Well .... I'm not sure I can write much about Cadiz. For a city that claims its origin to be a major centre for Phoenician and Roman trade and to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in Spain and one of the oldest in western Europe, it's got 'bugger all' left to show for it, and what it does have is in less than optimal condition.
Wiki describes Cádiz as 'an ancient port city in southwest Spain on a unique site, a narrow slice of land surrounded by the sea. It is characterised by the antiquity of its Old City which consists of narrow winding alleys connecting large plazas. A 16th-century base for exploration and trade, Cadiz has numerous watchtowers, traditionally used for spotting ships and an 18th-century waterfront cathedral with a golden dome.'
There is currently only one old, three lane bridge between the mainland and the old city of Cadiz.
A new bridge is almost ready. Called La Pepa Bridge, it will cross the Bay of Cádiz and link Cádiz with Puerto Real in mainland Spain. When the bridge is finished it will be both the longest and the longest span cable-stayed bridge in Spain.
The tall pylon you can see on the left of the photograph is one of a pair of electricity pylons of unusual design, one on either side of the Bay, used to support huge electric-power cables. The pylons are 158 meters high and designed for two circuits. The very unconventional construction consists of a narrow steel framework with one crossbar at the top of each onepylon for the insulators.
This is La Caleta beach, facing the Atlantic Ocean and located in the historical center of the city. It is a natural harbor and the landing point originally used by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans.
The harbour of La Caleta is guarded by two defensive structures, the half-bastions of San Sebastián and Santa Catalina.
Cadiz’s defences were rebuilt in 1596 following devastating attacks by the English. 'The most important part of the new fortifications were the two half-bastions that flanked the land gate. These bastions guarded the only land approach to Cadiz (via La Caleta beach) and this front was the most likely place of attack. The gate itself, none of which remains, stood in a curtain wall between the two bastions. '
Looking along the bastion wall, past one of many small watchtowers, towards the Atlantic.
At the other end of the old city, guarding the the very narrow isthmus, some of the old defensive wall remains. But the centre wall and its tower had to be rebuilt in the mid 20th century when some minor demolition work to expand the width of the roadway arches brought the whole structure down.
There is a nice park running from La Caleta along the north edge of the city where exotic plants flourish, including giant trees supposedly brought to Spain by Columbus from the New World.
Well ....... it 's certainly big and old, so maybe Columbus did import it.
In the alley around the corner from our hostal, facing a small plaza, we found this Rococo gem and the food was world class.
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