REGIONS OF THE PROVINCE OF CADIZ
The Bay of Cadiz is home to a natural park of beaches, dunes, and salt flats, a sunny, aquatic environment where you’ll find the city of Cadiz, San Fernando, Chiclana, Puerto Real, El Puerto de Santa María, and, further inland, Jerez de la Frontera.
It has long been a land of sailors, of famous characters and legends, of battles, and of love affairs that travelled around the world and brought music, wealth, new flavours, a cosmopolitan spirit, and the art of good living back to the Bay.
The streets of the city of Cadiz capital of the province, tell the story of its past and the important role it played during the colonial era: the city walls of Puerta de Tierra; the Latin American vegetation that graces the parks and boulevards; the pink, blue, and yellow façades against the backdrop of the cathedral on Campo del Sur; the countless watchtowers; the museums; and the Monument to the Cortes of Cadiz of 1812, the parliament that passed the first Spanish Constitution and laid the foundations for modern-day Spain.
Every day, a catamaran crosses the bay to connect Cadiz with El Puerto de Santa María, the city that played host to Christopher Columbus. Today, it is one of the area’s most iconic cities thanks to its cuisine and nightlife, not to mention its rich history and countless monuments.
Puerto Real a town founded by the Catholic Monarchs, boasts pine forests, beaches, and golf courses. San Fernando is a must-visit for anyone interested in the history of the Spanish Navy and the Cortes or Spanish parliament, between 1810 and 1812, which ratified the first Constitution of Spain.
Heading south we find Chiclana de la Frontera and the Novo Sancti Petri resort, well-known throughout Europe for its amazing beaches and tourist facilities. Time seems to have stood still on the historic island of Sancti Petri, which is home to the mysterious Temple of Hercules and Atlantis and was visited by emblematic figures like Hannibal and the Roman emperor Julius Caesar. Just a stone’s throw from the coast is Jerez a city that can be enjoyed year-round where you’ll find the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, the Circuito de Velocidad racing circuit, numerous wineries, the La Atalaya Museums, and many other monuments.
the colonial trade era, life has always revolved around the sea. An emblematic date secured its place in the history books: the first voyage around the world set sail from the city in 1519, proving that the Earth is round.
Near Sanlúcar
But this area’s Berber heritage sits side-by-side with Roman roads, Christian invasions, legends of bandits, and the tracks of a train that never arrived and have now been converted into a scenic trail enjoyed by hikers.
The Sierra de Cadiz also boasts a rich archaeological heritage dating back more than 250,000 years.
Arcos de la Frontera is one of the most famous white villages. You can tell that this town is a Historic-Artistic Monument from the second that you first lay eyes on it. It is joined by Ubrique El Bosque and Prado del Rey known not only for their beautiful landscapes but also for their artisanal products.
Algar, Algodonales, El Gastor, Puerto Serrano and Villaluenga the smallest of these charming villages, are also part of the Route. The villages of Benaocaz, Bornos, Espera, Villamartín, Torre Alhaquime and Olvera are some other stops on the Route, each with their own local festivals, castles, and quirks. The Route passes through the Grazalema Natural Park, which has been declared a Biosphere Reserve and is home to species such as the Spanish fir, a relic of the Tertiary-Period forests. The vegetation, wildlife, and combination of rocks and water have made this park a must-see for anyone who enjoys active and rural tourism.
Grazalema is another must-see destination, as is Zahara de la Sierra which boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the area. Last but not least, we have Alcalá del Valle and, of course, the unique Setenil de las Bodegas with its houses carved into the mountainside, following the course of the river.
This region dominated by countryside and beaches is named after what was once Spain’s largest lagoon. We begin in Conil de la Frontera a fishing village with vast beaches and a great atmosphere for tourists.
Moving down the coast, you reach El Palmar beach, followed by the beaches of Los Caños de Meca, which falls within the town of Barbate
This area where the sea meets the forest is known as La Breña and Barbate Marshes Natural Park and offers numerous hiking trails and great spots for diving, especially the crystal-clear waters that lie off the beaches of Zahara de los Atunes
Nearby, Cape Trafalgar and its lighthouse earned their place in history in 1805, when the battle that put an end to the life of Commander Nelson was fought.
