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Cadiz

The province of Cadiz lies on the southernmost tip of Peninsular Spain, and is almost entirely surrounded by water. It includes the historic port of Cadiz itself, which is also the provincial capital. The old walled city of Cadiz is Moorish in appearance, with its narrow cobbled streets and cathedrals that loom above long rows of white houses. Although it's not a readily remembered city in Andalucia, Cadiz is as important as any other city in the region, with over 3,000 years of history that make it the oldest city in the western world.

Also in the province is the nearby triangle of "sherry towns", Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlucar de Barrameda, and El Puerto de Santa Maria, and the Atlantic beaches of the Costa de la Luz.

Cadiz was originally named "Gadir" by the Phoenicians who founded its trading post in 1100 BC. It later became a thriving Roman port and in the early 16th century was a launching point for journeys to the New World. To this day one can find the remains of over 30 castles, forts and walled cities in Cadiz, as well as religious cathedrals and monuments, and art masterpieces by El Greco, Murillo, Zurbarán and Goya.

Its coastline offers 138 km of beaches, ranging from virgin beaches to those with facilities and infrastructure, small isolated coves to long stretches of fine sand, family beaches to more secluded ones, and calm waters to windswept beaches perfect for sailing.

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