Cadiz Travel Guide

Like all the other Spanish Cities, Cadiz is very popular for its really delicious foods and wines. Cadiz cuisine has Phoenician, Roman, Moorish influences but in character it is a typical Andalusian one.

Here are some tasty dishes you should not miss:

Tapas

Tapas play an important part of the gastronomy in Spain. Tapa is the Spanish word for lid and it means the old fashion of serving a slice of ham covering the mouth of a wineglass.

Tapas are small portions of local dishes, generally eaten with a glass of beer or wine on hand. It is a good way to sample all the treats Cadiz has to offer without spending too much money. Tapas can be joined with almost everything, including cheese and locally produced ham.

 
In Cadiz you can find the “Ruta del Tapeo” (Tapas Route), where local restaurants and tapas bars serve yummy Tapas” and many other original dishes.

Seafood

As Cadiz lies on the coast of Spain, it is also very popular for its seafood. And there you are able to savour great servings of a wide range of fish, squid, shrimp, sea-snails, sea urchins, prawns and lobster. Seafood dishes you really should sample are:

§          Pescaito frito (fried fish - the Cadiz style)

§          Abaja de pescado (a fish stew of all the best Cadiz offers)

§          Gambas al ajillo (fried prawns with garlic)

§          Tortillitas de camarones (shrimp fritters)

§          Cazon en adobo (marinated dogfish)

§          Caldillo de peros (fish stewed in orange sauce)

Tapas are small portions of local dishes, generally eaten with a glass of beer or wine on hand. It is a good way to sample all the treats Cadiz has to offer without spending too much money. Tapas can be joined with almost everything, including cheese and locally produced ham.

Wine and Sherry

The towns Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Puerto de Santa Maria and Jerez de la Frontera in north Cadiz are home to some of the most important producers of sherry and brandy. In addition to several varieties and types of sherry there is also a wine called “Manzanilla” and is made only in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Because of the high humidity of Doñana, this wine is much paler and drier than other sherries of the region.

Sherry is a wine processed with extra alcohol to bring up the alcohol content to between 16-20%. There are five main styles of sherry:

§          Fino (light, pale-golden coloured, dry; alcohol content: between 15.5-16.5 %)

§          Manzanilla (very dry, pale sherry, lighter than Fino; alcohol content: 14-15 %)

§          Amontillado (an older Fino, richer in character, soft copper or amber colour; alcohol content: 18-20 %)

§          Oloroso (rich, dark, dry, mahogany, with a full rich nose; alcoholic content: 21 %)

§          Cream sherries (a blend of dry Oloroso and sweet Pedro Ximénez; alcoholic content: normally 20-22%)

Food and Wine Fairs in Cadiz

§          Pestiñada: in January, Plaza de San Francisco

§          Erizada: in January, Barrio de la Vina

§          Ostionada: in January, Plaza de San Antonio

§          Food Convention: in December, Palacio de la Diputación

Every year, millions of tourists head for Andalucia to take a holiday. Going on holiday in this southern region of Spain is a big hit with visitors from all over the world. Cadiz is one of the most popular destinations in southern Spain to discover. With its fascinating atmosphere, narrow alleyways, back streets and open squares, Cadiz deserves to be seen. It is a relaxing port town, which offers good views over the immense blue waters of the ocean. Cadiz also boasts one of the liveliest Carnival celebration in Spain. In the last years, the city is also a departure point for ferry boats to the Canary Islands. Come and visit Cadiz to discover the magnificent sea walls and the waterside walkways. Take a stroll along the beach to appreciate the immense beauty of the shimmering waves at sunset under the moonlight.

In Cadiz, it is all close at hand due to a wide range of accommodation available during the whole year and at prices that fit every budget. You can find everything from 5 star hotels to rural guesthouses. There are also luxury villas and cottages. Here is a sampling list of hotels where you can stay during your holiday.

Tryp La Caleta Hotel Cadiz

It has an excellent location right on the sea front near the well-known Victoria Beach. The shopping center is close at hand and Jerez Airport is only 30 minutes away. It is centrally located: The Bahia de Cadiz Casino and the Novo Sancti Petri Golf Courses are just nearby, the historical centre of the city, train station and sea port are also close at hand. The Tryp La Caleta’s amenities make it the perfect choice for incentive trips, conventions and courses.

