Cadiz is one of the most representative cities of Andalusia and Spain. This place stands out for many reasons, such as its incredible beaches, an authentic and delicious gastronomy, the local festivals such as the carnivals, and the great history that all its streets keep. In Villas Flamenco we know that this city is special, that's why in this post we will talk about the 11 places to see in Cádiz.
Among the many activities offered by this Andalusian town, you can learn history, culture, enjoy incredible views and carry out different plans. Here are some of them:
This is one of the places you must see in Cadiz. This museum has different exhibitions, such as archeology, fine arts and ethnography. You can find different rooms in the museum, where you can learn about Cadiz from prehistoric times, through the medieval period that the city experienced.
You can also enjoy marine archaeology and different paintings of Laja Alta, which evokes the arrival of Phoenician fleets. In addition, you can learn about other aspects of the city, such as Gadir's relations with Sardinia, navigation in the Bay of Cadiz, Lake Ligustino, maritime trade through amphorae and cargoes of Roman ships.
In the fine arts section you will find eight exhibition halls, where you will see paintings from the 16th to the 20th centuries. As for the works of the sixteenth century, these are divided into three for the Baroque, where you can find works by Zurbarán, Murillo, Alonso Cano and other Spanish schools. Undoubtedly, a great experience if you want to know in depth all the culture that hides this incredible city.
Another experience that you can not miss on your visit to Cadiz is to see the cathedral of the city. One of the things for which this building stands out is that for 116 years, several architects have been in charge of constructionThis has involved a mixture of different styles and tastes of each of the architects who participated. The appearance of this begins with a Baroque style. in its floor plan and interior, up to the rococo frieze, finishing its design with a neoclassical façadeas well as its towers, cupolas and the second interior body.
Within the cathedral of CádizYou will be able to take a tour of the facilities with a duration of 35 minutes. Among the different sites you can see are the main altar, the Ecce Homo de la Roldana, the Corpus Christi processional float, the Crypt and the Sacristy.
Another of the tours that you can do is the one of the tower, which lasts 25 minutes, and that will allow you to see the clock tower and its machinery, with a 360-degree panoramic view. There is also the visit to the Casa de las Contadurías, which also lasts 35 minutes and where you can enjoy its rooms of paintings, sculpture, the treasure of the cathedral (the custody of the million) and the Mudejar courtyard.
If you want to enjoy the best and most complete views of Cádiz, you must visit the Tavira Tower. It is located in the Casa-Palacio de los Marqueses de Recaño. In this location you will be able to enjoy incredible views of the entire city. This tower is considered the highest point of the old town of Cadiz.
Inside this tower you can also pass through the Camera ObscuraThe tower, which produces an image on a curved, horizontal, white screen in the shape of a table, located in a totally dark room painted black. There, a luminous color image is projected, reflecting what is happening outside the tower with real and moving images.
These images can be rotated forward and backward to visualize different parts of the landscape. The lenses that make up this camera have an optical instrument with an astronomical flat lens, as well as focal radii specially designed for each building.
One of the plans that you can't miss during your visit is to know the different beaches of Cádiz. These stand out for being quite large and for having golden colored sand.as the beach of Los Bateleslocated in front of Conil de la Frontera. This beach is a favorite for all visitors, thanks to its location and easy access.
You can also practice different water sportsYou can go snorkeling, or spend a pleasant afternoon with your family or friends. Another of the beaches you should visit is La BarrosaIt is known for its shallow depth and moderate waves. It has a blue flag for respecting the environment.
There is also the Hierbabuena beachwhich is located in the port of Barbate and Caños de Meca. There you can enjoy different sand dunes, as well as the cliffs nearby. In addition, you can spend the whole day at this beach, as there are several restaurants around it and in summer there are the beach bars of the Fontanilla beach.
As we have already seen, Cadiz is a city with a long history behind it. For this reason, in the historic center of the city we can find the Roman TheaterThe museum is one of the obligatory stops for anyone visiting the city. It was built in the 70 B.C.It was finally abandoned in the 3rd century AD.
The work of many archaeologists has allowed us to see part of the theater today. This is considered to be one of the oldest, being the second largest in Spain.. In addition, according to the data it is said that the capacity of this theater was located in more than 10,000 people.
As is well known, the city of Cádiz is also famous for being the place where the constitution of 1812also known as La Pepa. This made that a century later it was decided to erecting a monument to celebrate the first centenary of the Constitution. The project chosen was that of Modesto López Otero, with sculptures by Aniceto Marinas. The monument was conceived as a large hemicycle where there is a tall pillar in the form of an obelisk in the central area.
