Cádiz

Cádiz(/kəˈdɪz/kə-DIZ,USalso/ˈkeɪdɪz,ˈkæd-,ˈkɑːd-/KAY-diz,KA(H)D-iz,Spanish:[ˈkaðiθ]) is a city in Spain and the capital of theProvince of Cádiz, in theautonomous communityofAndalusia. It is located in the southwest of theIberian Peninsulaoff theAtlantic Oceanseparated from neighbouringSan Fernandoby a narrow isthmus.
Cádiz, one of theoldest continuously inhabited citiesinWestern Europe, was founded by thePhoeniciansas a trading post.In the 18th century, the Port in the Bay of Cádiz consolidated as the main harbour of mainland Spain, enjoying the virtual monopoly of trade with the Americas until 1778. It is also the site of theUniversity of Cádiz.
Situated on a narrow slice of land surrounded by the sea‚ Cádiz is, in most respects, a typical Andalusian city with well-preserved historical landmarks. The older part of Cádiz, within the remnants of thecity walls, is commonly referred to as the Old Town (Spanish:Casco Antiguo), and represents a large area of the total size of the city. It is characterized by the antiquity of its various quarters (barrios), among themEl Pópulo,La Viña, andSanta María, which present a marked contrast to the newer areas of town. While the Old City's street plan consists of narrow winding alleys connecting large plazas, newer areas of Cádiz typically have wide avenues and more modern buildings. The city is dotted with parks whereexotic plantsflourish, including giant trees supposedly brought to the Iberian Peninsula from theNew World. This includes the historicParque Genovés.
Numismaticinscriptions in thePhoenician languagerecord that thePhoeniciansknew the site asa GadirorAgadir(Phoenician:‬𐤀𐤂𐤃𐤓,ʾgdr),meaning 'wall', 'compound', or (bymetonymy) 'stronghold'.Borrowed by theBerber languages, this became theagadir(Tamazightfor 'wall' andShilhafor 'fortified granary') common inNorth Africanplace names,such as that of the Moroccan city ofAgadir. TheCarthaginianscontinued to use this name and all subsequent names have derived from it.
Attic GreeksourceshellenizedGadirastà Gádeira(Ancient Greek:τὰ Γάδειρα), which is neuter plural.Herodotus, usingIonic Greek, transcribed it a little differently, asGḗdeira(Γήδειρα). Rarely, as inStephanus of Byzantium's notes on the writings ofEratosthenes, is the name given in the feminine singular form ashè Gadeíra(ἡ Γαδείρα).
InLatin, the city was known asGādēsand its Roman colony asAugusta Urbs Iulia Gaditana('The August City ofJuliaof Cádiz'). InArabic, the Latin name becameQādis(Arabic:قادس), from which the SpanishCádizderives. The Spanishdemonymfor people and things from Cádiz isgaditano.
The same root also gives the modern ItalianCàdice, CatalanCadis,PortugueseCádis,and FrenchCadix, the last also appearing in many English sources before the 20th century.
The nameCales, which usually refers toCalaisin France, is also used for Cádiz,especially in the context of the 1596Capture of Cádizby the British and Dutch, asThomas Percynotes in his introduction of the ballad "The Winning of Cales"(and it is also found in the sarcastic rhyme beginning "A gentleman of Wales, a knight of Cales").
In English, the nameCádiz, traditionally spelt without theacute accentmark on thea, is pronounced variously. When the accent is on the second syllable, it is usually pronounced/kəˈdɪz/but, when the accent is on the first syllable, it may be pronounced as/ˈkeɪdɪz/,/ˈkɑːdɪz/,/ˈkædɪz/, and similar, typically in American English.In Spanish, the accent is always, as according to the spelling, on the first syllable but, while the usual pronunciation in Spain is[ˈkaðiθ], thelocal dialectsays[ˈkaðis],[ˈkaði]or even[ˈka.i]instead.
