| Nowadays,
Cadiz,
with a population of about 164,000 inhabitants, is a small, white and blue
coloured coastal city, divided into two sections which are separated by
the walls of Tierra Gate. One of these sections is a modern, industrial
area with wide avenues and promenades looking out onto the Atlantic, while
the other contains the typical white narrow streets with their evocative
gardens and small squares, decorated with the traditional plant pots bursting
with flowers.
The city contains many attractions
to interest the visitor. These includes the beautiful Alameda de Apodaca,
a viewpoint out across the sea Genovés Park the picturesque San
Sebastián Castle the delightful district of La Viña the Plaza
de España with its magnificent monument to the 'Cortes' of Cadiz
the historic Church of San Felipe Neri the Cadiz Art Gallery which has
a beautiful painting of the Immaculate Conception, the work of Murillo
the Municipal History Museum: the Baroque Hospital de Mujeres, wich has
a work by El Greco of 'St. Francis in Ecstasy' and the Church of
La Santa Cueva containing works by Goya and for which Haydn composed a
famous oratory. However, perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of all is to
simply take a leisurely stroll through the sunlit streets and squares full
of the happy and friendly people of Cadiz.
The Cathedral contains many
interesting works of art, and the visitor will also have the opportunity
of visiting the tomb of Manuel de Falla, one of Cadiz's most illustrious
sons. As far as the province is concerned, the traveller may wish to visit
the international tourist resort of Algeciras, with its cosmopolitan port.
Other towns and cities that can be visited include Tarifa, one of the southernmost
towns on the Iberian Peninsula Vejer de la Frontera, a totally Moorish-looking
hill town perched atop a picturesque vantage point, San Fernando, which
has the Pantheon of Famous Sailors and a Space Observatory Puerto Real
and the forest of Las Canteras El Puerto de Santa María with its
magnificent mansions and its important wineries Rota, an important naval
base Sanlúcar de Barrameda, famous for its 'manzanilla' (a very
pale dry sherry), king prawns and aristocratic mansions. Perhaps the most
famous Andalusian town of all is Jerez de la Frontera, known as Atea Regia
in Roman times. It is surrounded by a fertile plain and is full of palatial
residences. famous wineries. Moorish remains, unforgettable corners and
small gardens.
The traveller should visit
its Alcázar (Moorish palace), the Cartuja (Carthusian monastery),
the Colegiate Church and its magnificent zoo. Traditional celebrations
and festivities include the Horse Fair held in May and the Festivities
of the Grape Harvest in September.
According to the latest
census, the province has just over a million inhabitants and is divided
up into four clearly defined regions. These are the coastline, with its
beaches and sand dunes, natural harbours and excellent vineyards the extremely
fertile farmland area with enormous pastures, large rural holdings, the
world-famous wines and fine stocks of horses and bulls the mountainous
area known as Campo de Gibraltar, where cereal crops are grown, an industrial
and border area and finally the main mountainous area where olive trees
grow and the romantic legend of the 'bandoleros' (highwaymen) lives on. |
