Guide to Cadiz and Cadizfornia

Note: The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of RetoxMagazine.com

Cádiz province, of southern Spain boarders the Spanish provinces of Huelva, Seville, and Málaga, and its capital is the city of Cádiz. Just like the City of Malaga shares the name Malaga with the name of the province, so does Cadiz. This means there is the province of Cádiz as well as the city of Cádiz within the province.

What is Cadizfornia?

In Cadiz the Surf culture is so pronounced that even the name Cadizfornia has caught on.

For anyone interested in trying their hand at surfing, the best place to go is definitely El Palmar in Cadiz province of Andalucia, Southern Spain. Due to their positioning on the Atlantic coast, there is always wind and waves guaranteed. There are plenty of surf and kite-surf schools available and willing to teach. So as long as you are interested and motivated, you will learn either sport quickly.

About Cadiz

The coastal city of Cadiz is the capital of Costa de la Luz that stands out for great seafood, Blue Flag beaches, and a historic centre with fascinating attractions. The ancient port city in Andalucia is a great summer holiday destination for those who enjoy the sea, sun and seafood.

Two of the four voyages of Christopher Columbus set out for the New World from this historical city port.

The city is divided into two parts. One part is the old walled city full of character and charm, and the other part – the newer part links the old city to the mainland where you can see modern high-rise buildings – a combination of apartments and hotels.

Best things to do in Cadiz

Castle of San Sebastián

This 18th-century fortress has a long stone causeway that runs from the northwestern edge of the city. The elevated path offers great views back to Cadiz that are Instagram worthy. Here you can also sit and chill on the wall, dangle your legs over the Atlantic, and soak in the views.

The fortress buildings were erected in 1706. The lighthouse is of Muslim origin. The castle also served as a quarantine or a prison for much of its lifespan due to its strategic positioning being quite detached from the mainland.

Today, in addition to being a tourist attraction and a sightseeing destination, the Castle of San Sebastián also serves as a venue for exhibitions, concerts and as a film shoot location. Die Another Day, the twentieth film in the James Bond series, was filmed at the castle.

There are a number of other forts and castles in Cadiz, so if castles is your thing then you're in the right place. Other castles you might want to see include Castillo de Santa Catalina and Castillo de San Lorenzo del Puntal. There are also more castles a little out of the city centre but you might need some form of transportation to get there.

Parque Genovés

The Genoves Park is a set of gardens with exotic trees and water features. The stunning landscaping includes sculptured trees, topiary, small waterfalls, ducks and more.

There are plenty of seats to sit and rest. The park is also situated by the seafront along the Promenade Walk that surrounds the historical centre and its a great place to catch a little bit of sea breeze on a hot summer's day.

This oasis is very pretty and manicured and perfect for a bit of relaxation.

The Roman theatre of Cádiz

This ancient structure in Cádiz was discovered in 1980 and is partially excavated. It is believed that the theatre dates back to approximately 100BC and was one of the largest theatres built in the Roman empire that could accommodate 10,000 spectators.

Unfortunately in the 13th century King Alfonso X of Castile built a fortress on top of the ruins of the ampitheatre, so we can only imagine what the full theatre would look like.

Playa La Caleta

The bay on the west side of the city’s oceanfront has seen a lot of visitors throughout history, including Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans. Now the Blue Flag beach is popular with tourists and locals alike, where people come to relax, soak in the sun and enjoy their day.

FYI: every single large rock here has a name. The names were apparently bestowed centuries ago, and the rocks are named after animals or common objects. This could make for an interesting game, trying to find out the names for all the named rocks.

Cadiz Carnival

In February Cadiz holds a carnival that lasts for 10 days. People spend good time preparing for the carnival each year. At the carnival you can expect to see humourous costumes and great music.

The spectators can enjoy the processions, concerts, comedian shows, puppet-theatre for kids, fireworks, dancing, drinks, as well as plenty of spontaneous singing on the streets. If you want to see the most creative fancy dresses, aim for Saturday.

2020 dates for the Cadiz Carnival are Thursday, 20 February to Sunday, 1 March.

Cadiz Hotels

Throughout the year you will find accommodation options in Cadiz to suit various budgets. However, keep in mind that last minute reservations during the peak summer months can turn out to be significantly more expensive. August is notably more expensive than other months.