Inland just a mere 9 km from the coast is Vejer de la Frontera perched on top of a hill. It has traditional Andalusian Moorish architecture, with steep, narrow streets and whitewashed arches. It has been declared a Historic-Artistic Monument, as have Alcalá de los Gazules in the centre of the province and Medina Sidonia which dates back to ancient times and has managed to maintain its medieval Moorish character intact.
The local cuisine is exquisite, especially for those with a sweet tooth.
Further along the Bull Route tourist trail are San José del Valle and Paterna de Rivera the birthplace of the peteneras flamenco style and famous for its fighting bull ranches, as well as Benalup-Casas Viejas, where the cave paintings of Tajo de las Figuras can be found.
The Sierra de Cadiz stretches out towards the north of the province along a rugged, picturesque, green, and exciting tourist trail: the White Villages Route.
The layout of these white villages, known as Pueblos Blancos as well as the economy based on olive oil production, the artisanal leather goods, and the typical Al-Andalus sweets and desserts all come together to tell the stories of everyday
EL CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR THE LOCAL CUISINE
This is the south of the south, the meeting point of two seas and two continents. In fact, the landscape is so unique that it is also home to two natural parks: Alcornocales and Estrecho.
The region is called Campo de Gibraltar and includes the municipalities of Algeciras, Castellar, Jimena de la Frontera, La Línea, Los Barrios, San Roque, San Martín del Tesorillo and Tarifa a Moorish-style walled town that has become famous the world over since windsurfing enthusiasts discovered its beaches. Nowadays, the coast is filled with colour thanks to the many kitesurfers riding the waves.
Close to the town visitors can find the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia, a must-see in the Estrecho Natural Park, an area between Tarifa and Algeciras that boasts mountains, coastline, seabeds, sand dunes and numerous caves with rock art, and is also home to the imperial eagle, whales, and dolphins.
The Alcornocales Natural Park, considered the best-preserved forest in Europe, sits next to the Estrecho Natural Park. Algeciras enjoys this beautiful landscape and boasts a strategic location, the ideal addition to a holiday in Africa, which is only 14 km away.
San Roque is the setting of the Roman ruins of Carteia and its old town has been declared a historic-artistic monument. You can make the most of the elite tourist facilities on offer in Sotogrande, the town’s most luxurious residential area. Next to San Roque is La Línea a modern and lively town that has long-standing links to the sea and Gibraltar. It is the location of La Alcaidesa, a residential development where you can relax and enjoy the golf courses and beaches.
Jimena de la Frontera is a scenic village thanks to the layout of its houses, the Roman-Moorish castle perched on the hilltop, and the orange groves.
In the centre of the region lies the old town of Castellar within a medieval fortification. It has extraordinary hunting grounds and is located in the Alcornocales Natural Park, as is Los Barrios, one of the most important towns on the Bull Route.
The delicious cuisine of Cadiz offers some of the tastiest dishes in Andalusia. Products from the mountains and the sea, all washed down with the unbeatable local wines, are a delight for the taste buds. The wide variety of fish and seafood include Sanlúcar prawns, bluefin tuna caught in traditional almadraba nets, Rota-style sea bream, gilt-head bream baked in salt, clams with spaghetti, crispy shrimp fritters, and a long list of other delicious dishes that are worth tasting; a description doesn’t do them justice!
In the mountains, we can find game stews (deer, wild boar, rabbit, partridge, etc.), ajo caliente soup, Grazalema soup, kidneys in sherry, chorizo sausages from El Bosque, and Vejer loin in lard, not to mention artisanal cheeses from the Sierra.
The unique sweets and desserts, heavily influenced by the province’s Moorish heritage, include almond cakes from Chiclana, Christmas sweets and alfajor pastries from Medina Sidonia, tocinillo de cielo egg-yolk pudding from Jerez, amarguillo marzipan sweets from Grazalema, turrón nougat from Cadiz, and piñonate marzipan sweets from Jimena de la Frontera. You’ll find something to please your sweet tooth at every stop on your travels through the province.
TOURISM THE CLIMATE
The province of Cadiz is full of emotions. That’s why you should do much more than just visit places and take photographs on your holiday. Why not try out:
Paragliding: use thermal currents to glide like a bird and enjoy wonderful views. If Cadiz is beautiful from the ground, imagine what it looks like from up above!
Kitesurfing: powered by a kite, ride the waves of the Atlantic Ocean or Mediterranean Sea — you choose! Bring out your sporty side!
