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Sightseeing
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►Jerez |
►Cadiz |
►Sevilla |
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Jerez |
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The economy of the largest city in Cádiz province is almost entirely
dependent on the production and export – mainly
to Britain – of sherry and brandy. In recent years the famous brands
have seen a fall in demand and profits, resulting
in high unemployment in Jerez de la Frontera. Not that this will be
apparent as you wander around Jerez’s pretty,
well-maintained streets, and it remains a very relaxed and pleasant
place to while away a day or two. As well as
sherry and brandy in abundance, the town has superb tapas bars,
authentic flamenco venues and some
outstanding buildings.
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To see just how
varied sherry can be, take a tour of the big 'bodegas' in the town
centre; Pedro Domecq is a reliable label, while González Byass is the
maker of Tío Pepe, the world’s bestselling dry sherry.
Aside from sherry, Jerez has two other main preoccupations: horses and
flamenco.
The Real Escuela Andaluz del Arte Ecuestre – the Royal Riding School –
is based here and Jerez claims to be the home of flamenco. |
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The Centro Andaluz de
Flamenco is a museum, gallery and cinema rolled into one, and the city
has one of the largest remaining gypsy populations in Andalucía.
Nestling peacefully within the remains of its 12th-century Moorish
walls, Jerez’s heart and main shopping artery is Calle Larga.
This leads south to the streets around Plaza del Arenal, the scene of
occasional horse races and the best tapas bars. Just to the south, the
12th-century Alcázar contains a mosque converted into a chapel, which
has a beautiful octagonal cupola and a bathhouse with star-shaped
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On the third floor of the adjoining 18th-century Palacio de
Villavicencio, there are wonderful views of the city.
Jerez’s Municipal Archaeological Museum in the Plaza del Mercado, is
home to one of the region’s best collections of artefacts, dating from
Paleolithic times to the 18th century.
Jerez is renowned for its 'cartujano' dancing horses – the famous
Andalucían thoroughbreds trained at the Real Escuela Andaluz del Arte
Ecuestre. The synchronised shows are impressive but even the training
sessions, open to the public, make for a fascinating morning.
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Cadiz
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A visit to Cadiz might begin in Puerta Tierra, the entry point through
the walls and the dividing line between modern
and old Cádiz. On the one side, wide avenues, beaches, sailing clubs and
modern sporting facilities. On the other, a
Cádiz with more flavour and history, that of the old districts: El
Pópulo, the old medieval town; La Viña, fishing
district and centre of the local tradition of satirical verses, or Santa
María, a living temple to flamenco.
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Streets with distinct characters but which have maintained a traditional
look to their houses, which together form an exceptionally attractive
pattern.
On the Atlantic front rises the dome and the yellow tiles of the
Cathedral looking towards the Campo del Sur. In Baroque and Neoclassical
in style, its crypt guards the remains of the composer Manuel de Falla.
Beside it are the old Roman theatre and the old cathedral.
In the Plaza de
España, beside the port, stands the palace of the Provincial Government
and Monument to the Liberal Cortes (Parliament).
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In the tree-lined
Plaza Mina you can visit the Cádiz Archaeological and Fine Arts Museum,
which has interesting Phoenician exhibitions, while in the Plaza de San
Francisco you can see the church of the same name. The city's most
important shopping streets begin around the Plaza de las Flores.
Cádiz has important religious buildings that reflect the Andalucían
religious feeling. In Santa María the church that gives its name to the
district and the Convent of Santo Domingo are important. Near La Viña,
the parish church of La Palma awaits, while at the other end of the city
next to the Candelaria Bastion, stands the church of Carmen. |
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Right in the centre of Cádiz you can visit the Cádiz Municipal
Historical Museum, the Tavira Tower, one of the most symbolic in the
city, and the Oratory of San Felipe Neri, a National Monument in which
the Liberal Constitution of 1812 was debated.
The exceptional geographical position of Cádiz enables you to go to
beautiful places all along the Costa de la Luz, such as El Puerto de
Santa María, Puerto Real (whose old quarter is a historic-artistic
site), Chiclana de la Frontera and more.
At the north-western
end of the Cadiz coast lies Sanlúcar de Barrameda, well known for its
manzanilla and for being one of the entrances to the Doñana Natural
Park, declared a World Heritage Site.
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Sevilla
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The Barrio Santa Cruz - This romantic part of town, formerly the
district of Moors and Jews, is located right in
the historical center of Sevilla. You may walk through the narrow shady
lanes in between beautiful buildings
with courtyards of flowers, and visit some of the town's major
monuments: The impressive cathedral with its Giralda
tower, is Sevilla's landmark. The king's palace Alcazar, in its typical
Moorish style, surrounded by high walls. The
Archivo de Indias, a Renaissance building which serves as an archive of
all the documents related with the discovery
of America and the Archiepiscopal Palais. All these buildings are
located in one large square. |
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More monuments worth visiting in this district are the churches Hospicio
de los Venerables and Iglesia de Santa Maria la Blanca, the latter is
located at the edge of the beautiful park Jardines de Murillo.
Walking from the Giralda towards the river you will find in
Santander Street, the Torre de
la Plata, a tower which served as a silver depot in the times of the
Moorish domination. Just to its right are the Hospital de la Caridad
and the church, La Iglesia de la Caridad.
The Park of Maria Luisa
- This great park is named after La Infanta Maria Luisa, who
presented half of her gardens from the Palace of San Telmo, to the town
in 1893. In 1929 an Ibero-American Exposition took place here and many
interesting buildings were constructed.
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Along the River - If you walk from the Plaza de España towards the
Guadalquivir river, you will arrive first at a sort of "micro-castle",
the so-called Costurero de la Reina ("the Queen's Sewing-Room"), at the
edge of the gardens of San Telmo Palace. This palace is a very beautiful
example of 'Baroco Sevillano', the local baroque style.
Directly behind it
you'll find the Real Fábrica de Tabacos, the old tobacco factory (of
which Carmen, the opera-figure, was the most prominent worker). Today
it is Sevilla's university.
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The Torre de Oro, a
Moorish tower located at the river is another city landmark. Face to
face with it is the bull ring, La Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza.
Crossing the river at the Triana Bridge, you enter one of the most
typical and traditional quarters of Sevilla, the Barrio de Triana.
Palaces - There are many beautiful palaces and manorial houses in
Sevilla, many of them strongly influenced in their architecture by the
city's Moorish past. Most impressive is perhaps La Casa Pilatos, built
in the 15th and 16th century. It is said that it's original owner, the
Marquis of Tarifa, was so impressed by the palace of Pontius Pilatus
when he visited it during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, that he had a copy
of it built here. |
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Contact us:-
Costa Luz Properties,
Rota (Cadiz)
Andalucia, Spain. Tel /Fax: +34.85.611.3999
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