Welcome to Cádiz The province of Cadiz is in vogue. The fact that for many years it has remained separated from the mass tourism that has affected di- fferent areas along the Andalusian coast has facilitated the growth of a quality tourism that has respected the environment. This is not surprising, given that Cadiz is en- dowed with every attractive feature that a first class tourist destination needs: kilometres of beaches with transparent waters and fine gol- den sands framed by pine forests and endless stretches of dunes; mountain areas that have been declared a Biosphere Reserve (Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park), as well as having territory included in five other natural parks and numerous natural spaces: a unique gas- tronomy that draws from both sea and sierra produce, with high quality wines protected un- der the Jerez-Xeres-Sherry, Mazanilla de Sanlu- car and Sherry Vinegar Denomination of Origin (DO); festivals of International Tourist Interest with a marked personality; towns full of protec- ted monuments, and customs and traditions, like flamenco, whose earliest origins can in many cases be traced to the province of Cadiz. And if this were not enough, Cadiz is blessed with over 3,000 hours of sunlight each year and mild temperatures that allow visitors to take advantage of the superb surroundings, in addition to a friendly population whose warmth helps make all who come feel right at home. Come to Cadiz. Get to know us. Entre dos mares Located at the southernmost point of Europe, The many protected monuments and the rich in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, the art heritage of millenarian and aristocratic ci- natural borders of Cadiz are the provinces of ties like Cadiz, Jerez and Sanlúcar de Barra- Huelva, Seville and Malaga. Additionally, it bor- meda are a faithful reflection of the province’s ders to the south with the Straits of Gibraltar long historic evolution. Its vast cultural offer is and North Africa, and its coast is bathed by an indication of the art that floats in the air the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Medi- of this land of great artists, flamenco singers, terranean Sea. bullfighters and writers. The province is comprised of 44 municipali- The quaintness of the Pueblos Blancos (Whi- ties distributed through its five counties: Bahía te Villages) in the mountains, with customs de Cádiz, Campo de GiBraltar, Bajo Guadalquivir, la that have barely changed over the centuries, janda and Sierra de Cádiz-pueBloS BlanCoS. merges with the distinctive gastronomy that Cadiz province is perfectly connected by land, draws from both the sea and the sierra; in thanks to its first class road and railway net- addition to, of course, Cadiz’s most characte- work; by air, with airports in Jerez and Gibraltar ristic identifying features- wines, bulls and hor- that offer a wide array of national and inter- ses- ever-present at celebrations and festivals, national flights; and by sea, with two ports in some of them internationally famous. the province, one located at Cadiz and another COAST. Along its 260 kilo- metres of coastline one can at Algeciras, the latter being a primary hub in find from unspoilt stretches international maritime traffic. of sand to urban beaches endowed with the best in Cadiz hosts, in its varied territory, a diverse infrastructure, small coves array of attractions. The steep-sloped sierra and stretches of dunes that run for several kilometres, all and the many protected spaces - different bathed by transparent waters parts of the province’s territory are included in and surrounded by fine 6 natural parks - attract nature lovers and ac- golden sands. CLIMATE. The province is blessed with a warm climate tive tourism enthusiasts. Its beaches, located with an average annual tem- along the famous Costa del Sol and Costa de perature of 18ºC and 3,100 la Luz, are well-established tourist destinations hours of sunlight each year. Nonetheless, the microclima- and a meeting place for nautical sport enthu- te of Sierra de Grazalema is siasts. characterised by high levels of rainfall, having the highest average in Spain. 