Regio Hotel

Regio Hotel is ideally situated on the main avenue of Cadiz and at close hand to eleven shopping centres and financial centre. It has an excellent location only a few meters away from the well-known Victoria beach. Conference Hall and Stadium Ramon de Carranza are just nearby. Recently the Regio Hotel have been awarded by the Europian Union.

Hosperedia Las Cortes de Cadiz

The building of the Hosperedia Las Cortes de Cadiz Hotel date from 19th century and it has an excellent location in the centre of the city. The hotel blends modern and traditional styles offering its guests a great range of on-site facilities.

Hotel Spa Senator Cadiz

Ideally situated in the historical centre of the city, Hotel Spa Senator Cadiz was built in 2006. It is located at close hand to all shopping centres and historical sites. There is a train station nearby and the airport is only 40 km away from the hotel. Hotel Spa Senator Cadiz has 91 rooms with air-condition, sattelite television, mini bar and safe. It also provides a wide array of services, including buffet breakfast, buffet dinner, à la carte dinner etc. Visitors can enjoy an exclusive spa and a superb swimming pool.

Hotel Playa Victoria Cadiz

The Hotel Playa Victoria Cadiz has an ideal location right on the seafront with wonderful views over the Atlantic Ocean as well as over the main squares of the historical city of Cadiz. It is modern in design and provides a whole host of facilities. 

Hotel Melia Atlanterra Cadiz

The Hotel Melia Atlanterra Cadiz has a typical Andalusian interior design, marked by Arabic style and is ideally situated on the seafront at close hand to the beach in the Bahia de la Plata.

With its relaxing atmosphere, wonderful views over the Atlantic ocean and old heritage Cadiz Spain is the BEST DESTINATION to discover.

In the last decade cultural tourism has become inncreasingly popular. It relates to travel and visitation activities directed at an area’s arts, heritage, recreational and natural resources. Recent tourism research shows clearly that this phenomenon is something to be reckoned with. It would be interesting to learn how to bring in more of these multicultural and multi-generation visitors who make their destination choices according to a region’s performance, artistic, architecture and historical offerings. Cádiz has many advantages in respect of cultural programming.

Gran Teatro

The original Gran Teatro was constructed in 1871 by the architect García del Alamo but it was destroyed in fire in 1881. The current theatre was built in 1905 over the remains of the old Gran Teatro. Following the long reconstructions in 1920s, it was renamed the Gran Teatro Falla, in honor of composer Manuel de Falla. In the last years the theatre has undergone extensive renovation. It is worth seeing it!

Town Hall

The Town Hall of Cádiz’s Old City look onto Plaza de San Juan Dios. The building was constructed in two stages and was completed in 1861. It is in the neoclassical style.

Cádiz’s Towers

At the time Cádiz had more that 160 towers which were a kind of ‘observation towers’. From these towers the merchants could look out out to sea for arriving merchant ships. The tallest remaining wachtower is called Torre Tavira. It has a room from which a panoramic views of the Old City are projected with a pinhole camera. Another watchtower, Las Puertas de Tierra, was constructed in the 16th century and consists of different layers of walls.

Many things has changed in the Old City from then on. It is a subject of constant renovation. For instance, the entrance of the Old City was remodelled to accomodate modern traffic and now the two side-by-side arches curved into the wall serve as one of the primary entrances to the city.

There are many other things to see in Cádiz. Go there and discover the rich heritage and the old history of Cádiz Spain.

The food from Cádiz is influenced by many cultures: Phoenician, Arab, Roman and colonial. Romans brought to Spain the wine and olives, Arabians left food like citrus fruits, almonds, spices and sweets. The recipes are of a great diversity and combine many ingredients. The Atlantic Coast gives Cádiz plenty of seafood and fish. The Andalusian cuisine is characterized by the raw materials quality and the different ways of preparation and the variety of dishes the tourist can find in this area from the Costa del Sol, because each province has their own delicious dishes.

The fried fish is probably the best one in this area although it is said that the best one can be found in Granada. Some of the fish you can try in this region is: tuna, dogfish, anglerfish, etc.

Fish is mainly used for different kinds of stews like fish soup with bitter oranges or onions, green pepper and tomatoes as well as fish a la teja, marinated dogfish and shrimp omelette.

Meat also has a special importance in the cuisine of Cádiz: Pork, baby goat, beef with typical recipes like lamb casserole, bull’s tail with a typical recipe from Jerez and famous bullfighter-style partridge. The region also yields an excellent cabbage that is used in special stews.

