Karl WP Beyer The southern Spanish port city of Cádiz is located on a rocky peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean. The old town, surrounded by fortifications, presents itself to its visitors with many historical buildings and monuments. These include the Roman theater, the two cathedrals, the beautiful town hall and much more. Small winding streets, charming squares, the botanical garden and inviting cafés and restaurants make a day visit to Cádiz an experience. On our tour through Cádiz we will show you the most important sights of the city.
Cadiz seen from above
Plaza España with the monument to Cortes
The main square in Cadiz is in the immediate vicinity of the cruise terminal. The is located in the extensive green area of Plaza España Cortes monument. The monument commemorates the first written Spanish constitution. It was drawn up and adopted in 1812 by members of the “Cortes de Cádiz”.
Plaza España with the monument to Cortes
The monumental monument needs explanation. It represents a parliamentary hall. In the middle of it stands a large milestone that embodies victory. Two bronze horses frame the monument on either side. The horses symbolize war and peace. The sides of the milestone symbolize the citizens going to war and the fruits of peace. And not to be overlooked: Hercules stands in the background. According to legend, he founded the city of Cadiz.
Details of the Cortes monument
The sober-looking Provincial Council building on the narrow side of the plaza does not look very spectacular. On the other hand, we prefer the baroque group of houses with four and five towers. They are located in the adjacent Plaza Argüelles.
Plaza Argüelles with the house of the five towers
Plaza Argüelles - the house of the four towers
Cádiz - city of forts, parks and beaches
Cádiz was historically one of the most important and richest cities in Spain for a time. Because of this, the city has often been the target of North African pirates. The rival sea power England posed a constant serious threat. Cadiz needed effective lines of defense. During our tour we see several fortifications.
They cannot be overlooked Murallas de San Carlos. The half bastion offered space for 90 artillery pieces. Visitors climb two flights of stairs to the upper level of the spacious fortress.
Ascent to the Murallas de San Carlos
Access: corner of Plaza España / Calle Fernando el Católico
An important part of the fortresses surrounding the old town is the Candelaria bastion. The pretty bastion was built in the second half of the 17th century.
The Baluarte de la Candelaria
Candelaria bastion
The footpath to the bastion leads from the Plaza España above the sea at the Jardines de Alameda Apodaca promenade along. A beautiful green area connects to the promenade. What is striking about this complex are the benches tiled with colored tiles, a huge ficus tree and the monument to the Marquis of Comillas.
Monument to the Marquis of Comillas
The next fortress is that Santa Catalina Castle. The task of this bastion was to protect the northwest flank of Cadiz. The huge building was also built in the 17th century. For the system, terrain was raised in the sea. The Castillo, which served as a military prison from time to time, has been a Spanish cultural asset since 1985.
Before we get to the Castillo Santa Catalina, we pass the Genovés Park. The origins of the gardens go back to the end of the 18th century. The trapezoidal complex has long been the Botanical Garden of Cádiz. Visitors see more than 100 species of trees, some of which are exotic, colorful flower beds, palm gardens, a cave and water features. Theater and concert performances take place on a stage in summer. On weekdays the park is a quiet place worth seeing.
Avenue in Parque Genovés
Cascade in the Parque Genovés
>It's breathtaking Castillo de San Sebastian. The fortress, surrounded exclusively by the sea, is located on a small rocky island in front of Cádiz. It is connected to the city via a long promenade. Construction of the fortress began in 1706. It is also a Spanish cultural asset. The casemates are now used for exhibition purposes. The outdoor area is used for concerts. The 41 meter high lighthouse is striking.
Castillo de San Sebastian
In the James Bond film "Die Another Day" scenes were filmed in the castle of San Sebastián. These acts allegedly take place in Cuba.
Also: In the same film, the beautiful Halle Berry did not rise from the sea in Havana, but in Cádiz on the city beach Baluarte de la Candelaria.
Speaking of the sea: between the Castillo Santa Catalina and the Castillo de San Sebastián lies the La Caleta beach. A handsome building provides access. It is the former "Balneario". Opposite the building there is a huge ficus tree in a small green area. It is the Arbol de Mora. Behind it is a university building for the economics faculty.
The La Caleta beach with the former Balneario
Ficus tree - Árbol de Mora
The Cathedral of Cadiz
The back of the Catedral de la Santa Cruz de Cádiz borders directly on the Atlantic. Visitors coming from the Castillo de San Sebastián follow the promenade until they reach the cathedral. Because of its considerable size and the shiny golden yellow dome, the church cannot be missed.
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross - next to it the Torre del Sagrario
The construction of the "new" cathedral was decided for representative reasons. From the point of view of the city and church leaders, the city's “golden age” required an appropriate framework for liturgical acts. The neighboring "old" cathedral, the Iglesia de Santa Cruz, no longer met these requirements. In 1722, the plans for the new building were completed and in 1838 the new cathedral was consecrated. The interior measures 85 meters in length, 60 meters in width and 52 meters in height.
