Cadiz Tourist Information
Cadiz is the oldest city in western Europe with records suggesting
that the city was occupied more than 3,000 years ago. The original
Iberian settlers lived here an future civilizations of Greeks and
Phoenicians were here. Cadiz was an important trading post for the
Carthaginians and was occupied by the Romans before the Visigoths
defeated them. The city projects out into the sea and has
therefore always been important as a seafaring town which has always had
strong ties with the African continent from where adventurers and
merchants came and opened up the New World of the Americas.
Yet there is more to Cadiz than the city. The province of Cadiz
covers over 7,000 square kilometres and has a coastline of 250km.
Few tourists make it this far south into Spain and miss out on a region
of outstanding natural beauty. From Sanlucar de Barrameda just
below the national park of Doņana all the way along the coast as far as
Sotogrande on the Costa del Sol you will find 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.
Inland lie the "White Villages" (Pueblos Blancos) which are a series
of small villages with chalk coated houses dating back to the Middle
Ages. Arcos de la Frontera, Zahara de la Sierra, Grazalema and
Setenil are ones we tend to visit on our private tours.
Fascinating wildlife abounds in the interior with many species of eagles
and vultures which make this a birdwatchers paradise. Around
Medina Sidonia are large bull breeding farms where you can see these
magnificent beasts in their natural environment.
Many towns in the area are called ' 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.
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