11 Places to See in Cádiz
Cádiz is one of the most representative cities of Andalusia and Spain. It stands out for many reasons, such as its incredible beaches, authentic and delicious food, local festivals like the carnivals, and the great history kept in all its streets. At Villas Flamenco we know this city is special, so in this post we will tell you about the 11 places to see in Cádiz.
Among the many activities this Andalusian town offers, you can learn history and culture, enjoy incredible views and carry out different plans. Here are some:
1. Visit the Museo de Cádiz
This is one of the places you should see in Cádiz. This museum has different exhibitions, such as archaeology, fine arts and ethnography. You can find different rooms in the museum where you can get to know Cádiz from prehistory, through the medieval period the city lived through.
You can also enjoy marine archaeology and different paintings from Laja Alta, evoking the arrival of Phoenician fleets. You can also learn about other aspects of the city, such as Gadir’s relations with Sardinia, navigation in the Bay of Cádiz, the Ligustine Lake, maritime trade through amphorae and the cargoes of Roman ships.
In the fine arts section you will find eight exhibition rooms where you will see paintings from the 16th to the 20th centuries. The works are divided into three for the Baroque, where you can find works by Zurbarán, Murillo, Alonso Cano and other Spanish schools. A great experience if you want to get to know all the culture hidden in this incredible city.
2. Visit Cádiz Cathedral
Another experience you cannot miss on your visit to Cádiz is seeing the city’s cathedral. One of the things this building stands out for is that for 116 years several architects took charge of its construction, which has resulted in a mix of different styles and tastes from each architect who took part. Its appearance begins in Baroque style in its plan and interior, through to the Rococo frieze, ending its design with a Neoclassical façade, as well as its towers, domes and the second interior level.
Inside Cádiz Cathedral you can take a 35-minute tour of the facilities. Among the sites you can see are the high altar, La Roldana’s Ecce Homo, the Corpus Christi procession float, the Crypt and the Sacristy.
Another tour you can take is the tower tour, lasting 25 minutes, which lets you see the clock tower and its machinery, with a 360-degree panorama. There is also the visit to the Casa de las Contadurías, also 35 minutes, where you can enjoy its rooms of paintings, sculpture, the cathedral treasure (the custodia del millón) and the Mudéjar patio.
3. Climb to the best viewpoint in Cádiz
If you want to enjoy the best and most complete views of Cádiz, you must visit the Torre Tavira. It is located in the Casa-Palacio of the Marqueses de Recaño. Here you can enjoy incredible views of the whole city. This tower is considered the highest point of Cádiz’s old town.
Inside this tower you can also visit the Camera Obscura, which produces an image on a white, curved, table-shaped horizontal screen in a completely dark room painted black. A bright colour image is projected there, reflecting what happens outside the tower with real, moving images.
These images can rotate forwards and backwards to view different parts of the landscape. The lenses that make up this camera have an optical instrument with an astronomical flat objective, as well as focal lengths specially designed for each building.
4. Stroll along the beaches of Cádiz
One plan that cannot be missing from your visit is getting to know the different beaches of Cádiz. They stand out for being quite wide and having golden-coloured sand, like Los Bateles beach, opposite Conil de la Frontera. This beach is a favourite of all visitors, thanks to its location and easy access.
You can also practise different water sports, such as snorkelling, or spend a pleasant afternoon with family or friends. Another beach you should visit is La Barrosa, which stands out for its shallow water and moderate surf. It has a Blue Flag for respecting the environment.
There is also Hierbabuena beach, located at the port of Barbate and Los Caños de Meca. There you can enjoy various sand dunes and the cliffs nearby. You can also spend the whole day on this beach, as there are several restaurants around and in summer the chiringuitos of La Fontanilla beach.
5. Get to know the Roman Theatre
As you have seen, Cádiz is a city with a long history behind it. So in the city’s historic centre we find the Roman Theatre, one of the compulsory stops for anyone visiting the city. It was built in 70 BC and finally abandoned in the 3rd century AD.
The work of many archaeologists means we can see part of the theatre today. It is considered one of the oldest, and the second largest in Spain. According to the data, the theatre’s capacity was more than 10,000 people.
6. Discover the Monument to the Cortes
As is well known, the city of Cádiz is also famous as the place where the Constitution of 1812, also known as La Pepa, was drafted and approved. A century later this led to the decision to raise a monument to celebrate the centenary of the Constitution. The project chosen was that of Modesto López Otero, with sculptures by Aniceto Marinas. The monument was conceived as a great hemicycle with a tall obelisk-shaped pillar 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 there is a throne with the insignia of the Bourbon dynasty, symbolising the legitimacy of Ferdinand VII.
