Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights the best Cadiz Province has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
- Viewpoint
- Head up into the Sierra de Cadiz hills and visit the precariously positioned pueblos blancos (white towns). The spectacularly cliffhanging Arcos de Frontera offers breathtaking views over the Serranía de Ronda mountains.
- Arts and culture
- Carnivals, invariably linked to the Christian calendar, are taken very seriously in this part of southern Spain. Semana Santa around Easter, for example, sees lots of parades and fireworks throughout the province. Equally exuberant displays can be seen nightly all over Jerez, when spinning and twirling flamenco dancers start clacking their heels to the sound of Spanish guitars. The city is regarded as one of the dance’s spiritual homes.
- Something for nothing
- The Arab baths at Iglesia-Convento de Santa Domingo in Jerez have been built in a fascinating mishmash of architectural styles, so you can reflect on the cultural tug-of-war that typifies this city while enjoying a cooling dip. Entrance is free.
- Shopping
- The best shopping in Cadiz Province is to be found in the cities. In Cadiz itself, head to Belle Epoque (956 226810) at Antonio Lopez 2, which specialises in antique furniture, or Hecho (956 283197) in Plaza Candelaria, a vendor of fine local food. After that, amble along Columela, beginning at Plaza de las Flores, where you’ll find everything from fashion to furniture. Jerez is packed with shops that sell wonderful local handicrafts. Try Casa Rubio (956 422 6872) on Sierpes for fans both contemporary and traditional, Ceramica Amaya (956 143567) on Avenida Carrero Blanco for pottery and Duarte (956 342751) on Larga for stunning leatherwork. If you want to buy sherry direct from the bodega, then Sanlúcar and Jerez are the places to go.
- Daytripper
- Go continent-hopping. Take one of the many daily ferries from Tarifa to Tangiers in Morocco (a mere 35-minute journey), and brush up on your haggling skills – with tagine and mint-tea breaks, of course – before sailing back to Andalucia in the evening. For more information, visit www.frs.es.
- Perfect Picnic
- Stock up on Medina-Sidonia-style pastries, Cadizian churros and shellfish from the narrow, winding streets around Plaza de Espana in Vejer de la Frontera, and take your haul up into the hilltop pueblos blancos. Head towards the village of Zahara de la Sierra, and enjoy your picnic in the idyllic chestnut woods.
- Walks
- One of Europe’s great mountain walks, the 2,699km-long GR7, has its beginnings in Cadiz Province. Either pick it up from the start at Tarifa, where you walk along five kilometres of white sand, or go for the stretch that runs through the cork groves of Parque Natural de los Alcornocales.
- Activities
- As the climate is so sunny, you might find it difficult to rouse yourself to do anything more than lie prone on a lounger – but this would be a shame as there’s so much to do. Enjoy the stunning Moorish architecture in Cadiz, Vejer de la Frontera and Jerez, and while you’re in the latter make sure you visit a sherry bodega – the word ‘sherry’ is an English mispronunciation of the city’s name. As well as being the world’s foremost producer of fortified wine, Jerez is also home to the Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art, where you can see spectacular displays of dancing horses. More energetic visitors can go kite-surfing on the beach at Tarifa.
Diary
January–February The Cadiz Carnival (www.carnavaldecadiz.com), a week-long festival centred around Shrove Tuesday, is a riot of fancy dress, floats and fun-filled processions. The Falla’s Contest, a musical competition that is televised across Spain, is held in the Gran Teatro Falla just before the carnival celebrations begin. February–March The International Flamenco Festival (www.flamenco-world.com) in Jerez sees hand-clapping, heel-stamping and skirt-throwing aplenty. Bring your castanets. Early May The Jerez Horse Fair (www.turismojerez.com) is a celebration of all things equestrian. August Horse races take place on Sanlúcar beach on the second and fourth weekends of the month. October Indulge yourself at the Sanlúcar tapas festival, held along Calzada del Ejército. Visit www.andalucia.org for more event listings.
