Cadiz Travel Guide
Surrounded almost entirely by the vivid, crystalline Atlantic, Cadiz is the oldest city in Spain and one of Andalusia's most tragically overlooked getaways. This ancient port began as a Phoenician trading post in 1100 BC and, today, is a sunny coastal destination of charming pueblos blancos (whitewashed villages), leafy plazas and lively tapas bars.
The city's Old Town is picturesque and Moorish, with its cobbled streets and squares presided over by the golden cupola of the Cadiz Cathedral. Visitors will find a gallery displaying some of the 18th-century Spanish master Francisco Goya's works, as well as a few lush parks on the headlands that offer panoramic views of the bay. The area's tiny bars and old barber shops are delightful, and its art nouveau iron balustrades, tiled doorways, baroque churches and splendid 18th-century merchants' houses are a feast for the eyes.
Cadiz is also home to several of Spain's loveliest beaches, including La Playa de la Caleta, which is situated between two castles of the Old Town, and La Playa de la Victoria, which is the most visited by holidaymakers due to its safe bathing and water sports. This destination is fantastic for anyone intent on a restorative beach holiday with a wealth of cultural and historical diversions.