Founded asGadirorAgadirbyPhoeniciansfromTyre,Cádiz is often regarded as the most ancient city still standing in Western Europe.The city was an important trading hub founded to access different metals including gold, tin, and especially silver.The Phoenicians established a port in the 7th century BC.
Traditionally, Cádiz's founding is dated toc.1100 BC,although no archaeological strata on the site can be dated earlier than the 9th century BC. One resolution for this discrepancy has been to assume that Gadir was merely a small seasonal trading post in its earliest days.
Ancient Gadir occupied two small islands—primarily a settlement, and Kotinoussa, hosting cemeteries and sanctuaries outside the urban area—situated near the mouth of River Guadalete.Presently, these islands are interconnected. While the ancient ruins of Gadir beneath modern Cádiz's historical center remain largely unexcavated, excavations have been carried out in the southern cemeteries.
By the 6th century BC, disturbances within Phoenicia itself, notably thefall of Tyreto theBabylonians(573 BC), led to the end of Phoenician control over southern Iberia. This vacuum was later filled byancient Carthage, which rose as a predominant power in the region during subsequent eras.
The expeditions ofHimilcoaround Spain and France and ofHannoaround Western Africa began there. The Phoenician settlement traded withTartessos, a city-state whose exact location remains unknown but is thought to have been somewhere near the mouth of theGuadalquivir River.
One of the city's notable features during antiquity was the temple on the south end of its island dedicated to the Phoenician godMelqart, who was conflated withHerculesby the Greeks and Romans under the names "Tyrian Hercules" and "Hercules Gaditanus". It had an oracle and was famed for its wealth.InGreek mythology, Hercules was sometimes credited with foundingGadeiraafter performing histenth labor, the slaying ofGeryon, a monster with three heads and torsos joined to a single pair of legs. (Atumulusnear Gadeira was associated with Geryon's final resting-place.) According to theLife of Apollonius of Tyana, the "Heracleum" (i.e., the temple of Melqart) was still standing during the 1st century. Some historians, based in part on this source, believe that the columns of this temple were the origin of the myth of the "pillars of Hercules".
The city fell under the sway ofCarthageduringHamilcar Barca's Iberian campaign after theFirst Punic War. Cádiz became a depot forHannibal's conquest of southernIberia, and he sacrificed there to Hercules/Melqart before setting off on his famous journey in 218 BC to cross the Alps and invade Italy.Later the city fell toRomansunderScipio Africanusin 206 BC.
Under theRoman RepublicandEmpire, the city flourished as a port and naval base known asGades.Suetoniusrelates how Julius Caesar, when visiting Gades as aquaestor(junior senator), saw a statue of Alexander the Great there and was saddened to think that he himself, though the same age, had still achieved nothing memorable.
The people of Gades had an alliance with Rome andJulius CaesarbestowedRoman citizenshipon all its inhabitants in 49 BC.By the time ofAugustus's census, Cádiz was home to more than five hundredequites(members of the wealthy upper class), a concentration rivaled only byPatavium(Padua) andRomeitself.It was the principal city of theRoman colonyof Augusta Urbs Julia Gaditana. Anaqueductprovided fresh water to the town, the island's supply being poor, running across open sea for its last leg. However, Roman Gades was never very large. It consisted only of the northwest corner of the present island, and most of its wealthy citizens maintained estates outside of it on thenearby islandor on the mainland.The lifestyle maintained on the estates led to theGaditan dancing girls(thepuellae gaditanae) becoming famous throughout the ancient world.
Although it is not in fact the most westerly city in the Spanish peninsula, for the Romans Cádiz had that reputation. The poetJuvenalbegins his famous tenth satire with the words:Omnibus in terris quae sunt a Gadibus usque Auroram et Gangen('In all the lands which exist from Gades as far as Dawn and the Ganges ...').
Theoverthrow of Roman powerinHispania Baeticaby theVisigothsin the AD 400s saw the destruction of the original city, of which few traces remain today. The site was later reconquered by Justinian in 551 as part of the Byzantine province ofSpania.It would remain Byzantine untilLeovigild's reconquest in 572 returned it to the Visigothic Kingdom.
