Cadiz

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Cadiz is the most southern point of Andalucia and has one of oldest civilisations in western europe. Records show that the city has been occupied for over 3,000 years by Iberians, Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans and Visigoths and Moors. A little of all these cultures can be discovered today in the casco antiguo, the old city.

Jutting out into the bay Cadiz became a thriving port, originally called Gadir. The city is unique, its position on the peninsula is rather like being on a huge ship. Because of its strategic postioning at the entrance or exit to the Mediterranean Sea it became a strategic point for the sea-going Carthaginians.

Columbus set out from this port on his second and fourth sailings to the New World, which in turn attracted oppostion to its new found wealth. Sir Francis Drake tried to gain control of the newly wealthy port and in the process delayed the Armarda!

The golden years of Cadiz with its incredible wealth due to the monopoly of the New World trade are long gone, but we have some wonderful buildings well worth discovering from the 18th century, such as the fabulous Baroque cathedral.

Today the Andalucian city of Cadiz is rather more like a stately old gentleman reclining in its past glories, but it does so with plenty of style.

Oficina de Turismo de Junta de Andalucía
C/ Calderon de la Barca, 1
Cádiz, Spain
Tel: +34 956 211313