2 - Cádiz and its Province Cádiz and its Province - 3 Millenarian Cádiz Founded by Tartessians and Phoenicians over life of the inhabitants. They founded numerous 3,000 years ago, this land has been home to colonies (Asido, Lascuta and others) that stret- many different peoples attracted here by the ched from Campo de Gibraltar to the mouth of strategic location - a bridge between Europe and the River Guadalquivir. Most outstanding was the Africa-, a compulsory port of call between the Me- founding of Gadir (now Cadiz) in 1100 BC, the diterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. most ancient city in the Western world. Numerous archaeological sites date human The Phoenicians established a strong trading presence in the area back to prehistoric times. network and created important industries, inclu- Of great importance are the rock paintings at Tajo ding fishing, focused on salting and an ancient de las Figuras (Benalup-Casas Viejas), Cueva del technique of fishing tuna with nets almadraba( ), Bacinete (Los Barrios) and Laja Alta (Jimena de a technique still practiced today in the provin- la Frontera). ce. The Phoenician sarcophagi on exhibit at the Other interesting archaeological remains are Cadiz Museum and the Doña Blanca Castle Ar- those found at El Aculadero (El Puerto de San- chaeological Site (El Puerto de Santa Maria) are ta María), Mesas de Asta (Jerez de la Frontera), also testimonies to the Phoenician presence. Cuevas de la Manga at Villaluenga del Rosario As Carthaginian territory, Cadiz suffered the vi- and the Fuente de Ramos Necropolis (Puerto cissitudes of the confrontations between Cartha- TAJO DE LAS FIGURAS. Serrano). Megalithic art is widely represented in ge and Rome during the Punic Wars and became Located in Benalup-Casas the province, with examples including the Alberite part of the Roman Empire in 205 BC. Shipped Viejas, in the county of La Janda, this natural shelter is Dolmens (Villamartín), El Charcón (El Gastor) and from the port of Cadiz were wheat, olive oil, wine the site of rock paintings that Tomillo (Alcalá del Valle). and “garum”, a prized fish paste produced at place it at the head of late- settlements like Baelo Claudia. The remnants left Neolithic Western schematic The different peoples that colonised the Medi- art. The cave is open to visits terranean, especially the Phoenicians, left signi- by this powerful civilization are outstanding, both in which representations ficant marks and highly influenced the ways of in number and in quality and include the site at of birds, quadrupeds and anthropomorphic figures can be viewed. BAELO CLAUDIA. Located at the inlet of Bolonia, the Plata and San Bartolomé Sierras virtually surround the site with mountains in an arch that leaves it open to the sea, its best communi- cation route to the exterior. Founded towards the end of the 2nd century BC, it soon became a city with a certain economic force within the framework of Roman Baeti- ca. The city reached it zenith during the 1st century AD. Its economy was centred on the industrialisation and trade in salted fish and the prized fish paste called“garum” . Visitors can see remains of its outer wall, streets, houses, salting installations, the basilica and the forum (a large 33 metre-long plaza) which is unique in its genre inside Andalusia, owing to the conservation of the pavement and to its being entirely uncovered. 4 - Cádiz and its Province Cádiz and its Province - 5 Sierra de Aznar in Arcos de la Frontera, with its impressive “Castellum Aquae” and remnants of the Roman road; Cerro de la Botinera (Algodona- les); and remnants of the cities of Carteia (San Roque), Ocuri (Ubrique), Iptuci (Prado del Rey), Carissa Aurelia (Espera) and Baelo Claudia (Tari- fa). To these we must add the interesting Roman Theatre in the city of Cadiz. VISIGOTH PRESENCE. In the year 711, the troops of Tariq disembar- During the Visigoth period, ked at the Bay of Algeciras and, after defeating the city considered to be King Rodrigo in the Battle of the Guadalete, be- of most importance was Medina Sidonia. In this town, gan the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula and one can visit the Sanctuary founded Algeciras, Rota and Tarifa. It was not of Los Mártires, which is until the mid 13th century that the Christians, un- the oldest of its kind in Andalusia. Remnants of the der King Alfonso X The Wise, were able to seize presence of this culture can back most of the province from the Arabs. The also be found in Jerez de la last cities were not recovered until the Capture of Frontera, Barbate (with the Sanctuary of San Ambrosio), Granada in 1492. Espera or along the coast in places like Tarifa, Chiclana, Rota, Alcalá de los Gazules and San- Espera, Grazalema, Jimena Over the centuries the landscape of Cadiz be- de la Frontera and in Vejer lúcar, among many others. Jerez de la Frontera came dotted with walled enclosures, towers and de la Frontera where the boasts the valuable Ensemble of the Alcázar Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora fortresses that can still be admired where they combined with the Mosque and the Arab Baths. de la Oliva is located. stand on rocky outcroppings in such places as Zahara de la Sierra, Olvera, Castellar de la Frontera, This land also owes to the Muslims the urban Arcos de la Frontera, Jimena de la Frontera and layout that dominates in almost of the towns, with tortuous labyrinthine streets that adapt to the terrain, white-washed facades, an abundance of arches and flower-filled courtyards.