UnderMoorishrule between 711 and 1262, the city was calledQādis, whence the modernSpanishname was derived. A famous Muslim legend developed concerning an "idol" (sanam Qādis) over 100cubitstall on the outskirts of Cádiz whose magic blocked thestrait of Gibraltarwith contrary winds and currents; its destruction byAbd-al-Muminc.1145supposedly permitted ships to sail through the strait once more. It also appeared (asSalamcadis) in the 12th-centuryPseudo-Turpin'shistory of Charlemagne, where it was considered a statue ofMuhammadand thought to warn the Muslims of Christian invasion.Classical sources are entirely silent on such a structure, but it has been conjectured that the origin of the legend was the ruins of a navigational aid constructed inlate antiquity.Abd-al-Mumin (or Admiral Ali ibn-Isa ibn-Maymun) found that the idol was gilded bronze rather than pure gold, but coined what there was to help fund his revolt.In 1217, according to theDe itinere Frisonumthe city was raided by a group ofFrisiancrusaders en route to theHoly Landwho burned it and destroyed its congregational mosque.The Moors were ousted byAlphonso XofCastilein 1262.
Historically, there was aJewishcommunity living in Cádiz under Muslim rule.
During theAge of Exploration, the city experienced a renaissance.Christopher Columbussailed from Cádiz on hissecond and fourth voyagesand the city later became the home port of theSpanish treasure fleet. Consequently, it became a major target of Spain's enemies. The 16th century saw a series of failed raids byBarbary corsairs; the greater part of the old town was consumed in a major fire in 1569; and in April 1587 araidby the EnglishmanFrancis Drakeoccupied the harbor for three days, captured six ships, and destroyed 31 others (an event which became known in England as "the Singeing of theKing of Spain's Beard"). The attack delayed the sailing of theSpanish Armadaby a year.
The city suffered a still more seriousattack in 1596, when it was captured by an Anglo-Dutch fleet, this time under the Earlsof EssexandNottingham. 32 Spanish ships were destroyed and the city was captured, looted and occupied for almost a month. Finally, when the royal authorities refused to pay a ransom demanded by the English for returning the city intact, they burned much of it before leaving with their booty. A third English raid was mounted against the city in 1625 byGeorge Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, andEdward Cecil, but the attempt was unsuccessful. During theAnglo-Spanish War,Admiral Robert Blakeblockaded Cádiz from 1655 to 1657. In the1702 Battle of Cádiz, the English attacked again underGeorge RookeandJames Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde, but they were repelled after a costly siege.
In the 18th century, thesand barsof theGuadalquivirforced the Spanish government to transfer itsAmericantrade fromSevilleto Cádiz, which now commanded better access to the Atlantic. Although theempireitself was declining, Cádiz now experienced another golden age because of its new importance, and many of today's historic buildings in the Old City date from this era. It became one of Spain's greatest and most cosmopolitan cities and home to trading communities from many countries, chief among which were the French and Anglo-Irish.Irish Catholics were prohibited by thepenal lawsfrom owning land or entering a profession in Ireland, whereas in Spain they were as Catholics permitted to trade more freely than the English.
On 12 October 1778, the right to trade with the Americas was expanded to most ports of mainland Spain, bringing the monopoly of trade hitherto enjoyed by the Port of the Bay of Cádiz to an end.
During theNapoleonic Wars, Cádiz wasblockaded by the Britishfrom 1797 until thePeace of Amiensin 1802 and again from 1803 until the outbreak of thePeninsular Warin 1808. In that war, it was one of the few Spanish cities to hold out against the invading French and their candidateJoseph Bonaparte. Cádiz then became the seat of Spain's military high command andCortes(parliament) for the duration of the war. It was here that the liberalSpanish Constitution of 1812was proclaimed. The citizens revolted in 1820 to secure a renewal of this constitution and the revolution spread successfully untilFerdinand VIIwas imprisoned in Cádiz.French forcessecured the release of Ferdinand in the 1823Battle of Trocaderoand suppressed liberalism for a time. In 1868, Cádiz was once again the seat of a revolution, resulting in the eventual abdication and exile of QueenIsabella II. The Cortes of Cádiz decided to reinstate the monarchy under KingAmadeojust two years later.