In the monument you can also see two bronze equestrian figures, symbolising peace and war. There are also sculptures dedicated to the citizens who march off to war. At the top you can see the figure of Hercules, considered the representative of the city of Cádiz.
7. Take a walk on La Caleta beach
One cannot visit this city and leave without taking a step onto La Caleta beach, located in the historic centre of Cádiz. There you can see various castles and fortresses from different eras. It is also large, 1,000 metres long and 25 metres wide on average. It stands out for its dark sand and fairly moderate surf.
It is also the perfect place for a drink, as there is a wide variety of bars and chiringuitos in the area. You can also enjoy different services, such as children’s playgrounds, sun lounger and parasol hire, water equipment such as pedalos, among others. Since 2018 it has held the ‘Q’ quality award.
8. Try the local food at the Central Market
The Central Market is one of the places to see in Cádiz during your visit. It was built by Torcuato Benjumeda to create a quadrangular square in Neoclassical style enclosed by a Doric portico. It stands on the grounds of the Descalzos convent, known as Plaza de la Libertad.
This market was opened in 1838 and has 57 fruit and vegetable stalls; 54 fishmonger, crustacean and shellfish stalls; 44 stalls for butchery products; 7 for frozen products; 4 for bread and pastries; one for pickles; one for bags and paper; one for fishing items and a café on the first level.
You can visit this market any day of the week. You can also take part in the Rincón Gastronómico to taste the most typical dishes of this city.
9. Get the best products at Plaza de las Flores
Plaza de las Flores is a market area and a fairly popular spot in the city. This square is characterised by the beautiful flower stalls in its central area. Here you can buy cut flowers and plants to decorate windows, balconies, and interior and exterior areas.
At Plaza de las Flores you can do different things. As well as buying a plant, you can try some exquisite Cádiz dishes at the Freiduría Marisquería Las Flores. Undoubtedly one of the best places in the city for a quiet coffee or breakfast with a loved one.
10. Do sport at the Puerto Elcano Sports Complex
The Puerto Elcano Sports Complex is a facility built for recreational sports, especially water sports. This centre is open all year round, and you can practise different sports.
You can also take advantage of the programmes they offer, such as the Sailing School and the Weeks of the Sea. They also have different boats for hire, weight rooms, padel courts, as well as dinghy sailing and windsurfing classes. If you are going to spend a few days in the city and feel like trying a water sport, this is the place you are looking for.
11. Visit Plaza del Mentidero
This place is listed as a monument with a triangular plan. Undoubtedly one of the places to see in Cádiz on your visit. This square is considered the axis of the neighbourhood, construction having started in 1755, with the aim of completing the city between Plaza de San Antonio and the barracks of Charles III.
According to history, following the request of the founders of the Brotherhood of the Santísimo Cristo de la Expiración, a wayside shrine called the Cruz de la Verdad was built. This name gave rise to moments of confusion, when idle people gather in the square to share news of all kinds, though often false.
For this reason the place began to be known as the Plaza de la Cruz de las Mentiras (Cross of Lies) or Plaza del Mentidero. This square was also important during the promulgation of the Cádiz Constitution.
Enjoy your visit to Cádiz with Villas Flamenco
We hope that with all the plans and places to see in Cádiz that we have told you about, you can describe all the historical legacy this city has. Also the shopping areas, the incredible variety of beaches and the delicious food. Your visit to this city will be a fantastic cultural experience, full of knowledge.
Be sure you won’t run out of things to do in Cádiz, as it has different areas to visit and many civil, military and religious monuments. Another tip is to visit the city during local festivals, such as Holy Week or the Carnivals, one of the most popular in Spain.
There are other festivals you cannot miss, such as the day of the Patron Saint, Nuestra Señora del Rosario; All Saints’ Day and Corpus Christi. You can also take part in different cultural events, such as the Ibero-American Theatre Festival of Cádiz, the Tía Norica, the Atlantic film showcase Alcances, the Cádiz music festival and many other events.
You can combine all these plans with the incredible food for which this city stands out. From seafood such as fried fish to different kinds of sweets typical of the town. We also remind you that at Villas Flamenco we have a great accommodation offer. You can spend incredible days in Cádiz while staying in one of our villas, country houses or apartments.
If you want more information on any of our accommodation or have any doubts, contact us and we will be happy to help.
