We had a full day to spend in Cádiz whilst we were on our Mediterranean cruise with P&O Cruises, and we opted to explore the city by foot. Cádiz, which is 4000 years old, claims to be the oldest continuously inhabited settlement of Europe, and it is believed that Hercules was its founder. We felt like we were going back in time and seeing it as a “gaditán”, as the inhabitants of Cádiz are known. It is a gorgeous city and I wanted to share some of my favourite photos from the day.
If you have a day to spend in Cádiz, I would recommend just getting a map and allowing yourself to discover it by yourself, as it has so many lovely things to see.
We loved wandering through the various narrow lanes, and seeing the various monuments, differing architecture styles and visiting the Mercado Central, which is an absolute must. I absolutely love immersing myself in local food markets, as you can learn so much just from observing the locals and seeing all the various fresh produce that they sell. I always feel sad that I can’t take any of it back home with me.
I also loved the quirky designs in the buildings, such as these incredible door handles, colourful walls and tiles, as well as the fact that there were palm trees everywhere. It is such a green city contrasted with the pale yellow buildings everywhere.
In the main square, Plaza de San Juan de Dios, you can stop for a coffee, or churros and ice cream, and people watch, and there are so many vendors selling fresh flowers all around. This is very close to the market, and so it is ideal to combine both together.
Other main points of interest not to miss include Barrio del Pópulo, where you will find the majestic Cathedral, Casa del Obispo, a charming building that displays the millennial history of Cádiz, and Museo de Cádiz, which has artefacts from the Phoenician and Roman times.
Finally my favourite was the Monumento a la Constitución de 1812, in Plaza de España. which was built to celebrate the one-hundredth anniversary of Spain’s first liberal constitution, which was signed here back in 1812.
You can read more about my Mediterranean cruise here.
Have you visited Cádiz? What were your highlights? Let me know in the comments section below xx
Hi, I’m Binny – a writer, dreamer, serial wanderluster and travel addict. I am originally from Kenya but now live in London. I set up this blog to share my experiences eating out as well as travelling.
I love packing my bags and going off on adventures as one of the best things about travelling is the ability to just get lost in it. To set aside the maps and itineraries and just see where the road takes you, learning and evolving and living in the moment along the way.
It’s my goal to get swept off my feet as often as possible.
Cádiz looks like such a pretty place to stop and explore!
I love those beautiful tiles!