In recent years, the city has undergone much reconstruction. Many monuments, cathedrals, andlandmarkshave been cleaned and restored.
The diocese of Cádiz andCeutais asuffraganof theRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Seville; that is, it is a diocese within the metropolitan see of Seville. It became a diocese in 1263 after itsReconquista(reconquest) from the Moors. By theConcordatof 1753, in which the Spanish crown also gained the rights to make appointments to church offices and to tax church lands, the Diocese of Cádiz was merged with theDiocese of Ceuta, a Spanish conclave on the northern coast of Africa, and thediocesan bishopbecame, by virtue of his office, theapostolic administratorof Ceuta.
Among the many landmarks of historical and scenic interest in Cádiz, a few stand out. The city can boast of an unusual cathedral of variousarchitectural styles, a theater, an old municipal building, an 18th-century watchtower, a vestige of the ancient city wall, an ancient Roman theater, and electrical pylons of an eye-catchingly modern design carrying cables across the Bay of Cádiz. The old town is characterized by narrow streets connecting squares (plazas), bordered by the sea and by the city walls. Most of the landmark buildings are situated in the plazas.
The old town of Cádiz is one of the most densely populated urban areas in Europe,and is packed with narrow streets. The old town benefits, though, from several striking plazas, which are enjoyed by citizens and tourists alike. These are thePlaza de Mina,Plaza San Antonio,Plaza de Candelaria,Plaza de San Juan de Dios, andPlaza de España.
Located in the heart of the old town, Plaza de Mina was developed in the first half of the 19th century. Previously, the land occupied by the plaza was the orchard of the convent of San Francisco. The plaza was converted into a plaza in 1838 by the architect Torcuato Benjumeda and (later) Juan Daura, with its trees being planted in 1861. It was then redeveloped again in 1897, and has remained virtually unchanged since that time. It is named after GeneralFrancisco Espoz y Mina, a hero of the war of independence.Manuel de Fallay Matheu was born in Number 3 Plaza de Mina, where a plaque bears his name. The plaza also contains several statues, one of these is a bust ofJosé Macpherson(a pioneer in the development ofpetrography,stratigraphyandtectonics) who was born in number 12 Plaza de Mina in 1839. TheMuseum of Cádiz, is to be found at number 5 Plaza de Mina, and contains many objects from Cádiz's 3000-year history as well as works by artists such asPeter Paul Rubens. The houses which face the plaza, many of which can be classified asneo-classical architectureor built in the style ofIsabelline Gothic, were originally occupied by the Cádizbourgeoisie.
The Plaza de la Catedral houses both the Cathedral and theBaroquechurch ofSantiago, built in 1635.
Located next to Plaza de Mina, this smaller square houses the San Francisco church and convent. Originally built in 1566, it was substantially renovated in the 17th century,when its cloisters were added.Originally, the Plaza de Mina formed the convent's orchard.
In the 19th century Plaza San Antonio was considered to be Cádiz's main square. The square is surrounded by a number of mansions built inneo-classical architectureorIsabelline Gothicstyle, once occupied by the Cádiz upper classes. San Antonio church, originally built in 1669, is also situated in the plaza.
The plaza was built in the 18th century, and on 19 March 1812 the SpanishConstitution of 1812was proclaimed here, leading to the plaza to be named Plaza de la Constitución, and then later Plaza San Antonio, after the hermit San Antonio.
In 1954 the city's mayor proclaimed the location a historic site. All construction is prohibited.
The Plaza de Candelaria is named after the Candelaria convent, situated in the square until it was demolished in 1873 under theFirst Spanish Republic, when its grounds were redeveloped as a plaza. The plaza is notable for a statue in its centre ofEmilio Castelar, president of the first Spanish republic, who was born in a house facing the square. A plaque situated on another house, states thatBernardo O'Higgins, an Irish-Chilean adventurer and former dictator of Chile, also lived in the square.
