Cádiz

Cádiz is a city in Spain and the capital of the province of Cádiz in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula near the Atlantic Ocean, connected to nearby San Fernando by a narrow strip of land. Cádiz is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, founded by the Phoenicians for trading.

In the 1700s, the port in the Bay of Cádiz was the main harbor for mainland Spain, handling trade with the Americas until 1778. Today, Cádiz is home to the University of Cádiz. The city has both old and new parts. The older area, called the Old Town or Casco Antiguo, has narrow, winding streets and historic neighborhoods like El Pópulo, La Viña, and Santa María. Newer parts of the city have wide streets and modern buildings.

Cádiz is also known for its beautiful parks with exotic plants, including large trees from the New World. One famous park is the historic Parque Genovés. The city's older sections are surrounded by parts of old city walls.

Names and etymology

See also: Names of Cádiz in different languages

People have called the city of Cádiz many names throughout history. The ancient Phoenicians called it a Gadir or Agadir, meaning 'wall' or 'stronghold'. Later groups like the Carthaginians used the same name.

In Greek, the name changed to tà Gádeira. When the Romans arrived, they named it Gādēs, and their colony was called Augusta Urbs Iulia Gaditana. In Arabic, it became Qādis, which is where the Spanish name Cádiz comes from. Today, the city is known by many names in different languages, such as Càdice in Italian and Cadix in French.

History

See also: Timeline of Cádiz

Foundation and early history under the Phoenicians

Cádiz is one of the oldest cities in Western Europe. It was founded by traders from Phoenicians called Tyre around the 7th century BC. The city became an important trading place for metals like gold, tin, and silver.

People often think Cádiz was founded around 1100 BC, but the oldest evidence found there is from the 9th century BC. The ancient city sat on two small islands near the mouth of the River Guadalete. These islands are now connected. Many ancient ruins are still buried under the old part of Cádiz today.

By the 6th century BC, Phoenician control ended when Babylonians captured Tyre. Later, ancient Carthage became powerful in the area.

Part of the Carthaginian Empire

Explorers from Carthage traveled around Spain, France, and Western Africa. The city traded with Tartessos, an ancient city near the Guadalquivir River, though its exact location is unknown.

See also: Temple of Hercules Gaditanus

Cádiz had a famous temple dedicated to the Phoenician god Melqart, later linked to Hercules. In stories, Hercules was said to have founded Cádiz after completing one of his famous tasks. The city later fell under Carthage’s control. It served as a base for Hannibal when he prepared to cross the Alps and invade Italy in 218 BC. The Romans captured Cádiz in 206 BC.

Under Rome's rule

During Roman times, Cádiz grew as a port and naval base called Gades. The Roman leader Julius Caesar visited and felt sad seeing a statue of Alexander the Great.

The people of Cádiz became Roman citizens in 49 BC. By the time of the Roman emperor Augustus, Cádiz was a rich city with many wealthy families. An aqueduct brought fresh water to the town. Though small, Cádiz was famous for its dancing girls who were known across the ancient world.

Switching hands in later antiquity

When Roman rule ended in the 400s AD, the Visigoths took over and destroyed much of the city. Later, the Byzantine Empire controlled it before the Visigoths reclaimed it.

Al-Andalus

From 711 to 1262, the city was ruled by Muslim leaders and called Qādis. Legends told of a huge idol outside the city that could control winds and currents in the strait of Gibraltar. In 1217, sailors from Frisia raided and burned the city. The Muslim rulers were finally removed by Alphonso X of Castile in 1262.

Post-1492

During the Age of Exploration, Cádiz became important. Christopher Columbus sailed from here on some of his voyages, and it became a home port for Spain’s treasure ships. The city faced attacks from enemies. In 1587, an English raid led by Francis Drake destroyed many ships. Another big attack happened in 1596 when an Anglo-Dutch fleet captured and looted the city.

In the 18th century, trade shifted from Seville to Cádiz because of sand bars in the Guadalquivir River. This brought new wealth to the city, and many of its historic buildings date from this time. During the Napoleonic Wars, Cádiz was blockaded by the British but held out against French forces. It became the base for Spain’s government and parliament during the war and was where the liberal Spanish Constitution of 1812 was created.

In recent years, the city has seen many of its old buildings cleaned and restored.