Olive oil, cheeses, dried meats, sausages and delicious bread are important ingredients of the local cuisine. Turrón from Cádiz (a bar made with almonds and honey) is a very popular dessert like Tocino del Cielo, which is traditionally made with egg yolks left in the process of sherry making.

Jerez Sherry is a delicious drink and is also used to finish off some local dishes. It also brings out the flavours of hams, sausages, fish, shellfish or simple but tasty olives.

Typical dishes from Cádiz include:

 Berza (soup), the amazing fried fish, Tortitas de Camerones (Omelettes with prawns), Squids in its ink, noodles with prawns and clams etc., partridge casserole (la perdiz estofada), scrambled eggs with fresh asparragos (revueltos con esparragos trigueros) and marinated olives.

Cadiz also has quality wines like the Sherry, Manzanilla and the white wines.

La playa de Cortadura

Is the longest beach in Cádiz. It is about 4km long and 600m wide. It stretches from Cortadura to Torregorda. In total we speak about 550.000 sqm of beach. It is located at the exit of the town on the motorway that goes to San Fernando. It is one of the most unspoilt beaches in this area and is considered a “playa virgin”. The sand is golden and very fine. Dunes are forming along the length of the beach and the ocean bed is covered with rocks in some areas.

La playa de la Victoria

is the town beach by excellence. It is very popular and crowded. In 1987 it got its first blue flag and since then it has kept its excellent quality. It is located in the north of the isthmus. To the north the edge is marked by a rocky reef. Its 2 km long and 180 m wide. The promenade at the length of the beach is wonderful and it comprises almost the entire town till you arrive at the picturesque Old Town.

La playa de la Caleta

This busy beach is 50m wide and 5 km long. A promenade stretches along the whole beach. In summer it swarms with people. It received its first white flag in 1997. It possesses all kinds of services; bars, snack bars etc.

La playa de Santa Maria del Mar

The most Northern beach is a bay that starts where La Victoria starts. The two dams that limit the beach create a border of waves which is a pleasure for all surfers. It is 400 m long and ends just where the walls of Puertas de Tierra start.

Chato Beach

This beach is also called Urutia Beach and is located between the Cortadura Beach and the Camposoto Beach.

Anegada Beach

Beach left in its natural state. It forms part of the military zone and there is no trespassing.

Discover more beaches at the Spanish "costas":

• Costa del Sol
• Costa de la Luz
• Costa Blanca
• Costa Brava
• Costa Dorada
• Costa Tropical
• Costa Verde
• Costa Almeria

The paradise for cultural tourism

Cultural tourism is a growing segment of the contemporary travel market. This significant travel trend will dominate the tourism market in the next decade. The latest shift from mass tourism marketing to one-to-one marketing is being fueled by the use of new technologies and the proliferation of online services, making it easier for the traveler to choose destinations and customize their itineraries according to their interests.

The old city of Cádiz

If you consider yourselves as cultural tourists the perfect destination for you would be the historic city of Cádiz. This is the oldest city in western Europe where you can visit many beautiful monuments and attractions. In addition to its colourful history Cádiz has a peculiar location at the end of a narrow peninsula which makes it an exotic destination.

Here are some facts for tourists whose main goal when go on a trip is to learn from experience about the history and culture of different countries.

·       Cádiz is acknowledged as the most ancient city in western Europe.

·       In the 16^th century the city became the harbour for the Spanish fleet and Christopher Columbus sailed from there on his second and fourth voyages.

·       Most of today’s historic buildings in the Old City date from18th century.

Tourist attractions

There are many tourist attractions to be seen in Cádiz. The city has undergone total reconstruction recently. A great number of monuments, cathedrals and landmarks have been restored, adding a certain charm of this historic city. It is well-known for its unusual cathedral, its magnificent theatre, its splendid municipal building, its watchtower and many other landmarks.

It is a top priority to satisfy tourists’ interests and demands while offering them a possibility to broaden their travelling experience. As mentioned earlier, mass marketing have been superseded by one-to-one marketing, in which individual consumers customise their itineraries according to their own interests. More and more, people are becoming special interest travelers who regard cultural activities as one of the most  important reasons for traveling.

The Costa de la Luz is an ideal place to learn surfing with sunshine all over the year, perfect waves, wind and weather conditions and wonderful beaches. There exist various surf schools that have different offers to choose from: One for example is Nomadsurfers, located in Conil de la Frontera, a former fisher village located in the middle between Cádiz and Tarifa. Owing to the regions physical geography the area around Conil is where the waves are at. Tarifa on the other hand (50kms South) is a windsurfers paradise.

