Route of the Cities

There are three fantastic, must-see cities all within about an hour from Arcos de la Frontera. Cádiz is 80 kilometres away, Seville 94 kilometres, and Jerez a mere 30 kilometres from here. A little detail on each city follows below.


Cádiz
Less than one hour from Arcos de la Frontera by car. Europe's oldest city, with an extraordinary history. Situated on a peninsula off the Atlantic. The Phoenicians called it Gadir and they dominated before the Carthaginians and later the Romans.

Cádiz was anonymous during the time of the Visigoths and the Moors, but its strategic value was evident again in the early sixteenth century when it was the used as the port from which ships bound for the Americas would embark. Under Sir Francis Drake, the English attacked Cádiz during the struggle to gain control of trade with the New World. Spain's first constitution was declared here in 1812.

Cádiz (pictured left) continues to thrive and these days its wide main avenue is lined with shops and apartment blocks. The same avenue leads right in the Old Quarter, a charming zone with narrow streets leading to surprisingly large squares and, very often, striking monuments. Chief among the must-see sights are the Cathedral and the churches of Santa Cruz and San Felipe Neri (where the constitution was made).

Despite the mazy nature of the streets you're unlikely to get lost because you're never too far from the sea. Cádiz boasts some very attractive beaches, such as Playa de la Caleta and Playa de la Victoria. Don't miss the beautiful Genovés Park. It is stunning.


Jerez
Wide streets and squares characterise this beautiful aristocratic city, only 25 minutes from Arcos de la Frontera by car.

Its full name is Jerez de la Frontera (of the Frontier), as like Arcos de la Frontera it once straddled the Moorish and Christian realms. Still in evidence is a Moorish fortress, or Alcazaba, built in the eleventh century. Also worth visiting is the church built on top of an Arab mosque.

Jerez (pictured left) is the Spanish word for sherry and it's the production of this sweet wine which has given the city worldwide fame. You may have already heard about the bodegas of Jerez. Though 'bodega' strictly means 'wine cellar', a visit to a bodega in Jerez (highly recommended) is to see the full sherry making procedure - and taste the product of course! Sherry production has been going on here for centuries.

The dancing horses in Jerez have long enjoyed great popularity and the Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art is situated here. On Thursday mornings you can go to see a beautiful display of dressage at the School. Jerez's well known Horse Fería, or Fair, takes place in early May.

The classic art of Flamenco is strongly represented in Jerez, home to the Centro Andaluz de Flamenco - Andalucia's Flamenco Centre.


Seville
Though it's not in Cádiz Province, how could we let slip the opportunity to tell you something about this grand Spanish city? And it's just an hour from Arcos de la Frontera by car!

Spain's only inland port thanks to the river Guadalquivir, Seville (pictured left) was highly influential in the discovery and conquest of America in 1492. Prior to that the city had passed through seven centuries of Roman domination and five centuries of Moorish rule. The seventeenth century was a period of artistic brilliance in Seville, with painters such as Velázquez and Murillo to the fore. More recently, Seville has played host to two exhibitions: the Latin American Exhibition in 1929 and the Expo of 1992.

Perhaps the best time to visit the city is during the Fair in April (the temperature's not too hot then) when you'll get to see the men parading on horseback and the women decked out in their flowing flamenco dresses. It's quite a sight.

Among the most impressive monuments on show are the Cathedral, with its Giralda tower, the palace known as the Alcázar, a mansion called the Casa de Pilotos (with a blend of architectural styles) and the Triana part of town with its narrow streets and lively atmosphere.

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