Cádiz is the most southerly of Andalucia`s eight provinces and its capital is the oldest city of western Europe. According to Greek legends the city was founded by Hercules, though in actual fact it was the Phoenicians who named it Gadir in 1100 BC. For a time during Spain's Golden Age following the discovery of America, Cádiz was Spain's prime entry port for ships sailing to and from the New World. At one time Cádiz was the capital of Spain. You can still see the buildings of the merchants, the 18th century cathedral, the old quarter, the San Felipe Neri which housed the Spanish parliament when it approved the 1812 Constitution and the Santa Cueva Chapel with its paintings by Goya. As might be expected in a place with such a strong maritime  tradition, fish is favourite in the restaurants of Cádiz.

Salt, sand and sea foam mingled by the force of the wind. Horses, bulls and flamenco. Tradition and modernity. Land and sea joined by the hand of Man and nature throughout the years. The atlantic Ocean, Hercules, Sancti Petri, Camarón, San Fernando, Jerez, El Puerto de Santa Maria and Cádiz, the oldest city in Western Europe. Mythical names all linked to a mythical land, the province of Cádiz.

With over 220,000 hectares of parks and nature reserves, Cádiz is one of the regions with the highest proportion of protected areas in Spain. The Bay of Cádiz Nature reserve, so-classified since 1989, spreads out across all community municipalities and is today the most important protected area, measuring over 10,000 hectares.

The province of Cádiz has over 200 kilometres of the most beautiful beaches in Spain. Most of these are relatively wild and far away from big urban areas, due to the closeness of natural reserves. In total the province contains over 5 natural reserves like La Sierra de Grazalema, Los Alcornocales, La Doñana and the area between Barbate and Caños de Meca, all worth a visit. Situated within the inland of the province you will find untouched landscapes and the beautiful white villages (pueblos blancos) again definitely not to be missed.

The exceptional gatronomic variety in the area is determined by two factors: the past, with the consequent mark left on the area left by different cultures, and the balance between coastal and marine areas with farming and large estates inland. In this vein, the coast offers a large selection of fish dishes, prepared in all possible ways and being continually updated with attention paid to the most recent trends, all accompanied by delicious local produce. The inland area, especially plays home to a style of cooking specially linked to livestock and hunting, without extraordinary dishes based around meat, pulses and gardens vegetables. Adistinguishing regional product of course wine; one type for each dish, moment of the day and season all attune to local cuisine and directly influencing it so as to provide unique textures and flavours.

Thankfully this part of the Costa de la Luz is kept very natural and mass tourism is fairly unknown to this area. Except for the summer months, when national tourism visit Cádiz, it is nice and quiet with a very pleasant tempreture between 15 and 22 degrees Celcius during the winter and a bit above 25 in summer.

For more detailed information about the province of Cádiz please click here.

Watch a video about Cádiz (from the Cadiz Tourism Board)