One of Cádiz's most famous landmarks is its cathedral. Unlike in many places, the Cathedral of Cádiz, known locally as the "New Cathedral," is officially the Cathedral de "Santa Cruz sobre el mar" or "Santa Cruz sobre las Aguas". It was not built on the site of the original Cathedral de Santa Cruz. The latter was completed in 1263 at the behest of Alfonso X, and burned in the Anglo-Dutch attack on the city in 1596.The reconstruction of the old cathedral started in the early 17th century, but when the city became more prosperous following the move of theCasa de Contrataciónfrom Seville to Cádiz in 1717,it was felt that a grander cathedral was needed.
Work on the New Cathedral started in 1722 and was supervised by the architectVicente Acero, who had also built theGranada Cathedral. Acero resigned from the project and was succeeded by several other architects. As a result, this largely Baroque-style cathedral was built over a period of 116 years, and, due to this drawn-out period of construction, the cathedral underwent several major changes to its original design. Though the cathedral was originally intended to be a baroque edifice with somerococoelements, it was completed in theneoclassical style.Itschapelshave many paintings and relics from the old cathedral in Cádiz and as well as from monasteries throughout Spain.
Construction of this plaza began in the 15th century on lands reclaimed from the sea. With the demolition of the City walls in 1906 the plaza increased in size and a statue of the Cádiz politician Segismundo Moret was unveiled. Overlooking the plaza, theAyuntamientois thetown hallof Cádiz'sOld City. The structure, constructed on the bases and location of the previousConsistorial Houses(1699), was built in two stages. The first stage began in 1799 under the direction of architectTorcuato Benjumedain theneoclassicalstyle. The second stage was completed in 1861 under the direction ofGarcía del Alamo, in theIsabelline Gothic(Spanish:Gótico Isabelinoor, simply, theIsabelino) style. Here, in 1936, the flag ofAndalusiawas hoisted for the first time.
The Plaza de España is a large square close to the port. It is dominated by theMonument to the Constitution of 1812, which came into being as a consequence of the demolition of a portion of the old city wall. The plaza is an extension of the oldPlazuela del Carbón.
The goal of this demolition was to create a grand new city square to mark the hundredth anniversary of the liberal constitution, which was proclaimed in this city in 1812, and provide a setting for a suitable memorial. The work is by the architect,Modesto Lopez Otero, and of the sculptor,Aniceto Marinas. The work began in 1912 and finished in 1929.
The originalGran Teatrowas constructed in 1871 by the architect García del Alamo, and was destroyed by a fire in August 1881. The current theater was built between 1884 and 1905 over the remains of the previous Gran Teatro. The architect was Adolfo Morales de los Rios, and the overseer of construction was Juan Cabrera de la Torre. The outside was covered in redbricksand is of aneo-MudéjarorMoorish revivalstyle. Following renovations in the 1920s, the theater was renamed theGran Teatro Falla, in honor of composerManuel de Falla, who is buried in the crypt of the cathedral. After a period of disrepair in the 1980s, the theater has since undergone extensive renovation.
In the 18th century, Cádiz had more than 160 towers from which local merchants could look out to sea to watch for arrivingmerchant shipsfrom the New World. These towers often formed part of the merchants' houses, but this particular tower was located on a high point in the city, 45 meters above sea level, and was chosen by the Navy as their official lookout in 1787 (after eliminating several other locations previously).TheTorre Tavira, was named for its original watchman, Don Antonio Tavira, a lieutenant in the Spanish Navy.Today it is the tallest of the towers which still dot the Cádiz skyline. Since 1994 there is acamera obscura, a room that uses the principle of thepinhole cameraand a specially preparedconvex lensto project panoramic views of the Old City onto a concave disc. There are also two exhibition rooms and a rooftop terrace.