All the iconography in the monument was carried out as a tribute to the work of the Cortes. Inside the hemicycle you can see that there is a throne with the insignia of the Bourbon dynasty, symbolizing the legitimacy of Ferdinand VII.
Two bronze equestrian figures, symbolizing peace and war, can also be seen at the monument. There are also sculptures dedicated to the citizens marching to war. In addition, the figure of Hercules, who is considered the representative of the city of Cadiz, can be seen at the top.
Undoubtedly, one cannot visit this city and leave without taking a step through the beach of La Caletalocated in the historic center of the city of Cadiz. There you will be able to see different castles and fortresses of different eras. In addition, it has a large size, with an area of 1,000 meters long and 25 meters in average width. It stands out for having dark sand and a fairly moderate swell.
It is also the perfect place to have a drink, since there is a wide variety of bars and beach bars in the area. You can also enjoy different services, such as playgrounds, rental of sunbeds and umbrellas, nautical equipment such as pedal boats, among others. Since 2018 it has the 'Q' award for quality.
The Central Market is one of the places to see in Cadiz during your visit to the city. This was a construction of Torcuato Benjumeda to create a quadrilateral square with a neoclassical style enclosed by the Doric portico. It is located on the grounds of the convent of the Descalzos, known as the Plaza de la Libertad.
This market was inaugurated in 1838 and has 57 fruit and vegetable stands; 54 fish, crustaceans and mollusks stands; 44 butcher's stalls; 7 stalls for frozen products; 4 bread and pastry stalls; a pickle stall; a stall for bags and paper; a stall for fishing articles and a cafeteria on the first level.
You can visit this market any day of the week. In addition, you can also participate in the Gastronomic Corner, to taste the most typical dishes of this city.
The Plaza de las Flores is a market area and a popular spot in the city. This square is characterized by the beautiful flower stalls in the central area.. Here you can buy cut flowers and plants for the decoration of windows, balconies, indoor and outdoor areas to culture the place.
In the Plaza de las Flores you can make different plans. In addition to buying a plant, you can also try some delicious dishes of Cadiz in the local Freiduría Marisquería las Flores. Undoubtedly, one of the best places in the city to have a coffee or breakfast with a loved one.
The Puerto Elcano Sports Complex is a facility that was built with the purpose of recreating sports activities, especially nautical activities. This center is open all year round, being able to practice different sports.
In addition, you will also be able to take advantage of the programs they offer such as the Sailing School and Sea Weeks. You can also see that they have different boats for rent, fitness rooms, paddle tennis courts, as well as dinghy sailing and windsurfing lessons. Undoubtedly, if you are going to spend a few days in the city and you feel like practicing some nautical sport, this is the place you are looking for.
This site is listed as a monument with a triangular floor plan. Undoubtedly, one of the places to see in Cadiz during your visit. This square is considered the axis of the neighborhood, beginning its construction in 1755.The purpose of this project was to complete the city between the Plaza de San Antonio and the Carlos III barracks.
According to the story, after the request of the founders of the Brotherhood of the Holy Christ of the Expiration, a new building was built. humilladero called the Cross of Truth. With this name was given to moments of confusion, when unemployed people gather in the square to give news of all kinds, but often false.
For this reason, this site became known as the Plaza de la Cruz de las Mentidras or Plaza del Mentidero. This square was also important during the promulgation of the Constitution of Cadiz.
We hope that with all the plans and places to see in Cadiz that we have told you, you can describe all the historical legacy that this city has. Also the shopping areas, the incredible variety of beaches and the delicious gastronomy. Undoubtedly, with your visit to this city you can live a fantastic cultural experience, full of knowledge.
Be sure that during your visit you will not run out of things to do in Cadiz, since it has different areas to visit and many civil, military and religious monuments. Also, another tip we give you is to visit the city during the celebration of local festivals, such as Easter or Carnival, one of the most popular in Spain.
There are also other festivals that you can not miss, such as the day of the Patron Saint, Our Lady of the Rosary, All Saints Day and Corpus Christi. You can also participate in different cultural events, such as the Ibero-American Theater Festival of Cadiz, the Tía Norica, the Atlantic film festival Alcances, the music festival of Cadiz and many other events.
All these plans can be accompanied by the incredible gastronomy for which this city stands out. From seafood, such as fried fish, to different types of typical local sweets. We also want to remind you that in Flamenco Villas we have a wide range of accommodation. You can spend some incredible days in Cadiz while staying in one of our villas, rural houses or apartments.
If you would like more information about any of our accommodations or if you have any questions, contact us at and we will be happy to help you.