The main feature of the three-aisled church is the huge ambulatory. The side aisles are adorned with 16 chapels. The high altar, the choir stalls, the processional figure of the Corpus Christi and the crypt are of exquisite splendor. Outside, the baroque building is framed by two mighty bell towers. One of the two, the Torre de Poniente, is cleared for ascent via a ramp. After the effort, the reward is the panoramic view of Cadiz and the surrounding area.
Entrance fee: The entrance fee is generally 6 euros. Discounts are granted. Climbing the tower costs extra.
The Roman Theater
Cádiz was founded by the Phoenicians. Buildings from those days have not been preserved. But there is no lack of an important building from Roman times. What is meant is the Roman theater. It is considered to be the oldest ancient theater in Spain. And it was one of the largest theaters in the Roman Empire. The first use of the horseshoe-shaped venue can be traced back to around 70 BC. Date around. It was abandoned at the end of the 3rd century AD. The valuable building materials were used for other purposes over time. The largest part of the system with the stage and the portal is buried under the buildings of the El Pópolo district. This explains that the theater was only discovered in 1980. A model of the theater is exhibited in the attached museum. It shows the original shape of the structure as scientists see it.
Cádiz - Auditorium of the Teatro Romano
Cádiz - Auditorium of the Teatro Romano
Admission free
Access from Calle Meson 11-13
The Museum of Cadiz
Information about the city's history and art is provided on three levels of the city museum. The ground floor is dedicated to the archaeological finds from the Phoenician and Roman periods. The first floor presents paintings by Spanish painters who worked in the region between the 16th and 20th centuries. The folk customs of Cadiz and contemporary works of art are presented on the second floor.
The Museo de Cádiz
Location: Plaza de Mina
A small selection of noteworthy places
We presented the Plaza España. From our point of view, other places worth seeing are:
The Plaza Candelaria - The small square, lined with trees and overgrown with bougainvillea bushes, is adorned with a roundel with a bronze statue. It is dedicated to the Cádiz-born politician and writer Emilio Castelar.
Plaza Candelaria with the Castelar monument
The Cathedral Square - there are the cathedral, the Arco de la Rosa and the Iglesia de Santiago. The Plaza is the spiritual center of the historic city center. The inconspicuous Arco de la Rosa is a remnant of the city walls of Cádiz.
The Plaza de la Catedral
The San Francisco square - the plaza with the Franciscan Monastery and Church of San Francisco is one of the liveliest squares in the city.
San Francisco square
The Questionla Plaza - The square is dominated by the Gran Teatro Falla. It is named after the Cádiz-born composer Manuel de Falla. Work on the neo-Mudéjar style building was carried out from 1884 to 1905.
The Gran Teatro Falla in Plaza Fragela
The Plaza San Antonio - the church of San Antonio de Padua is the focal point of the square. The rector's office of the university is also striking.
Plaza San Antonio
The Saint John of God Square - Before the market hall was built, the palm-planted square was the market, economic and administrative center of Cádiz. In the plaza are the town hall, the church of San Juan de Dios and the Casa de los Pazos Miranda. The town hall is the most eye-catching structure on the square.
The Plaza de San Juan de Dios with the City Hall of Cádiz
It was built in the neoclassical style. The building, completed in 1865, is adorned with a beautiful tower, Ionic columns and a triangular gable. In the gable we see a Hercules relief. The town hall is the gateway to the old town of Cadiz. Another eye-catcher in the square is the monument to local politician Segismundo Moret.
The Plaza de San Juan de Dios with the Moret monument
The Torre Tavira
Cádiz is a city with exactly 129 towers. The most remarkable example of the towers is the Torre Tavira. The upper platform of the tower offers fascinating views over the city and the Atlantic from a height of 45 meters. The tower was built as a watchtower in the 18th century. Information on the history of the city and Andalusia is presented in two exhibition halls. The camera obscura is located above the upper hall. It projects images of the surroundings onto a wall.
Location: Corner of Calle Marqués del Real Tesoro / Calle Sacramento
Entrance fee: 6 euros; Discounts are granted.
Conclusion
We visited Cádiz repeatedly with cruise ships, the last time in April 2019. We are always enthusiastic about the diversity of the port city. The enchanted, winding streets and alleys of the old town and many other interesting buildings are not mentioned in this report. Examples are the Casa Palacio de los Mora, the Torre del Sagrario with the Mirador entre Catedrales or the Mercado Central.
The Casa Palacio de los Mora on Calle Ancha
There is a lot to see in Cadiz. The cityscape justifies several visits and not just those with cruise ships.
Update July 2019