TheCasa del Almiranteis a palatial house, adjacent to the Plaza San Martín in the Barrio del Pópulo, which was constructed in 1690 with the proceeds of the lucrative trade with the Americas. It was built by the family of the admiral of theSpanish treasure fleet, the so-calledFleet of the Indies, DonDiego de Barrios. The exterior is sheathed in exquisite red and white Genoan marble, prepared in the workshops of Andreoli, and mounted by the master,García Narváez. The colonnaded portico, the grand staircase under the cupola, and the hall on the main floor are architectural features of great nobility and beauty. The shield of the Barrios family appears on the second-floor balcony.
Situated within the confines of the walls which protect the flank of the port of Cádiz are three identical adjacent buildings: the Customs House, the House of Hiring and the consulate. Of the three, the former had been erected first, built in a sober neo-classical style and of ample and balanced proportions. The works began in 1765 under the direction of Juan Caballero at a cost of 7,717,200reales.
Cádiz's refurbished tobacco factory offers international conference and trade-show facilities.Home to the third annual MAST Conference and trade-show (12 to 14 November 2008).
ThePylons of Cádizareelectricity pylonsof unusual design, one on either side of theBay of Cádiz, used to support huge electric-power cables. The pylons are 158 meters (518 ft) high and designed for twocircuits. The very unconventional construction consists of a narrowfrustumsteelframework with one crossbar at the top of each one for the insulators.
The Roman theatre was discovered in 1980, in the El Pópulo district, after a fire had destroyed some old warehouses, revealing a layer of construction that was judged to be the foundations of some medieval buildings; the foundations of these buildings had been built, in turn, upon much more ancient stones, hand-hewn limestone of a Roman character. Systematic excavations have revealed a largely intact Roman theatre.
The theatre, constructed by order ofLucius Cornelius Balbus (minor)during the 1st century BC, is the second-largest Roman theatre in the world, surpassed only by the theatre ofPompeii, south ofRome.Cicero, in hisEpistulae ad Familiares('Letters to his friends'), wrote of its use by Balbus for personal propaganda.
La Pepa Bridge, officially "La Pepa" and also named the second bridge to Cádiz or new access to Cádiz. It opened 24 September 2015. It crosses theBay of Cádizlinking Cádiz withPuerto Realin mainland Spain. It is the longest bridge in Spain and the longest span cable-stayed in the country.
The Constitution of 1812 Bridge, also known as La Pepa Bridge, is a new bridge across the Bay of Cádiz, linking Cádiz with the town of Puerto Real.
This is one of the highest bridges in Europe, with 5 kilometers in total length. It is the third access to the city, along with the San Fernando road and the Carranza bridge.
Las Puertas de Tierraoriginated in the 16th century.Once consisting of several layers of walls, only one of these remain today. By the 20th century it was necessary to remodel the entrance to the Old City to accommodate modern traffic. Today, the two side-by-side arches cut into the wall serve as one of the primary entrances to the city.
El Arco de los Blancosis the gate to the Populo district, built around 1300. It was the principal gate to the medieval town. The gate is named after the family of Felipe Blanco who built a chapel (now disappeared) above the gate.
El Arco de la Rosa("Rose Arch") is a gate carved into the medieval walls next to the cathedral. It is named after captain Gaspar de la Rosa, who lived in the city during the 18th century. The gate was renovated in 1973.
TheBaluarte de la Candelaria(fortress or stronghold ofCandlemas) is a military fortification. Taking advantage of a natural elevation of land, it was constructed in 1672 at the initiative of the governor,Diego Caballero de Illescas. Protected by a seaward-facing wall that had previously served as a seawall, Candelaria's cannons were in a position to command the channels approaching the port of Cádiz. In more recent times, the edifice has served as a headquarters for the corps ofmilitary engineersand as the home to the army'shoming pigeons, birds used to carry written messages over hostile terrain. Thoroughly renovated, it is now used as a cultural venue. There has been some discussion of using it to house amaritime museum,but, at present, it is designated for use as a permanent exposition space.