Diocese

Main article: Roman Catholic Diocese of Cádiz y Ceuta

The diocese of Cádiz and Ceuta is part of the larger area led by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seville. It became its own church area in 1263. Later, in 1753, it joined with the Diocese of Ceuta in Africa. The leader of this combined diocese also cared for church matters in Ceuta.

Main sights

Cádiz has many interesting places to see. There is a unique cathedral with different styles, a theater, an old town hall, an 18th-century watchtower, parts of old city walls, an ancient Roman theater, and modern electrical pylons crossing the Bay of Cádiz. The old town has narrow streets leading to squares, with many important buildings around these squares.

Plazas and their landmark buildings

The old town of Cádiz is crowded with narrow streets and several squares. These include Plaza de Mina, Plaza San Antonio, Plaza de Candelaria, Plaza de San Juan de Dios, and Plaza de España.

Plaza de Mina

In the middle of the old town, Plaza de Mina was created in the early 1800s. It was built on land that was once a garden belonging to an old church. The plaza has trees, statues, and the Museum of Cádiz, which shows items from the city's long history.

Plaza de la Catedral and the Cathedral

One of Cádiz's most famous landmarks is its cathedral, called the "New Cathedral." It was built over many years, changing styles from baroque to neoclassical. The cathedral holds paintings and relics from older churches and monasteries.

Plaza de San Juan de Dios and the Old Town Hall

This plaza started in the 1400s on land taken from the sea. The old town hall stands here, built in two stages. The first part was finished in 1799, and the second in 1861.

Plaza de España and the monument to the constitution of 1812

Near the port is Plaza de España, featuring a large monument to the constitution of 1812. The monument was built to celebrate 100 years since the constitution was proclaimed in Cádiz.

Plaza Fragela and the Gran Teatro Falla (Falla Grand Theater)

The original theater was built in 1871 but burned down in 1881. The current theater was built between 1884 and 1905 and was later renamed in honor of composer Manuel de Falla.

Other sights

Tavira tower

In the 1700s, Cádiz had over 160 towers where merchants watched for ships arriving from the New World. The Tavira Tower was chosen as the official lookout for the navy. Today, it has a special room showing panoramic views of the city.

Admiral's House

This grand house was built in 1690 by a wealthy admiral who traded with the Americas. It has beautiful marble and impressive architecture.

Old customs house

Near the port are three old buildings, including the customs house. It was built in a simple neoclassical style in the 1700s.

Palacio de Congresos

Cádiz's old tobacco factory now serves as a place for international conferences and trade shows.

Pylons of Cádiz

The Pylons of Cádiz are unusual electricity towers on either side of the Bay of Cádiz, supporting large power cables.

Roman theatre

Main article: Roman Theatre (Cádiz)

The Roman theatre was found in 1980 after a fire destroyed old warehouses. It is the second-largest Roman theatre in the world and was built in the 1st century BC.

Carranza Bridge

Main article: José León de Carranza Bridge

Puente de la Constitución de 1812

Puente de la Constitución de 1812, officially, also known locally as "La Pepa" or the second bridge to Cádiz or new access to Cádiz. It opened 24 September 2015. It crosses the Bay of Cádiz linking Cádiz with Puerto Real in mainland Spain. It is the longest bridge in Spain and the longest span cable-stayed in the country.

City walls and fortifications

Las Puertas de Tierra started in the 1500s. Only one wall remains today, and the entrance to the old city was redesigned for modern traffic. Two arches now serve as a main entrance.

El Arco de los Blancos is the gate to the Populo district, built around 1300. It was the main gate to the medieval town.

El Arco de la Rosa is a gate next to the cathedral, named after a captain from the 1700s. It was renovated in 1973.

The Baluarte de la Candelaria is a old fortress built in 1672. It was used for defense and later as a headquarters. Today it is used for cultural events.

The Castle of San Sebastián is a fortress at the end of Caleta beach, built in 1706. It is not in use today, but people discuss what to do with it.

The Castle of Santa Catalina is another fortress at Caleta beach, built in 1598. It was recently renovated and is now used for exhibitions and concerts.

Notable people born in Cádiz

Main category: People from Cádiz

Cádiz has been home to many famous people throughout history. Some well-known individuals include Joaquín del Real Alencaster, who governed Santa Fe de Nuevo México long ago, and Juan Bautista Aznar, who later became the Prime Minister of Spain.

