Cadiz is possibly the oldest city in Europe. Phoenecian traders arrived there around 800BC. I’m glad they did, it is a great place to visit. It has beautiful beaches, lovely streets to wander in, good shopping and restaurants – what more could you want?
Plaza San Juan de Dios
The old city is squeezed on to a headland jutting out into the sea. It is quite small and compact and easy to get around. Plaza San Juan de Dios is a good place to begin your visit to old Cadiz. It is the orignal town square and has been the centre of activity since the 16th century. After the discovery of America, this square was the setting for the markets that sold the multitude of exotic products brought from the New World. I can imagine the excitement when a ship came in.
the beautiful coastline
the beach is very popular
the sand is clean, the water blue and the sun is hot
The yellow domed cathedral you can see in the photos was planned in 1716, but wasn’t finished until 1838, so it is a bit of a mix in design. The golden dome would have shone in the sun to welcome home the sailors.
the lovely golden dome
a mix of styles
an interesting roof line
from the front
We walked all along the coast enjoying the glorious weather.
pretty coloured houses along the seafront
another popular beach
an interesting bathing shed?
the entrance to the pier
and the next one
very nautical
We stopped at a bar beside the pier for a drink and found a very cute flamenco stage.
flamenco stage
another look at that bathing shed
waiting for the tide to come in
look at the size of that seagull
Castillo de Santa Catalina
the little church inside the fort
inside the fort
the gardens beside the sea
by the sea
We had a delicious dinner at El Aljibe near the main square.
El Aljibe
inside the restaurant
We stayed at Hospederia Las Cortes de Cadiz in Calle San Francisco. It is a great hotel in a 1850s mansion. Each room is named after a famous Spaniard. The young man at the front desk was particularly friendly and helpful.
Las Cortes de Cadiz
our room
the internal balconies
Cadiz rooftops from the rooftop terrace
Cadiz also shines at night.
Plaza San Juan de Dios at night
I love these palm trees
the entrance to old Cadiz
I suggest you go in.
I think I’m in love. The colors. The sea. The ancient buildings…
By: Charlotte on April 18, 2011
at 5:59 am
It is a gorgeous place, we loved it.
By: bagnidilucca on April 18, 2011
at 6:04 am
…but I just checked out those Australian beaches…ahhhhhh…perfect.
By: Charlotte on April 18, 2011
at 6:01 am
I feel so lucky to have grown up at that beach.
By: bagnidilucca on April 18, 2011
at 6:05 am
Oh this is so ME – I’ll have to go there one day. Thanks Deb..x
By: mary D on April 18, 2011
at 7:21 am
You should go to Cadiz, it’s lovely.
By: bagnidilucca on April 18, 2011
at 8:03 am
As lovely and special it is to visit the wonders of this world we live in, nothing on earth is as special as an Australian beach. 🙂 Love inside the restaurant, oh and that poor chap sitting in his boat waiting for the tide… Very cute.
By: Anna Johnston on April 18, 2011
at 7:56 am
Cadiz is gorgeous and the beach was very good. I hope he didn’t have to wait too long.
By: bagnidilucca on April 18, 2011
at 8:03 am
What strange architecture, those housefronts that are higher than the buildings themselves. I saw that also on the Cibeles post office in the center of Madrid. It also wears a high “comb” like that, and tourists think it must be Madrid’s cathedral.
Hmmm. I don’t know what to think of it.
By: joxe82 on April 18, 2011
at 9:01 am
I thought it was lovely.
By: bagnidilucca on April 18, 2011
at 10:14 am
Everything looks a most attractive shade of blue, cream and green!
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on April 18, 2011
at 9:12 am
I think the colours are pretty.
By: bagnidilucca on April 18, 2011
at 10:11 am
I’ve been reading through all your Spain posts with great interest – I’m so excited to be going there later this year! I hope you had a great trip.
By: Journey Photographic on April 18, 2011
at 11:40 am
It was a great trip. We loved Seville, Toledo, Cordoba and Cadiz – Madrid not so much.
By: bagnidilucca on April 18, 2011
at 1:03 pm
Gorgeous photos Deb!! They make me miss Cádiz so much, I was just there this past weekend and the weather was amazing. The locals have the most genuine smile, you’d be hard pressed to find someone like that here in Salamanca. Did you try all the deep fried seafood (pescados fritos)?