Hiking: explore any of the province’s six natural parks (Alcornocales, Estrecho, La Breña, Grazalema, Bay of Cadiz, and Doñana) on foot and be amazed by the flora and fauna you discover along the way.
Cycling: discover the province of Cadiz’s diverse landscapes and ecosystems on a bike, a healthy and environmentally friendly means of transport.
Canyoning: venture into the Garganta Verde gorge and marvel at the waterfalls, lush vegetation, and griffon vultures. Are you up for it?
With a clear, bright, blue sky, the province of Cadiz enjoys a mild climate and an average annual temperature of 18°C, which varies slightly between 14°C in winter and 22°C in summer, so you can enjoy the beaches all year round. Because the beaches are not just for sunbathing, but also the perfect place to exercise, take a stroll, or relax.
The sun shines for 330 days of the year and there are over 3,000 hours of daylight, which means that you can enjoy your free time like nowhere else. In contrast, the microclimate of the Grazalema massif, home to the Abies Pinsapo or Spanish fir — a relic from the Tertiary period — has the highest rainfall in Spain. So close to the beach with an incredibly mountainous landscape.
To the south, the wind is the best friend of water sports enthusiasts, and windsurfing and kitesurfing are some of the most spectacular and colourful activities on offer.
Thanks to the climate and terrain, travellers can discover stunning natural surroundings from the coast to the heart of the province.
Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans have all settled in this province and left their mark along the entire coastline of Cadiz.
There are more than 30 medieval castles and fortifications located near the beach or on the mountaintop with splendid views.
What’s more, a number of important historical events demonstrate the close ties between Cadiz and the rest of the peninsula, as well as its important role on the international stage. In 711, the Visigoth defeat at the Guadalete River led to the Muslim conquest of these lands, changing the course of history.
In the 15th century, Columbus set sail on three different occasions — once from Cadiz, once from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, and once from El Puerto de Santa María — to ports on the other side of the Atlantic, establishing cultural and emotional ties that exist to this day. A few years later, Magellan set sail from Sanlúcar on the first voyage around the world.
In 1812, the first Spanish Constitution was enacted in Cadiz, an event of great international importance that laid the foundations of the modern-day state of Spain.
The province of Cadiz is much more than just the meeting point of the Mediterranean with the Atlantic, 3,300 hours of sunshine every year, 138 kilometres of natural beaches, and six natural parks. In reality, the true essence of the province of Cadiz lies in all the contrasts that can be seen in its people, way of life, green landscapes, and light. It is the wind that combs the waves, the mountains that end on the shore, the accent that expresses the meaning of words.
The province of Cadiz is steeped in history and culture, illuminated by lighthouses like the one on Cape Trafalgar. It stretches from the mountains to the marshes, passing through the countryside and vineyards that give life to exquisite wines. It savours the bluefin tuna caught using ancient almadraba nets and shows you its heart and soul through flamenco and the irreverence of Carnival. Perhaps that’s why the doors of freedom were opened to laws, surrendering to the diversity found from Tarifa to Doñana and from Grazalema to the castle of Sancti Petri in this place of light, sea, and life that is known as the province of Cadiz.
