subject: Europe's Great Unsung Cities: Cadiz in Spain [print this page] When people think of cities in Spain they can often find themselves thinking of the striking buildings screaming away at them for their attention: Gehry's Guggenheim in Bilbao, Granada's Alhambra and Barcelona's Sagrada Familia.
Keeping a much lower profile, content with an attractive modesty, is Cadiz in the south west of Spain. Cadiz has no big name architects and is content to be that way.
Walking around its cobbled streets it displays a simple beauty, colourful buildings, in pastel shades, its everyday ordinary building are presented so beautifully that it somehow stirs the imagination.
There are endless back streets and alley ways, all with some magical essence of being quite normal, but also rather strange. When a stroll ends with your trip accumulates with something more traditionally showish, like the cathedral, it is almost a disappointment.
The city is almost crumbling from the effects of limestone and brine, the city has a bizarre but infectious atmosphere, slightly seedy and certainly in decline but somehow enjoying, as one enjoying dignified old age. Light reflects from the whitewashed building and this fits in with the writer Laurie Lee's description of the city as a scimitar, "lying curved on the bay and sparkling with African light".
Unfortunately this has led to a low tourist population here, the good news for you is that this means it is neither packed nor put on for the visitors. This is quite an authentic destination in an otherwise pandering region of Andalusia.
The inhabitants seem laid back and un-bothered about the lack of tourism here, at the end of the peninsula it may be to be expected. An absence of tourist attractions here also makes the town's profile a little more low key.
But it is mainly thanks to the isolation that the location offers that Cadiz looks as it has done since the 17th century. It has those grand open squares and thanks to the lack of touristisation they remain very much open.
Unlike many other similar sized ports, Cadiz is laid back and easy going, and not at all friendly, the locals seem happy enough to have you here. There is a wonderful museum dedicated to archaeology and fine arts, in which you can spend a full afternoon.
But those that know Cadiz know it mainly for its ambience. As a sea town it seems slightly more accepting of minorities than other Andalusian destinations such as Granda or Corboda, offering a tolerance that seems rare throughout Spain. But it is ambience mixed with food that it particularly excels in, El Faro is popular with the locals and known for its three course menu.
If you are in the mood for tapas, then your needs are certainly catered for, there is some wonderful tapas in this town, where you can wash down your food with a fine wine.
For a great opportunity to see this city the Spanish villas offer you a great freedom to get around. Rent a holiday home in Andalusia and you can see how Cadiz stands out.
When people think of cities in Spain they can often find themselves thinking of the striking buildings screaming away at them for their attention. Gehry's Guggenheim in Bilbao, Granada's Alhambra and Barcelona's Sagrada Familia.
Keeping a much lower profile, content with an attractive modesty is Cadiz in the south west of Spain. Cadiz has no big name architects and is content to be that way.
Walking around its cobbled streets it displays a simple beauty, colourful buildings, in pastel shades, its everyday ordinary building are presented so beautifully that it somehow stirs the imagination.
There are endless back streets and alley ways, all with some magical essence of being quite normal, but also rather strange. When a stroll ends with your trip accumulates with something more traditionally showish, like the cathedral, it is almost a disappointment.
The city is almost crumbling from the effects of limestone and brine, the city has a bizarre but infectious atmosphere, slightly seedy and certainly in decline but somehow enjoying, as one enjoying dignified old age. Light reflects from the whitewashed building and this fits in with the writer Laurie Lee's description of the city as a scimitar, "lying curved on the bay and sparkling with African light".
Unfortunately this has led to a low tourist population here, the good news for you is that this means it is neither packed nor put on for the visitors. This is quite an authentic destination in an otherwise pandering region of Andalusia.
The inhabitants seem laid back and unbothered about the lack of tourism here, at the end of the peninsula it may be to be expected. An absence of tourist attractions here also makes the town's profile a little more low key.
But it is mainly thanks to the isolation that the location offers that Cadiz looks as it has done since the 17th century. It has those grand open squares and thanks to the lack of touristisation they remain very much open.
Unlike many other similar sized ports Cadiz is laid back and easy going, and not at all friendly, the locals seem happy enough to have you here. There is a wonderful museum dedicated to archaeology and fine arts, in which you can spend a full afternoon.
But those that know Cadiz know it mainly for its ambience. As a sea town it seems slightly more accepting of minorities than other Andalusian destinations such as Granada or Cordoba, offering a tolerance that seems rare throughout Spain. But it is ambience mixed with food that it particularly excels in, El Faro is popular with the locals and known for its three course menu.
If you are in the mood for tapas, then your needs are certainly catered for, there is some wonderful tapas in this town, where you can wash down your food with a fine wine.
For a great opportunity to see this city the Spanish villas offer you a great freedom to get around. Rent a holiday home in Andalusia and you can see how Cadiz stands out.
