Cadiz
Cadiz is possibly the oldest city of western Europe. Records were found which indicate that the city was occupied more than 3,000 years ago, originally settled by Iberians and later followed by Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths and other civilizations.
Cadiz pictures
Thanks to its geographical position, Cadiz has always been an important trading post and seafaring town with strong ties to the African continent from where adventurers and merchants came and opened up the New World of the Americas.
However, there is more to Cadiz than just the city (130,000 inhabitants) - the province of Cadiz covers over 7,300 kmē and possesses a coastline of 250km. Most of Cadiz hotels are near the sea, so the views are just great. The region is known for its outstanding beauty and attracts tourists from abroad as well as Spaniards from other provinces. From Sanlucar de Barrameda along the Costa de la Luz until Sotogrande on the Costa del Sol visitors will find some of Spain's finest beaches and little of the environmental destruction associated with mass tourism along most of Spain's Mediterranean coastline.
The long history of the city of Cadiz is particularly reflected in its buildings: So the travellers can still see some of the 18th century city walls, like the Landward Gate, or the antique central quarter which is famous for its picturesque charm. One should definitely visit the Cathedral and the churches of Santa Cruz and San Felipe Neri - latter is known throughout Spain as the place where, in defiance of Napoleon's siege, the provisional government was set up with its own liberal constitution. Other points of touristic interest are La Santa Cueva, home to several paintings by the illustrious artist Goya, and stately mansions such as the Casa del Almirante and Casa de las Cadenas. The visitor will soon realize that the old city looks very Moorish because of the narrow streets opening onto small squares, and between this architecture, the golden cupola of the cathedral stands out above the rows of white houses. The port of Cadiz offers a relaxed atmosphere and good possibilities to have lunch or dinner in one of its nice restaurants.
However, one of the best seasons to travel to Cadiz is in February to see the famous Carnival of Cadiz, one of the biggest in Spain, which is certainly worth a visit.
Cadiz is 250km away from Malaga City, which means almost 3 hours by car, so a shuttle bus from Malaga Airport to Cadiz might be a comfortable and fast alternative.