Cadiz

Cadiz stands on a peninsula jutting out into a bay, and is almost entirely surrounded by water. Named Gadir by the Phoencians, who founded their trading post in 1100 BC, it was later controlled by the Carthaginians, until it became a thriving Roman port. It sank into oblivion under the Visigoths and Moors, but attained great splendour in the early 16th century as a launching point for the journey to the newly discovered lands of America. Cadiz was later raided by Sir Francis Drake, in the struggle to gain control of trade with the New World, and managed to withstand a siege by Napoleon's army. In the early 19th century Cadiz became the bastion of Spain's anti-monarchist, liberal movement.

The old city looks quite Moorish in appearance and is intriguing with narrow cobbled streets opening onto small squares. The golden cupola of the cathedral looms high above long white houses and the whole place has a slightly dilapidated air. It just takes an hour to walk around the headlands where you can visit the entire old town and pass through some lovely parks with sweeping views of the bay.

Passing through the Tierra Gateway of the restored remains of the city walls and crossing the long strip of land, which joins Cadiz to the continent, you come face to face with this unique, morish in style City. The Baroque and Santa Cruz Cathedral’s feature bright golden domes and sumptuous interiors, so different in architectural gothic style of the majority of other Spanish Cathedrals.

Cadiz is a bustling cosmopolitan city tempting you to explore its historic parts plus its modern side, with restaurants on every corner of every street all opening onto squares. We do recommend the city tour to start with. The ride is on an open top London bus. This may sound typically English tourism, but it gives you an excellent perspective of Cadiz and lasts only 30 minutes .You can then plan the rest of your day

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Fruit and veg. market in Cadiz

Fish market in Cadiz