By: James on April 18, 2011
at 11:50 am
We did notice that the people were friendly. We didn’t try the pescados fritos. We will have to go back.
By: bagnidilucca on April 18, 2011
at 1:02 pm
I probably remember Cadiz most vividly of all the Spanish cities I visited. Spent a lot of time exploring the old part of the city and walking along the seafront. Looking at your beautiful photos is a wonderful reminder.
By: lisa@notesfromafrica on April 18, 2011
at 12:18 pm
We didn’t know what to expect of Cadiz and were pleasantly surprised.
By: bagnidilucca on April 18, 2011
at 1:01 pm
Such good shots, as usual… you catch details I love to see. The rooftops in these are great!
By: maru on April 18, 2011
at 5:41 pm
Thanks, I loved the rooftops as well.
By: bagnidilucca on April 18, 2011
at 6:37 pm
Lovely!
By: beautifulamnesia on April 19, 2011
at 1:26 am
It is a beautiful place.
By: bagnidilucca on April 19, 2011
at 5:34 am
I love the look of the internal balconies. Beautiful colours.
The beaches look gorgeous too. Splish splash.
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on April 19, 2011
at 4:03 am
The beaches are very good in Cadiz. I was tempted to jump into the water.
By: bagnidilucca on April 19, 2011
at 5:35 am
Hey, I check out all the pictures in homepages, you did so many trip! Cool..
I like the Toledo, nice garden, and the cakes make me craving.
the little girl is so cute, so classic dress…
and this one is my favorite, seems like the weather is getting warm now… best time to go to beach! 😀
By: Prima on April 21, 2011
at 3:34 am
Cadiz is beautiful and the beach is very good. There is even surf.
By: bagnidilucca on April 21, 2011
at 5:19 am
[…] is a gorgeous coastal town, and breakfast aside, I really suggest you pay a visit. Click here to see more of this beautiful Spanish […]
By: Breakfast in Spain « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on September 6, 2011
at 12:06 am
Gorgeous! I wanted to go this summer, but didn’t make it. Maybe next year.
By: inpursuitofrealfood on September 6, 2011
at 12:26 am
Cadiz was one of our favourite places in Spain. The beach was great and the town was very interesting. I would go back in a heartbeat.
By: bagnidilucca on September 6, 2011
at 6:25 am
[…] be described as successful. Not to worry, from there we went on to Cadiz, which we loved. Click here for lovely Cadiz and here for a look at Gibraltar ( the monkeys are cute). Share […]
By: Jim’s Spanish sherry collection « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on September 14, 2011
at 12:22 am
[…] and look in the Spain category to see Madrid, Ainsa, Toledo, Seville, the windmills in La Mancha, Cadiz, Granada and the Alhambra and […]
By: Looking back over 2011 « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on December 30, 2011
at 5:22 am
Whaddayaknow, your image is way more awesome! Well, me and my friends were there for the night life anyways. 😀 I lost my pictures of Cadiz to make a post about it. I remember it so well because we slept outside waiting for the ferry the next morning. 😀
I’m not really fond of pictures of beach with people all over the place. But yours look so much better. The people makes the location feels appreciated and adored by many.
By: rommel on June 8, 2014
at 8:10 pm
Reblogged this on 616elynne616's Blog and commented:
Was looking on Google Images of cacti and found your link…so happy to see the beautiful photos of Cadiz….a distant cousin lives there….my Grandmother Maria came from Malaga and I have yet to visit that part of Spain. Thank you so much for all your wonderful photos, writing and info!
By: 616elynne616 on May 20, 2015
at 2:30 am
Thank you so much for your photos of Cadiz….my distant cousin has been living there but I haven’t been able to visit. My grandmother Maria was from Malaga and hope to visit Andalucia one day. I love your blog, photos, info and all! Thanks again!!!
By: 616elynne616 on May 20, 2015
at 2:34 am
A friend of mine was just comparing Cadiz to San Sebastian. He said it was equally charming. Could that be possible? I love
San Sebastian so much but would be thrilled to find an equivalent in the South of Spain.
By: Damon Bopp on October 22, 2015
at 8:51 pm