The close proximity of Morocco across the straits of Gibraltar gives you an impressive view of the North-African shoreline on clear days. Autumn to spring has the best surf. Prices are around 400 € for a week, including catering, accommodation, surfing lessons with material and transport to and from the beach for surf lessons. Most surf camps also offer: transfer from and to the International Airports (Seville/ Jerez/ Gibraltar) price available on request. Transfers from the city of Cádiz, Tapas route, Flamenco nights…

You have different surfing options if you turn to a surfing school:

1. Surfcamp: surf school and accommodation for all levels
2. Surfaris: guided surf tours and accommodation for intermediate and experienced surfers.
   

Study Spanish and Surf in Cádiz

• Winterwaves - Surf school located in Conil de la Frontera and El Palmar.
• Surf School Spain - Surf school located in Conil de la Frontera.

More language schools:

• Abroad Languages
• Quality Language Schools

More interesting surf spots in Spain

• Costa del Sol
• Costa de la Luz
• Costa Blanca
• Costa Brava
• Costa Dorada
• Costa Tropical
• Costa Verde
• Costa Almeria
• San Sebastian
• Fuerteventura
• Menorca
• Bilbao
• Gran Canaria
• Santander
• Mallorca
• Barcelona

The scenario of travel has undergone sudden change over the last few years. The price monopoly that airlines had does not exist anymore. With increasing competition now the various airlines vie with each other to woo passengers.

Because of the power of the internet, it is now possible to find superb air travel bargains and vacations right from your own PC. It doesn't matter if you're looking for cruises, discounted airline tickets or Las Vegas vacations, you'll find them all on the internet. Now apart from airline agents the portals like makemytrip.com, Expedia, Travelocity, or Priceline Yatra.com, Orbitz, one can choose to purchase flight tickets online at heavily discounted prices. You will get a bonanza if you log on and purchase the tickets you need on the same day that they are released. How it works is that each flight has seats that are sold at various prices and many of these seats are bought by online ticket agents or resellers for say just USD 120 and resold for UDS 125. Very often if you are fortunate, you can get all-time low priced tickets when you log on and ask for say 4 tickets. All you need is a credit card or paypal credit.

In order to get the most benefits you need to know how to beat the system and this comes with practice. Tickets are always cheaper off season. So avoid traveling during peak season like the holidays or summer break. Rates are very reasonably priced in the January-end February-end, April, May, and September. To lure tourists the the Travel agents offer packages like honeymoon  package which include hotel booking along with air tickets and also packages like free accidental insurance ,free baggage and many more 

Plan a trip with flexible departure and arrival dates. Often tickets on red-eye flights, early departures, and mid-week departures are cheaper that week ends and peak hour flights.

You will be surprised but if you choose to fly on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, or Christmas the flight will be cheaper and empty too. Most people avoid flying and are celebrating with their loved ones.

Many a time a two-way ticket for round trip is cheaper than a one-way ticket. And even if you just travel one way you will have benefited from a cheaper ticket.

Always look for the advance booking system. Often tickets booked 30 days in advance are the cheapest and the tickets become most expensive just a day before departure.

Become a seasoned vacationer and keep abreast of new packages on offer, price wars, and special combo-deals and so on. Many websites will send travel packages by e-mail if you get registered with them. Very often, for the price of one ticket you can get transport as well as hotel accommodation along with free meal coupons.

Find out the benefits of flying on "stand by" tickets. Although this is feasible only off season and not during peak travel seasons. And also many sites offer bid systems wit bids starting from 1$. Another great option is tickets being sold by consolidators who purchase bulk tickets and sell them at discounted prices.

Many times agents can trick you the for unfair deals So, never forget the to explore the internet Log on to their websites and see what is on offer and compare the prices.

Today flying is an option anyone can opt for as it is quick, efficient, and affordable.

Happy Holidaying

The roots of flamenco can be traced back for centuries. The flamenco song involves a mix of at least four cultures: the Gypsies, the Jews, the Moors or Arabs and the indigenous Andalusians. Its unique blend of influences can be attributed to the consequences of a decree of 1492 by Catholic Spanish King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella, forcing everyone to convert to Catholicism. The government also threatened people who didn’t follow the rules to be punished even with the death penalty. Consequently all Jews, Moors, Arabs and Gypsies got together to help each other and within this melting of cultures flamenco developed as a musical outlet of the poor and depressed.

