City Breaks in Cadiz

History of Cadiz

The city of Cadiz has very ancient origins, which are said to date back in 1100 BC when the Phoenicians founded the city and initially named it Gadir (“fortress”). During the Roman invasion, the city became an important base for naval Roman fleet and the name was the turned into Gades. Following, came the Visigoths and then the Moorish occupation which lasted part of the Middle Age. Historically, Cadiz is also famous for being the departing harbour of Columbus exploration journeys. For a long time, indeed, the richness of the town was mainly based on the trade with colonies which eventually ceased in the 19th century, causing the following downturn of the local economy.

Attractions in Cadiz

Cadiz has a large number of monuments that all testify its historical past. The church of Oratorio de San Felipe Neri is dating from the baroque period and was also the venue of the parliament at some point. The Museo Historico Municipal contains some spectacular items such as the mahogany and ivory model of the city, which used to belong to Carlos the Third. Finally, a place really worth seeing is the old watchtower, Torre Tavira that offers a fabulous view of the whole city.

Going out in Cadiz

The town centre of Cadiz is a gathering point, especially in the summer season when people meat for food or drinks in one of the many plazas. Also, a very popular promenade at night is going to the beach, along the Paseo Maritimo, where you can sit with friends in bars or head for the clubs. Finally a really enjoyable habit is to gather for drinks with friends on the beach at night-time.

Beaches in Cadiz

Since Cadiz is practically surrounded by the sea, the best sandy beaches are really easy to find here. Most recommended spots are La Playa de la Caleta, La Playa de la Victoria or La Playa de Santa Mara del Mar. In most of these beaches, you can enjoy many activities other than just sunbathing on the beach, such as sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing and even whale and dolphin watching in the Strait of Gibraltar.