Cadiz
 The oldest city in the western world and according to Greek legend, the
city was founded by Hercules. Located on the southwestern coast of Spain,
most southerly province of Andalucia and has a coastline of 200km. This
lovely old city was once Spain's prime entry port to the newly discovered
Americas. Cadiz is well known for it's irresistable sights, sheer
elegance and atmosphere. Broad white dunes line the beaches of the Costa
de la Luz which stretches from Cadiz to Tarifa in the south. Much of this
area has escaped the developers to this day and retains it's quiet charm.
Cadiz has always been an important port and remains so to this
day. It is described as a province of white villages and white beaches.
It has a rational urban design with straight, narrow streets. It has botanical
gardens that surround the city, almost making it an island. It has it's
own temple, recently restored. The town is most famous for it's wine (Manzanilla)
and it's prawns. It also has famous summer horse racing on the beaches.
It has one of the highest rainfall levels in Spain which has resulted
in several unique botanical species surviving here such as the Spanish
Fir.
Historical Note :
Cadiz is thought by
some to be the oldest city in Europe, founded in 1100 BC by the Phoenicians
who called it Gadir and traded Baltic
amber and British tin, as well as Spanish silver. The city subsequently
became a naval base for the Romans before fading into obscurity until 1262
when it was taken from the Muslims by Alfonso X.
The real boom period was with the discovery of America as Columbus
sailed from this port on his second and fourth voyages. Much later the
city enjoyed a golden age during the 18th century when it enjoyed 75%
of Spanish trade with America. From this time it grew into one of the
wealthiest and most cosmopolitan cities in Spain and most of the city's
fine buildings date from this time.
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