Flamenco consists of 3 elements: singing (cante), flamenco guitar and the dance (baile). At its heart Flamenco is an improvised dance. The singer is the centre of the spectacle; the dancer interprets the lyrics with his body and the guitarist accentuates the melody. The rhythmic punctuation with the help of percussive footwork and intricate hand, arm and body movements intensifies the performance. Most experts agree that the birthplace of flamenco is Jerez de la Frontera, although it is hard to say as the Gypsies lead a nomadic life.

Even though the Gypsies were never appreciated for their contribution to Flamenco they were always considered as the best interpreters of Flamenco arts. Flamenco first became public in the 19^th century through the café cantante, where non-gypsies performed. In the second half of the 19^th century flamenco flourished. This evolution also led to changes in the flamenco songs and different forms of “the cante” emerged. That is how flamenco became commercial and successful with all the negative implications. The cafes also expanded the role of the guitar. The cafe`s greatest days were over by the turn of the century. Till 1936 flamenco was presented in theatres “the Opera Flamenca”. In the 1950s several artists rediscovered the older forms of flamenco and emphasized the meaning of flamenco as an art. Flamenco began to reappear in the 1960s till 1980s with festivals in Cordoba, Malaga and Jerez. This stimulated public interest again and fostered a new generation of artists. 

Cádiz has a vibrant nightlife with many tapas bars, cafes, bars and nightclubs. As there is also a university, there is a lively student party scene. Also the absence of mass tourism guarantees a real Spanish night out. A typical night out starts with a tapas tour: some tasty Andalusian snacks accompanied by a good wine and sherry.

The Plaza Mina and San Francisco are where most young people start off the night, having fun in the squares and bars.

The Old town offers a great choice of bars and discotheques. In summer the area around the Playa Victoria is the place where most people enjoy the nightlife of Cádiz. You should also go to the Paseo Maritimo where many outdoor activities take place.

A selection of affordable and good restaurants can be found near the port. You can enjoy a wide selection of fresh fish there, including oyster, squid, shrimps and cockles as well as typical meat dishes: Lamb and oxtail stews, steaks and tripe soaked in the wines of Jerez.

Most of the clubs can be found in the Punta district. Nights out generally start later than in the rest of Europe. Depending on the club, you will not find people there before 2 or 3 am. After dancing all night you can enjoy churros in the Plaza de las Flores. These are typical Spanish pastries with chocolate sauce.

The most important fiesta of the year is the Carnival. Every year in February the whole town celebrates in the streets wearing fancy dresses and listening to the groups of singers and their special kind of humour.

Information about other Andalusian towns on the Costa del Sol

1) Museo de Cadiz: Phoenicians, Romans and Spaniards

The museum offers outstanding exhibitions of Phoenician and Roman items as well as 20^th century painting.

 The Museum is divided into three sections: Phoenician and Roman archaeological artefacts, with outstanding Phoenician sarcophagi from the 5th century BC; Fine Art, with paintings from the 16th-20th centuries, including works by Zurbarán, Murillo and Rubens; Ethnography, where you can see Tía Norica traditional puppets, an example of Costumbrism in the Cadiz of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Address: Plaza Mina, s/n. 11004 Cádiz Teléfonos: 956/21 43 00. 956/21 22 81

2) Cathedral Museum

Plaza de Fray Felix s/n, Cadiz Tel 956 259 812

History of Cádiz and of the barrio del Pópulo, archive (documental and musical), goldsmith, paintings and sculptures which belong to the funds of the Cathedral Gaditana. Admission includes a visit to the Cathedral. No flash photography allowed.

3) Museum of the Cadiz Constitution

C/Santa Ines, 9, Cadiz Tel 956 221 788
Admission is free. Closed Mondays and holidays. There is a special emphasis on the Cadiz Court and Constitution of 1812. Has a wonderful model of Cadiz with outstanding accuracy to the scale of 1/250 and a painting of the announcement of “La Pepa” (the constitution), by Salvador Viniegra.

Other Andalusian towns on the Costa del Sol like Marbella, Malaga or Ronda also dispose of a great historic patronage and are not far from Cádiz. They are nice for a day excursion.

Here you will find interesting posts about Cádiz Spain.
Be on alert for new entries.

Cádiz Travel Guide Website