, go to the concerts, performances, gastronomic routes and other special days making Cadiz the best place to be.