Cádiz Travel Guide

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 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.