Cadiz has got around 157.000 inhabitants, and lays on a narrow, 6 km long peninsula. . The city of Cadiz has three structured areas: The more solid, geologically speaking, part of Cadiz and the historic city, with its boundaries from the 18th Century. Here were also the three largest monuments found.
About Cadiz
The city is also surrounded by the Castles of San Sebastian and by the Castle of Santa Catalina, near around we can found the Caleta beach and the shopping area. City has also a nice urban expansion Puerta Tierra. The area was developed between the 1950's and 1960's. It lies on the north side of the isthmus. In the 19th Century was that area occupied by small suburbs.
On the southern side of the isthmus, we can fine more fragile, the narrowest and fine sandy tombolo. Here we can find also a modern area of the place with its new avenues, buildings, the promenade, it also contains beautiful beaches of Santa Maria del Mar, La Victoria and Cortadura. This is a place with lot of sea clubs, shopping centers and some sport facilities like footbal stadium.
The most interesting thing
about city of Cadiz is that it is totally surrounded by water, only on the southeastern end is bordered, here is peninsula joined to the town of San Fernando. The peninsula is very beautiful it has a large sea coast with great beaches, with its many docks, shipbuilding yards and piers, which is all part of the Bay. In municipality of Cadiz we can find innermost in part of the Bay interesting salt-works, which are still in operation, and occupy around 20,8 hectares. This source of nature is used for the quality, scarcity and use of the soil. Around Cadiz are no natural recorses, there are no natural parks and no woods, and here in the Bay is the only place where you can admire those gifts of nature. Therefore the most great feauture of Cadiz are preservation and the seafront.
Travel to Cadiz and what to do in Cadiz
Travelleres could find many things for good fun and leisure in city of Cadiz. It offers lots of bars, discos which stay open till early hours, here you can find lots of beautiful restaurants which are serving national and local dishes, here you can admire also beautiful churches, impressive architectural sites and fine museums. Interesting thing to see are also a Santa Cruz Church, this is a Gothic ancient cathedral, Roman Theatre which is near Santa Cruz Church and Hospital de las Mujeres is a classic example of architecture from Baroque. For those who likes night, Old Town of Cadiz offers you a fine selection of late-night spots in the number of narrow streets. The city has got around 7,05 kilometers of beaches. They are considered as very good or good beaches. Most popular beaches are: »La Caleta Beach«, which is the second most popular beach in Cadiz. Its 50 meters wide and 450 meters long. »Santa Maria del Mar Beach« this beach is around 400 meters long and is the most northern beach in the city. »La Victoria Beach«, is the main beach in the city. It recieved a white flag in 1987 and is the most known and popular beach in the city.
Traditional dishes and restaurants in Cadiz
The most interesting and delicious dishes that can be enjoyed in Cadiz are: the »Garum«, this is a sauce mixed with pepper, vinear, wine, sater or oil that is used for lots of different dishes, it was also emloyed in cosmetics and medicine, another famous dish is »Tocino de Cielo«, this is a desert made with milk and eggs. Here we can find also shrimps from Cadiz which are a little bit smaller, sometimes are those shrimps also used as a bait for fishing. »Huevas alinas« is famous Cuttlefish with potatoes, which is very delicious, »Pestinos« are Christmas sweet that is typical of other areas of Andalusia and Cadiz. »Pirinaca« are made with small chopped tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, salt, vinegar and seasoned oil. This dish is usually served as an appetizer in bars. »Pan de Cadiz« is another fine dish it is known also as Cadiz Bread, or in marzipan wrapped sweet cake.
Short history of Cadiz
The city of Cadiz was founded in the year 1100 B.C., by Phoenician sailors. This make the city the oldest city in the Western World.
It was ruled by the Byzantines, Visigoths and Vandals, this was afther the fall of the Roman Empire. The city started to experience a period of decadence afther the conquest of Cadiz by the Moors. Around the 9th Century a beautiful statue of Hercules was destructed. Alfonso X reconquered the city in 1262, thats why the process of reinvigoration started. Also very interesting fact is that Christopher Columbus set sail from city of Cadiz. The fourth and second voyages to the Indies starts write here in Cadiz. It acquired in 1509 register the ships from Indies and later to transport good from the Anitlles.
In year 1553 with the help of the Genoese Andrea Doria the town couldent take over a pirate Barbarossa, the attack was repelled. In 1596 the town was led by the anglo-Dutch fleet led by the Count of Essex. The city was fortified afther these events. The English took some prominent citizens as hostages and asked for ransom for most of the population.