Cádiz
Cadiz is located in southern Spain and is believed to be one of Europe's oldest cities. It is shaped like a tongue protruding from the mainland into the Bay of Cadiz bay. Cadiz can boast stunning beaches, and outside the city are tiny mountain villages where time appears to have stood still.
Cadiz is a splendid city that has once served as home to bona fide voyagers like Ferdinand Magellan and Amerigo Vespucci. Cadiz is close to Seville, another beautiful city of Spain, thus it is not a wonder that it is a favorite harbour among elegant cruise ships.
Despite its unique site on a narrow spit of land hemmed in by the sea, Cadiz is in most respects a typically Andalusian city with a wealth of attractive vistas and well-preserved historical landmarks. The older part of Cadiz, within the remnants of the city walls, is commonly referred to as the Old City (in Spanish, Casco Antiguo). It is characterised by the antiquity of its various quarters (barrios), among them El Populo, La Vina, and Santa Maria, which present a marked contrast to the newer areas of town.
While the Old City's street plan consists largely of narrow winding alleys connecting large plazas, newer areas of Cadiz typically have wide avenues and more modern buildings. In addition, the city is dotted by numerous parks where extic plants, including giant trees flourish, supposedly brought to Spain by Columbus.
Cadiz, situated on a peninsula, is home to some of Spain's most beautiful beaches.
La Playa de la Caleta is the best-loved beach of Cadiz. It has always been in Carnival songs, due to its unequalled beauty and its proximity to the Barrio de la Vina. It is the beach of the Old City, situated between two castles, San Sebastian and Santa Catalina. It is around four hundred meters long and thirty meters wide at low tide.
La Playa de la Victoria, in the newer part of Cadiz, is the beach most visited by tourists and natives of Cadiz. It is about three kilometers long, and it has an average width of fifty meters of sand. The moderate swell and the absence of rocks allow family bathing. It is separated from the city by an avenue on which there are many shops and restaurants.
