Page 475 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

AND AL UCÍA  473

9 Cádiz VISITORS’ CHECKLIST

Jutting out of the Bay of Cádiz, and almost entirely surrounded Practical Information
by water, Cádiz lays claim to being Europe’s oldest city. Legend Cádiz. * 155,000. n Avenida
names Hercules as its founder, although history credits the José León de Carranza s/n, 956 28
56 01. ( Mon. _ Carnival (Feb/
Phoenicians with establishing the town of Gadir in 1100 BC. Mar). ∑ cadizturismo.com
Occupied by the Carthaginians, Romans and Moors in turn, Transport
the city also prospered after the Reconquest (see pp58–9) on £ Plaza de Sevilla, Tel 902 24
wealth taken from the New World. In 1587 Sir Francis Drake 05 05. @ Plaza de la Hispanidad,
sacked the city in the first of many British attacks in the war Tel 956 80 70 59.
for world trade. In 1812 Cádiz briefly became Spain’s capital
when the nation’s first constitution was declared here (see p67).

Exploring Cádiz R Oratorio de San Felipe Neri
The joy of visiting Cádiz is to Calle Santa Inés s/n. Tel 956 80 70 18.
wander along the waterfront Open 10:30am–2pm, 4:30–8pm (Jul &
with its well-tended gardens Aug: 5:30–8:30pm) Tue–Fri, 10:30am–
and open squares before 2pm Sat, 10am–1pm (Jul & Aug:
ex ploring the Old Town, which to noon) Sun.
is full of narrow alleys busy In 1812, as Napoleon tightened
with market and street life. his grip on Spain (see pp66–7),
The pride of the city is its a provisional government
Carnival (see p471) – a riotous as sem bled at this 18th-
explosion of festivities, fancy century church to try to lay
dress, singing and drinking. the founda tions of Spain’s first
constitutional monarchy. The
R Catedral liberal constitution it declared Roman marble statue from the 2nd century
Known as the Catedral Nueva was bold but ineffectual. in the Museo de Cádiz
(New Cathedral) and built on
the site of an older one, this Cádiz Cathedral The cupola was built between
Baroque and Neo-Classical 1812 and 1838 by Juan Daura,
church, with its dome of golden- the last in a long line of
yellow tiles, is one of Spain’s architects of this cathedral.
largest. In the crypt is the tomb
of composer Manuel de Falla
(1876–1946). The cathedral’s Baroque vaults
treasures are stored in the
Casa de la Contaduria, behind
the cathedral.

E Museo de Cádiz
Plaza de Mina. Tel 856 10 50 23. Open
9am–8pm Tue–Sat (to 3pm Jun–mid-
Sep); 10am–3pm Sun & pub hols. 7
The museum has archaeological
exhibits charting the history
of Cádiz and the largest art
gallery in Andalucía, with works
by Rubens, Zurbarán and
Murillo. On the third floor is a
collection of puppets made for
village fiestas.
E Torre Tavira
Calle Marqués del Real Tesoro 10. The presbytery
Tel 956 21 29 10. Open daily. altar was partly
Closed 1 Jan, 25 Dec. & 8 sponsored by
The city’s official watchtower Isabel II (see p75).
in the 18th century has now
been converted into a camera Neo-Classical Neo-Classical
obscura, and offers great views. tower façade

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