HORECA Association of Hotels, Restaurants, and Cafés Tel.: 956 252 406 www.horecacadiz.org
PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATION OF TRAVEL AGENCIES info@agenciasdeviajesdecadiz.com
956 180 723 www.dipucadiz.es/ifeca ifeca@dipucadiz.es
CADIZ CONFERENCE CENTRE
de Sevilla s/n 11006 Cádiz Tel.: 956 291 017 www.palaciocongresos-cadiz.com
PROVINCE
ROYAL ANDALUSIAN SCHOOL OF EQUESTRIAN ART Avda. Duque de Abrantes s/n 11407 Jerez de la Frontera
Tel.: 956 318 013 956 319 635 www.realescuela.org
AETC Association of Tourism Companies based in Cadiz Tel.: 956 212 910 www.aetcadiz.com comunicacion@aetcadiz.com
Jerez Tourism Cluster Tel.: 956 350 026 www.destinojerez.com info@destinojerez.com
ASOCIACIÓN CIT SIERRA DE CADIZ Tourism Initiative Centre Avda. del Nacimiento s/n 11660 Prado del Rey Tel.: 956 723 652 citsierradecadiz@gmail.com
TUGASA Rural accommodation bookings Tel.: 956 305 611 www.tugasa.com info@tugasa.com
CÁDIZ ANDALUSIAN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Avenida de Diciembre de 1977 Tel.: 956 203 191 otcadiz@andalucia.org www.andalucia.org
CADIZ CITY HALL TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE Paseo de Canalejas s/n Tel.: 956 241 001 info.turismo@cadiz.es www.turismo.cadiz.es
ALCALÁ DEL VALLE LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Calle Real, 71 Tel.: 856 099 233 alcaladelvalleturismo@gmail.com
ALGECIRAS TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Paseo Río de la Miel s/n Tel.: 670 949 047 otalgeciras@andalucia.org www.algeciras.es
ARCOS DE LA FRONTERA
LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE
Cuesta de Belén, 5 Tel.: 956 702 264 turismo@arcosdelafrontera.es www.turismoarcos.es
BARBATE LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Paseo Marítimo, 5 Tel.: 956 063 613 turismo@barbate.es www.barbate.es
BENALUP-CASAS VIEJAS LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Paterna, 4 Tel.: 956 417 733 oficinaturismo@benalupcasasviejas.es www.benalupcasasviejas.es
BORNOS LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Palacio de los Ribera Plaza Alcalde José González, 2 Tel.: 956 728 264 turismodebornos@bornos.es www.bornos.es
CHICLANA DE LA FRONTERA LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Plaza de las Bodegas s/n Vino Sal Visitor Centre Tel.: 956 535 969 turismo@chiclana.es www.turismochiclana.com
LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Urb. Novo Sancti Petri s/n Playa de la Barrosa 1ª pista (Open in summer) Tel.: 956 496 082 CONIL DE LA FRONTERA LOCAL TOURIST BOARD Carretera, Tel.: 956 440 501 956 440 222 turismo@conil.org www.turismo.conil.org
CHIPIONA LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Castillo, 5 Tel.: 956 929 065 turismochipiona@gmail.com www.turismochipiona.es
EL PUERTO DE SANTA MARÍA LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Palacio de Aranibar Plaza. Alfonso X El Sabio, 9 Tel.: 956 483 714 956 483 715 turismo@elpuertodesantamaria.es www.turismoelpuerto.com
ESPERA LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Los Toros s/n Tel.: 956 720 432 turismoespera@gmail.com www.webespera.es
EL BOSQUE Tourist information office p. n. sierra de grazalema Avda. Diputacion s/n Tel.: 600 161 916 pnsierragrazalema.csma@juntadeandalucia.es
GRAZALEMA TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE Plaza Asomadero, 3 Tel.: 956 132 052 turismograzalema@gmail.com www.grazalema.es
JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Plaza del Arenal s/n Tel.: 956 149 863 turismoinfo@aytojerez.es www.turismojerez.com
LA LÍNEA DE LA CONCEPCIÓN ANDALUSIAN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Avda. del Ejercito, esquina con Avda. 20 de Abril Tel.: 956 784 135 otlinea@andalucia.org www.lalinea.es LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Avda. Príncipe de Asturias s/n Tel.: 670 330 434 turismo@lalinea.es www.turismocg.com
LOS BARRIOS LOCAL TOURIST
OFFICE Paseo de la Constitución, 15 Tel.: 956 582 504 informacionturistica@ayto-losbarrios.es www.losbarrios.es
MEDINA SIDONIA
ROTA LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Torre de la Merced Tel.: 956 846 345 turismo@aytorota.es www.descubrerota.ciceroneweb.com
SAN FERNANDO LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Real, 26 Tel.: 956 944 226 956 944 227 turismo@aytosanfernando.es www.turismosanfernando.es
SANLÚCAR DE BARRAMEDA LOCAL TOURIST BOARD Calzada Duquesa Isabel s/n Tel.: 956 366 110 sanlucarturismo@gmail.com www.sanlucarturismo.com SAN ROQUE
LAS BODEGAS LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Villa, 2 Tel.: 616 553 384 turismo@setenil.com www.turismodesetenil.com TARIFA LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Paseo de la Alameda s/n Tel.: 956 680 993 turismo@aytotarifa.com www.turismodetarifa.com
UBRIQUE LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE Moreno de Mora, 19 Tel.: 670 245 193 oficina.turismo@ayuntamientoubrique.es www.ubriqueturismo.es
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