Cádiz, known as the “Tacita de Plata” is considered one of the most ancient cities in the western world. It was founded in 1100 BC by the Phoenicians, a seafaring town which made “Gadir” become an important commercial colony. There, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Muslims were later settled. Cádiz was a cosmopolitan and open city, and its harbour was chosen by Colón as the starting point of his second trip to the New World. The city became the Gateway to the Indies and it agglutinated the commerce with America, after Sevilla’s harbour’s decline. This frenetic commercial activity resulted in a stage full of cultural and economic splendour, where the baroque palaces and their characteristic lookout towers raise.
The Cathedral and her dome, covered with golden ceramic tiles are both visible from the sea. They also fit in perfectly with Cádiz’s colonial aspects. It combines baroque and neoclassic styles, and her treasure is one of the most important in Spain. The intensity of the trade with India caught the greed the pirates had, forcing the city to be fortified.
The remains of the primitive but reshaped defensive system of crossed fires, designed by Vauban, conform an important part of Cádiz’s patrimonial wealth. The “Puertas de Tierra” preserve remnants of the rampart in both sides and also semibastions such as San Roque’s and Santa Elena’s.
A walk in the “Campo del Sur” allows you to contemplate the defensive bastions in “Los Mártires” and “Capuchinos”, next to “La Caleta”, escolted by San Sebastian and Santa Catalina castles. Towards to La Alameda Apodaca, the Candelaria’s bastion and the San Carlos rampart can be contemplated.
The new city, structured along a big avenue and her extensive and decorated seafront, and the ancient one are separated by the “Puertas de Tierra” rampants. The old quarter is full of narrow streets, small squares and popular neighbourhoods such as “La Viña”, “El Mentidero”, “Santa María” (real seat of the flamenco songs) and “El Pópulo”.
“El Pópulo” neighbourhood, the most ancient one in the capital city, preserves the three doors from the primitive medieval city: “Arco del Pópulo”, “Arco de la Rosa” and “Arco de los Blancos”. Moreover, the Roman Theater and the old cathedral: “Santa Cruz” church.
It is possible to taste the famous “pescaíto frito” while you listen to the song “Amor Brujo”, by the local compositor Manuel de Falla. It is played in the Council’s clock, located in the emblematic square of San Juan de Dios.The nearby neighbourhood of Santa María is one of the most rooted in the city. It own aristocratic residences, such as the baroque “Casa Lasquetty” and the “Cárcel Real”, which is an important neoclassic building.
The “Santa Cueva”, in where paintings by the famous Spanish artist Goya are found, is located heading the innermost square of “San Francisco”.
The Oratory of San Felipe Neri, a baroque temple in whose altar an “Inmaculada” painted by Murillo is found. This Oratory is located in the surroundings of the “San Antonio” square, next to the neighbourhood “Mentidero”, which has been the city’s nerve centre for years.
Cádiz was also the headquarters of the “Cortes de Cádiz”, where the first Spanish constitution was written in 1812. The constitution is also known as “La Pepa”, because of her birthday, “San José”.
Another important spot could be the “Mina” square, headquartes of Cádiz Museum, in where you can find some famous Phoenicians sarcophagus and also some funds in the Fine Arts’ section, which makes it one of the most important picture galleries in the country.
To finish with, don’t forget that the “Zorrilla” street is the role model street for the “tapas” bars. It leads to the perfect viewpoint above the sea, which is formed by the “Alameda Apodaca” garden and the “Genovés” park. If you go for a walk, you will get to Cádiz’s harbour, main scale of the touristic cruise ships between Mediterranean and Atlantic sea.
The Cathedral and her dome, covered with golden ceramic tiles are both visible from the sea. They also fit in perfectly with Cádiz’s colonial aspects. It combines baroque and neoclassic styles, and her treasure is one of the most important in Spain. The intensity of the trade with India caught the greed the pirates had, forcing the city to be fortified.
The remains of the primitive but reshaped defensive system of crossed fires, designed by Vauban, conform an important part of Cádiz’s patrimonial wealth. The “Puertas de Tierra” preserve remnants of the rampart in both sides and also semibastions such as San Roque’s and Santa Elena’s.
A walk in the “Campo del Sur” allows you to contemplate the defensive bastions in “Los Mártires” and “Capuchinos”, next to “La Caleta”, escolted by San Sebastian and Santa Catalina castles. Towards to La Alameda Apodaca, the Candelaria’s bastion and the San Carlos rampart can be contemplated.
The new city, structured along a big avenue and her extensive and decorated seafront, and the ancient one are separated by the “Puertas de Tierra” rampants. The old quarter is full of narrow streets, small squares and popular neighbourhoods such as “La Viña”, “El Mentidero”, “Santa María” (real seat of the flamenco songs) and “El Pópulo”.
“El Pópulo” neighbourhood, the most ancient one in the capital city, preserves the three doors from the primitive medieval city: “Arco del Pópulo”, “Arco de la Rosa” and “Arco de los Blancos”. Moreover, the Roman Theater and the old cathedral: “Santa Cruz” church.
It is possible to taste the famous “pescaíto frito” while you listen to the song “Amor Brujo”, by the local compositor Manuel de Falla. It is played in the Council’s clock, located in the emblematic square of San Juan de Dios.The nearby neighbourhood of Santa María is one of the most rooted in the city. It own aristocratic residences, such as the baroque “Casa Lasquetty” and the “Cárcel Real”, which is an important neoclassic building.
The “Santa Cueva”, in where paintings by the famous Spanish artist Goya are found, is located heading the innermost square of “San Francisco”.
The Oratory of San Felipe Neri, a baroque temple in whose altar an “Inmaculada” painted by Murillo is found. This Oratory is located in the surroundings of the “San Antonio” square, next to the neighbourhood “Mentidero”, which has been the city’s nerve centre for years.
Cádiz was also the headquarters of the “Cortes de Cádiz”, where the first Spanish constitution was written in 1812. The constitution is also known as “La Pepa”, because of her birthday, “San José”.
Another important spot could be the “Mina” square, headquartes of Cádiz Museum, in where you can find some famous Phoenicians sarcophagus and also some funds in the Fine Arts’ section, which makes it one of the most important picture galleries in the country.
To finish with, don’t forget that the “Zorrilla” street is the role model street for the “tapas” bars. It leads to the perfect viewpoint above the sea, which is formed by the “Alameda Apodaca” garden and the “Genovés” park. If you go for a walk, you will get to Cádiz’s harbour, main scale of the touristic cruise ships between Mediterranean and Atlantic sea.