TheCastle of San Sebastiánis also a military fortification and is situated at the end of a road leading out from the Caleta beach. It was built in 1706. Today the castle remains unused, although its future uses remain much debated.
TheCastle of Santa Catalinais also a military fortification, and is situated at the end of the Caleta beach. It was built in 1598 following the English sacking of Cádiz two years earlier. Recentlyrenovated, today it is used for exhibitions and concerts.
Cádiz has a hot-summerMediterranean climate(KöppenCsa;Trewartha:Csal) with very mild winters and warm to hot summers. The city has significant maritime influences due to its position on a narrow peninsula. Cádiz has the warmest winters inSpainand one of the warmest inEurope, with an average temperature of 12.9 °C (55.2 °F) in the coldest month.The annual sunshine hours of Cádiz are above 3,000h, being one of the sunniest cities in Europe. Although summer nights are tropical in nature, daytime temperatures are comparatively subdued compared to nearby inland areas such asJerezand the very hot far inland areas in Andalucía. The average sea temperature is around 16 °C (61 °F) during the winter and around 22 °C (72 °F) during the summer.Snowfall is unknown at least since 1935.
Cádiz, situated on a peninsula, is home to many beaches.
La Playa dela Caletais the most popular beach of Cádiz. It has always been in Carnival songs, due to its unequalled beauty and its proximity to theBarrio de la Viña. It is the beach of the Old City, situated between two castles, San Sebastian and Santa Catalina. It is around 400 meters (1,300 ft) long and 30 meters (98 ft) wide atlow tide. La Caleta and the boulevard show a lot of resemblance to parts ofHavana, the capital city ofCuba, like themalecon. Therefore, it served as the set for several of the Cuban scenes in the beginning of theJames Bond movieDie Another Day.
La Playa de la Victoria, in the newer part of Cádiz, is the beach most visited by tourists and natives of Cádiz. It is about three km long, and it has an average width of 50 meters (160 ft) of sand. The moderateswelland the absence of rocks allow family bathing. It is separated from the city by an avenue; on the landward side of the avenue, there are many shops and restaurants.
La Playa de Santa María del MarorPlayita de las Mujeresis a small beach in Cádiz, situated between La Playa de Victoria and La Playa de la Caleta. It features excellent views of the old district of Cádiz.
Other beaches areTorregorda,CortaduraandEl Chato.
The Spanish spoken in Cádiz reflects features of Western Andalusian and urban dialects. It isseseante, meaning there is no distinction between the sounds of "s" and "z," and the "s" is pronounced with the front part of the tongue (predorsal s).Key characteristics include:
These features make the Cádiz accent unique, showcasing a strong influence of regional and urban speech patterns.
The Carnival of Cádiz is one of the best knowncarnivalsin the world. Throughout the year, carnival-related activities are almost constant in the city; there are always rehearsals, public demonstrations, andcontestsof various kinds.
The Carnival of Cádiz is famous for the satirical groups calledchirigotas, who perform comicalmusical pieces. Typically, a chirigota is composed of seven to twelve performerswho sing, act and improvise accompanied byguitars,kazoos, abass drum, and a variety of noise-makers. Other than the chirigotas, there are many other groups of performers: choruses; ensembles calledcomparsas, who sing inclose harmonymuch like thebarbershop quartetsofAfrican-American cultureor themariachisof Mexico;cuartetos, consisting of four (or sometimes three) performers alternating dramatic parodies and humorous songs; andromanceros,storytellerswho recite tales in verse. These diverse spectacles turn the city into a colourful and popular open-air theatre for two entire weeks in February.
TheConcurso Oficial de Agrupaciones Carnavalescas(the official association of carnival groups) sponsors a contest in theGran Teatro Falla(see above) each year where chirigotas and other performers compete for prizes. This is the climactic event of the Cádiz carnival.
The gastronomy of Cádiz includes stews and sweets typical of thecomarcaand the city.