Other notable figures are Manuel de Falla, a talented composer, and Chico Flores, a professional football player. The city also saw the birth of important historical figures like George Meade, a general in the American Civil War, and José Celestino Mutis, a skilled botanist and mathematician.

Climate

Cádiz has a warm Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers. The city is on a narrow peninsula near the ocean, so the sea greatly affects its weather. Cádiz has some of the warmest winters in Spain and all of Europe, with average temperatures around 12.9 °C (55.2 °F) in the coldest month. The city gets plenty of sunshine, with over 3,000 hours of sunlight each year, making it one of the sunniest places in Europe. Summer nights can feel warm, but daytime temperatures stay more comfortable than in areas farther inland, such as Jerez. The sea stays around 16 °C (61 °F) in winter and 22 °C (72 °F) in summer. It hasn’t snowed in Cádiz since at least 1935.

Beaches

Cádiz, on a peninsula, has many beautiful beaches.

La Playa de la Caleta is the most popular beach in Cádiz. It lies between two old castles and is about 400 meters long. It is famous in songs and was used in a James Bond movie/Die Another Day.

La Playa de la Victoria is the favorite beach for both tourists and locals. It stretches about three kilometers and has soft sand perfect for families.

La Playa de Santa María del Mar, also called Playita de las Mujeres, is a smaller beach with great views of the old part of Cádiz. Other beaches include Torregorda, Cortadura, and El Chato.

Culture

Language

The Spanish spoken in Cádiz has special sounds that make it unique. It is part of the Western Andalusian and urban dialects. One special feature is that the sounds of "s" and "z" are the same, and the "s" sound is made with the front of the tongue.

Carnival

The Carnival of Cádiz is one of the most famous carnivals in the world. Throughout the year, there are many activities related to the carnival, including rehearsals, public shows, and various contests.

The Carnival of Cádiz is well-known for groups called chirigotas, who perform funny musical pieces. A chirigota usually has seven to twelve performers who sing, act, and improvise while playing guitars, kazoos, a bass drum, and other noise-makers. There are also other types of performers, such as choruses, groups called comparsas who sing in close harmony. There are also cuartetos, made of four performers who switch between funny parodies and humorous songs, and romanceros, storytellers who tell tales in verse. These different shows turn the city into a colorful and popular open-air theater for two weeks in February.

The Concurso Oficial de Agrupaciones Carnavalescas sponsors a contest each year in the Gran Teatro Falla where chirigotas and other performers compete for prizes. This is the big event of the Cádiz carnival.

Cuisine

The food of Cádiz includes stews and sweets that are typical of the area and the city.

Demographics

According to a 2021 census, the city of Cádiz has 114,244 people. It is the third-largest city in its province, after Jerez de la Frontera and Algeciras. The number of people living in Cádiz has been going down. This is partly because the city has very little space to grow — it sits on a narrow strip of land next to the sea.

Cádiz also has one of the highest rates of unemployment in Spain. Because of this, many younger people move away to find jobs in places like Madrid or other countries. As a result, Cádiz has more older residents than younger ones.

Population density

Cádiz is one of the most crowded cities in Europe. Most people live in just 4.4 square kilometers (1.7 square miles). This means many people live very close together. The city is split into ten areas for counting people, and some areas are much more crowded than others.

Area is in km² and population density in inhabitants per square kilometer.

Transportation

Cádiz is connected to European route E5. This road links it to Sevilla, Cordoba, and Madrid to the north, and Algeciras to the southeast. It continues as E15 along the Spanish Mediterranean coast.

The city uses Jerez Airport, about 40 km north of the center. The airport has regular flights within Spain and to places in Europe. Cercanías Cádiz line C1 takes you from the airport to Cádiz train station in about an hour.

Cádiz railway station is near the old town. It has many train services, including fast trains to Madrid since 2015. Local trains go to nearby areas and cities like Jerez and Seville. The station is also where you can catch the Cádiz Bay tram-train.

The port near the station has ferries to the Canary Islands and welcomes cruise ships during certain times of the year.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain

Cádiz is twinned with many cities around the world. Some of these include:

• Ambalema in Colombia (since 2008)
• Bogotá in Colombia (since 2008)
• Brest in France (since 1986)
• Buenos Aires in Argentina (since 1975)
• Ceuta in Spain (since 2007)
• Dakhla in Western Sahara/Morocco (since 1992)

There are many more sister cities, showing friendship between different places.