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Mini guide to Cadiz
Cadiz stands on a peninsula jutting out into a bay, and is almost entirely surrounded by water. Located on the southwestern coast of Spain, this lovely old city has broad white dunes running along white beaches. The quiet charm and elegance of the place is noted by all who visit it.
As one of Spain’s major ports during the 16th century, Cadiz copied the carnival of Venice, and since then it has become one of the liveliest and most dazzling carnival towns in mainland Spain, famous for its amusing and creative figurines and satirical song groups.
It has a rational urban design with straight, narrow streets and is surrounded by luscious botanical gardens with several unique botanical species. The old, central quarter of Cadiz is famous for its picturesque charm, and many of the buildings reflect the city's overseas links. Worth a visit are the city's Cathedral and churches of Santa Cruz and San Felipe Neri.
Many of the city's most reasonably priced, traditional restaurants are located in and around the Plaza Juan de Dios, just in from the port and where there is a tight mass of alleyways crammed with bars and restaurants. The town is particularly famous for its wine and prawns as well as the summer horse races along the beach.
If you drive inland from Cadiz, you will discover a wide variety of landscapes and villages. Grazalema, surrounded by a national park, is a paradise for nature lovers, and as you head south the rolling hills become covered in walnut trees, pines and Spanish firs. Further on there are vineyards, completing what is known as the ‘Sherry Triangle’, where you will find the oldest vineyards in Europe.
The closest significant international airport to Cadiz is found at Malaga, where you can arrive from many European destinations. Car hire is the most reliable and convenient way of getting from the airport to Cadiz.
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