According to a 2021censusestimate, the population of the city of Cádiz was 114,244 (the third-most-populated city of the province afterJerez de la Frontera, with 212,830 inhabitants, andAlgeciraswith 122,982). It is the only capital city in Spain that is not the most or second-most populated City on its province. Cádiz is the fifty-seventh-largest Spanish city.In recent years, the city's population has steadily declined; it is the only municipality of theBay of Cádiz(thecomarcacomposed of Cádiz,Chiclana,El Puerto de Santa María,Puerto Real, andSan Fernando), whose population has diminished. There are forecasts that Cádiz may become the fourth or fifth city in the province after losing more than 10,000 inhabitants from 2011 to 2021.Between 1995 and 2006, it lost more than 14,000 residents, a decrease of 9%.
Among the causes of this loss of population is the peculiar geography of Cádiz; the city lies on a narrow spit of land hemmed in by the sea. Consequently, there is a pronounced shortage of land to be developed.The city has very little vacant land, and a high proportion of its housing stock is relatively low in density.(That is to say, many buildings are only two or three stories tall, and they are only able to house a relatively small number of people within their "footprint".) The older quarters of Cádiz are full of buildings that, because of their age and historical significance, are not eligible forurban renewal.
Two other physical factors tend to limit the city's population. It is impossible to increase the amount of land available for building by reclaiming land from the sea; a new national law governing coastal development thwarts this possibility. Also, because Cádiz is built on asandspit, it is a costly proposition to sink foundations deep enough to support thehigh-rise buildingsthat would allow for a higher population density. As it stands, the city'sskylineis not substantially different from in theMiddle Ages. A 17th-century watchtower, the Tavira Tower, still commands a panoramic view of the city and the bay despite its relatively modest 45 meters (148 ft) height. (See below.)
Cádiz is the provincial capital with the highestrate of unemploymentin Spain. This, too, tends to depress the population level. Young Gaditanos, those between 18 and 30 years of age, have been migrating to other places in Spain (MadridandCastellón, chiefly), as well as to other places in Europe and the Americas. The population younger than twenty years old is only 20.58% of the total, and the population older than sixty-five is 21.67%, making Cádiz one of the most aged cities in all of Spain.
The population distribution of the municipality is extremely uneven. In its inhabited areas, Cádiz is one of the most densely populated cities in Europe. The uninhabited Zona Franca industrial area, Bay of Cádiz Port Area, and Bay of Cádiz Natural Park occupy 63.63% of the municipal area. The entire city population lives in the remaining 4.4 square kilometers (1.7 sq mi), at an average density close to 30,000 inhabitants per square kilometer. The city is divided for statistical purposes into 10 divisions, the most densely populated one having 39,592 inhabitants per square kilometer, the least having 20,835.
The table below lists the area, population, and population density of the ten statistical divisions of Cádiz. Divisions 1 to 7, the "stats divisions", belong to the old town; 8, 9 and 10 correspond to the "new city".
Area is in kmandpopulation densityin inhabitants per square kilometer.
Cádiz is connected to European routeE5which connects it with Sevilla, Cordoba and Madrid to the North andAlgecirasto the South East, continuing asE15northbound along the Spanish Mediterranean coast.
The city is served byJerez Airport, which is approximately 40 km (25 mi) north of the city centre. The airport offers regular domestic flights to Madrid and Barcelona as well as scheduled and seasonal charter flights to the UK, Germany and other European destinations.Cercanías Cádizline C1 connects the airport to Cádiz main train station in 1hr.
Cádiz railway stationis located just outside the old town. It offers suburban, regional and national services. The connection to theMadrid-Seville high-speed rail linewas finished in 2015 after 14 years of construction, which extends the high speedAlviatrains to the city. Local services make the outskirts and regional destinations accessible along the line to Jerez and Seville. It is also the terminal of the newCádiz Bay tram-train.
The portopposite the train station provides weekly ferry services to theCanary Islands(2–3 days travel time)as well as providing a stop for seasonal cruise ships.
Cádiz istwinnedwith: