Cádiz

Coordinates: 36°32′06″N 06°17′51″W / 36.53500°N 6.29750°W / 36.53500; -6.29750
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the Spanish city. For other uses, see Cadiz (disambiguation).
"Gadira" redirects here. For the genus of moths, see Gadira (moth).

Cádiz
Municipality
Aerial view of Cadiz
Postal code
11001
Dialing code(+34) 956
Websitewww.cadiz.es

Cádiz (/kəˈdɪz/ kə-DIZ, US also /ˈkeɪdɪz, ˈkæd-, ˈkɑːd-/ KAY-diz, KA(H)D-iz,[2][3][4] Spanish: [ˈkaðiθ]) is a city in Spain and the capital of the Province of Cádiz in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula off the Atlantic Ocean separated from neighbouring San Fernando by a narrow isthmus.

Cádiz, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, was founded by the Phoenicians as a trading post.[5][6] In the 18th century, the Port in the Bay of Cádiz consolidated as the main harbour of mainland Spain, enjoying the virtual monopoly of trade with the Americas until 1778. It is also the site of the University of Cádiz.

Situated on a narrow slice of land surrounded by the sea‚ Cádiz is, in most respects, a typical Andalusian city with well-preserved historical landmarks. The older part of Cádiz, within the remnants of the

exotic plants flourish, including giant trees supposedly brought to the Iberian Peninsula from the New World. This includes the historic Parque Genovés
.

Names and etymology

Satellite view of the Bay of Cádiz
See also:
Names of Cádiz in different languages

Carthaginians
continued to use this name and all subsequent names have derived from it.

Ancient Greek: τὰ Γάδειρα), which is neuter plural. Herodotus, using Ionic Greek, transcribed it a little differently, as Gḗdeira (Γήδειρα). Rarely, as in Stephanus of Byzantium's notes on the writings of Eratosthenes
, is the name given in the feminine singular form as hè Gadeíra (ἡ Γαδείρα).

In

Arabic, the Latin name became Qādis (Arabic: قادس), from which the Spanish Cádiz derives. The Spanish demonym
for people and things from Cádiz is gaditano.

The same root also gives the modern Italian Càdice, Catalan Cadis,[10] Portuguese Cádis,[11] and French Cadix, the last also appearing in many English sources before the 20th century.[12]

The name Cales, which usually refers to Calais in France, is also used for Cádiz,[12] especially in the context of the 1596 Capture of Cádiz by the British and Dutch, as Thomas Percy notes in his introduction of the ballad "The Winning of Cales"[13] (and it is also found in the sarcastic rhyme beginning "A gentleman of Wales, a knight of Cales").

In English, the name Cádiz, traditionally spelt without the acute accent mark on the a, is pronounced variously. When the accent is on the second syllable, it is usually pronounced /kəˈdɪz/ but, when the accent is on the first syllable, it may be pronounced as /ˈkeɪdɪz/ ⓘ, /ˈkɑːdɪz/, /ˈkædɪz/, and similar, typically in American English.[2][3][4] In Spanish, the accent is always, as according to the spelling, on the first syllable but, while the usual pronunciation in Spain is [ˈkaðiθ], the local dialect says [ˈkaðis], [ˈkaði] or even [ˈka.i] instead.

History

Phoenician sarcophagi (400–470 BC) found in Cádiz, thought to have been imported from the Phoenician homeland around Sidon (now in the Museum of Cádiz)[14][15]
See also: Timeline of Cádiz

Foundation and early history under the Phoenicians

Founded as Gadir or Agadir by Phoenicians from Tyre,[16][17][18] Cádiz is often regarded as the most ancient city still standing in Western Europe.[19] The city was an important trading hub founded to access different metals including gold, tin, and especially silver.[6] The Phoenicians established a port in the 7th century BC.[20]

Traditionally, Cádiz's founding is dated to c. 1100 BC,[21] although no archaeological strata on the site can be dated earlier than the 9th century BC. One resolution for this discrepancy has been to assume that Gadir was merely a small seasonal trading post in its earliest days.

Ancient Gadir occupied two small islands—Erytheia, primarily a settlement, and Kotinoussa, hosting cemeteries and sanctuaries outside the urban area—situated near the mouth of River Guadalete.[22] Presently, these islands are interconnected. While the ancient ruins of Gadir beneath modern Cádiz's historical center remain largely unexcavated, excavations have been carried out in the southern cemeteries.

By the 6th century BC, disturbances within Phoenicia itself, notably the fall of Tyre to the Babylonians (573 BC), led to the end of Phoenician control over southern Iberia. This vacuum was later filled by ancient Carthage, which rose as a predominant power in the region during subsequent eras.[23]

Part of the Carthaginian Empire

The expeditions of

Guadalquivir River
.

See also: Temple of Hercules Gaditanus

One of the city's notable features during antiquity was the temple on the south end of its island dedicated to the Phoenician god

tenth labor, the slaying of Geryon, a monster with three heads and torsos joined to a single pair of legs. (A tumulus near Gadeira was associated with Geryon's final resting-place.[25]) According to the Life of Apollonius of Tyana, the "Heracleum" (i.e., the temple of Melqart) was still standing during the 1st century. Some historians, based in part on this source, believe that the columns of this temple were the origin of the myth of the "pillars of Hercules".[26]

Votive statues of Melqart-Hercules from the Islote de Sancti Petri

The city fell under the sway of Carthage during Hamilcar Barca's Iberian campaign after the First Punic War. Cádiz became a depot for Hannibal's conquest of southern Iberia, and he sacrificed there to Hercules/Melqart before setting off on his famous journey in 218 BC to cross the Alps and invade Italy.[27] Later the city fell to Romans under Scipio Africanus in 206 BC.[28]

Under Rome's rule

Under the Roman Republic and Empire, the city flourished as a port and naval base known as Gades. Suetonius relates how Julius Caesar, when visiting Gades as a quaestor (junior senator), saw a statue of Alexander the Great there and was saddened to think that he himself, though the same age, had still achieved nothing memorable.[29]

The Bay of Cádiz in antiquity featuring a notably different coastline.

The people of Gades had an alliance with Rome and

Patavium (Padua) and Rome itself.[30] It was the principal city of the Roman colony of Augusta Urbs Julia Gaditana. An aqueduct provided fresh water to the town, the island's supply being poor, running across open sea for its last leg. However, Roman Gades was never very large. It consisted only of the northwest corner of the present island, and most of its wealthy citizens maintained estates outside of it on the nearby island or on the mainland.[24] The lifestyle maintained on the estates led to the Gaditan dancing girls (the puellae gaditanae) becoming famous throughout the ancient world.[31]

Although it is not in fact the most westerly city in the Spanish peninsula, for the Romans Cádiz had that reputation. The poet Juvenal begins his famous tenth satire with the words: Omnibus in terris quae sunt a Gadibus usque Auroram et Gangen ('In all the lands which exist from Gades as far as Dawn and the Ganges ...').[32]

Switching hands in later antiquity

The

Leovigild
's reconquest in 572 returned it to the Visigothic Kingdom.

Al-Andalus

Under

Alphonso X of Castile
in 1262.

Historically, there was a

Jewish community living in Cádiz under Muslim rule.[38]

Post-1492

During the

raid by the Englishman Francis Drake occupied the harbor for three days, captured six ships, and destroyed 31 others (an event which became known in England as "the Singeing of the King of Spain's Beard"). The attack delayed the sailing of the Spanish Armada by a year.[39]

Defense of Cádiz against the English, by Francisco de Zurbarán, 1634 (Prado Museum, Madrid)

The city suffered a still more serious

George Rooke and James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde
, but they were repelled after a costly siege.

In the 18th century, the

sand bars of the Guadalquivir forced the Spanish government to transfer its American trade from Seville to Cádiz, which now commanded better access to the Atlantic. Although the empire itself was declining, Cádiz now experienced another golden age because of its new importance, and many of today's historic buildings in the Old City date from this era. It became one of Spain's greatest and most cosmopolitan cities and home to trading communities from many countries, chief among which were the French and Anglo-Irish.[40] Irish Catholics were prohibited by the penal laws from owning land or entering a profession in Ireland, whereas in Spain they were as Catholics permitted to trade more freely than the English.[41]

On 12 October 1778, the right to trade with the Americas was expanded to most ports of mainland Spain, bringing the monopoly of trade hitherto enjoyed by the Port of the Bay of Cádiz to an end.[42]

During the

Amadeo
just two years later.

In recent years[when?], the city has undergone much reconstruction. Many monuments, cathedrals, and landmarks have been cleaned and restored.

Diocese

Main article: Roman Catholic Diocese of Cádiz y Ceuta

The diocese of Cádiz and

apostolic administrator
of Ceuta.

Main sights

City skyline
View of Cádiz, with Catedral de Cádiz, from Mirador El Vendaval

Among the many landmarks of historical and scenic interest in Cádiz, a few stand out. The city can boast of an unusual cathedral of various architectural styles, a theater, an old municipal building, an 18th-century watchtower, a vestige of the ancient city wall, an ancient Roman theater, and electrical pylons of an eye-catchingly modern design carrying cables across the Bay of Cádiz. The old town is characterized by narrow streets connecting squares (plazas), bordered by the sea and by the city walls. Most of the landmark buildings are situated in the plazas.

Plazas and their landmark buildings

The old town of Cádiz is one of the most densely populated urban areas in Europe,[43] and is packed with narrow streets. The old town benefits, though, from several striking plazas, which are enjoyed by citizens and tourists alike. These are the Plaza de Mina, Plaza San Antonio, Plaza de Candelaria, Plaza de San Juan de Dios, and Plaza de España.

Plaza de Mina

Located in the heart of the old town, Plaza de Mina was developed in the first half of the 19th century. Previously, the land occupied by the plaza was the orchard of the convent of San Francisco. The plaza was converted into a plaza in 1838 by the architect Torcuato Benjumeda and (later) Juan Daura, with its trees being planted in 1861. It was then redeveloped again in 1897, and has remained virtually unchanged since that time. It is named after General

Isabelline Gothic, were originally occupied by the Cádiz bourgeoisie
.

The Plaza de la Catedral houses both the Cathedral and the Baroque church of Santiago, built in 1635.

Plaza de San Francisco and San Francisco Church and Convent

San Francisco church

Located next to Plaza de Mina, this smaller square houses the San Francisco church and convent. Originally built in 1566, it was substantially renovated in the 17th century,[44] when its cloisters were added.[45] Originally, the Plaza de Mina formed the convent's orchard.

Plaza San Antonio

Plaza de San Antonio and church

In the 19th century Plaza San Antonio was considered to be Cádiz's main square. The square is surrounded by a number of mansions built in

Isabelline Gothic
style, once occupied by the Cádiz upper classes. San Antonio church, originally built in 1669, is also situated in the plaza.

The plaza was built in the 18th century, and on 19 March 1812 the Spanish

Constitution of 1812
was proclaimed here, leading to the plaza to be named Plaza de la Constitución, and then later Plaza San Antonio, after the hermit San Antonio.

In 1954 the city's mayor proclaimed the location a historic site. All construction is prohibited.

Plaza de Candelaria

The Plaza de Candelaria is named after the Candelaria convent, situated in the square until it was demolished in 1873 under the First Spanish Republic, when its grounds were redeveloped as a plaza. The plaza is notable for a statue in its centre of Emilio Castelar, president of the first Spanish republic, who was born in a house facing the square. A plaque situated on another house, states that Bernardo O'Higgins, an Irish-Chilean adventurer and former dictator of Chile, also lived in the square.

Plaza de la Catedral and the Cathedral

Main article: Cádiz Cathedral
Cádiz Cathedral

One of Cádiz's most famous landmarks is its cathedral. Unlike in many places, the Cathedral of Cádiz, known locally as the "New Cathedral," is officially the Cathedral de "Santa Cruz sobre el mar" or "Santa Cruz sobre las Aguas". It was not built on the site of the original Cathedral de Santa Cruz. The latter was completed in 1263 at the behest of Alfonso X, and burned in the Anglo-Dutch attack on the city in 1596.[46] The reconstruction of the old cathedral started in the early 17th century, but when the city became more prosperous following the move of the Casa de Contratación from Seville to Cádiz in 1717,[47] it was felt that a grander cathedral was needed.[48]

Work on the New Cathedral started in 1722 and was supervised by the architect Vicente Acero, who had also built the Granada Cathedral. Acero resigned from the project and was succeeded by several other architects. As a result, this largely Baroque-style cathedral was built over a period of 116 years, and, due to this drawn-out period of construction, the cathedral underwent several major changes to its original design. Though the cathedral was originally intended to be a baroque edifice with some rococo elements, it was completed in the neoclassical style.[48] Its chapels have many paintings and relics from the old cathedral in Cádiz and as well as from monasteries throughout Spain.

Plaza de San Juan de Dios and the Old Town Hall

View of the Plaza de San Juan de Dios, featuring the façade of the Old Town Hall.

Construction of this plaza began in the 15th century on lands reclaimed from the sea. With the demolition of the City walls in 1906 the plaza increased in size and a statue of the Cádiz politician Segismundo Moret was unveiled. Overlooking the plaza, the

Isabelline Gothic (Spanish: Gótico Isabelino or, simply, the Isabelino) style. Here, in 1936, the flag of Andalusia
was hoisted for the first time.

Plaza de España and the monument to the constitution of 1812

Monument to the Constitution of 1812

The Plaza de España is a large square close to the port. It is dominated by the Monument to the Constitution of 1812, which came into being as a consequence of the demolition of a portion of the old city wall. The plaza is an extension of the old Plazuela del Carbón.

The goal of this demolition was to create a grand new city square to mark the hundredth anniversary of the liberal constitution, which was proclaimed in this city in 1812, and provide a setting for a suitable memorial. The work is by the architect,

Modesto Lopez Otero, and of the sculptor, Aniceto Marinas
. The work began in 1912 and finished in 1929.

Plaza Fragela and the Gran Teatro Falla (Falla Grand Theater)

The original

Moorish revival style. Following renovations in the 1920s, the theater was renamed the Gran Teatro Falla, in honor of composer Manuel de Falla
, who is buried in the crypt of the cathedral. After a period of disrepair in the 1980s, the theater has since undergone extensive renovation.

Plaza de las Tortugas

Other sights

Tavira tower

In the 18th century, Cádiz had more than 160 towers from which local merchants could look out to sea to watch for arriving

convex lens to project panoramic views of the Old City onto a concave disc. There are also two exhibition rooms and a rooftop terrace.[51]

Admiral's House

The Casa del Almirante is a palatial house, adjacent to the Plaza San Martín in the Barrio del Pópulo, which was constructed in 1690 with the proceeds of the lucrative trade with the Americas. It was built by the family of the admiral of the Spanish treasure fleet, the so-called Fleet of the Indies, Don Diego de Barrios. The exterior is sheathed in exquisite red and white Genoan marble, prepared in the workshops of Andreoli, and mounted by the master, García Narváez. The colonnaded portico, the grand staircase under the cupola, and the hall on the main floor are architectural features of great nobility and beauty. The shield of the Barrios family appears on the second-floor balcony.

Old customs house

Situated within the confines of the walls which protect the flank of the port of Cádiz are three identical adjacent buildings: the Customs House, the House of Hiring and the consulate. Of the three, the former had been erected first, built in a sober neo-classical style and of ample and balanced proportions. The works began in 1765 under the direction of Juan Caballero at a cost of 7,717,200 reales.

Palacio de Congresos

Cádiz's refurbished tobacco factory offers international conference and trade-show facilities.[52] Home to the third annual MAST Conference and trade-show (12 to 14 November 2008).

Pylons of Cádiz

The

electricity pylons of unusual design, one on either side of the Bay of Cádiz, used to support huge electric-power cables. The pylons are 158 meters (518 ft) high and designed for two circuits. The very unconventional construction consists of a narrow frustum steel
framework with one crossbar at the top of each one for the insulators.

Roman theatre

Main article: Roman Theatre (Cádiz)

The Roman theatre was discovered in 1980, in the El Pópulo district, after a fire had destroyed some old warehouses, revealing a layer of construction that was judged to be the foundations of some medieval buildings; the foundations of these buildings had been built, in turn, upon much more ancient stones, hand-hewn limestone of a Roman character. Systematic excavations have revealed a largely intact Roman theatre.

The theatre, constructed by order of

Lucius Cornelius Balbus (minor) during the 1st century BC, is the second-largest Roman theatre in the world, surpassed only by the theatre of Pompeii, south of Rome. Cicero
, in his Epistulae ad Familiares ('Letters to his friends'), wrote of its use by Balbus for personal propaganda.

  • Admiral's House
    Admiral's House
  • Palacio de Congresos (Old tobacco factory)
    Palacio de Congresos (Old tobacco factory)
  • Pylons of Cádiz
    Pylons of Cádiz
  • Roman theatre
    Roman theatre

Carranza Bridge

Main article: José León de Carranza Bridge

La Pepa Bridge

La Pepa Bridge, officially "La Pepa" and also named the second bridge to Cádiz or new access to Cádiz. It opened 24 September 2015. It crosses the Bay of Cádiz linking Cádiz with Puerto Real in mainland Spain. It is the longest bridge in Spain and the longest span cable-stayed in the country.[53]

The Constitution of 1812 Bridge, also known as La Pepa Bridge, is a new bridge across the Bay of Cádiz, linking Cádiz with the town of Puerto Real.

This is one of the highest bridges in Europe, with 5 kilometers in total length. It is the third access to the city, along with the San Fernando road and the Carranza bridge.[citation needed]

La Pepa Bridge at night

City walls and fortifications

Las Puertas de Tierra originated in the 16th century.[54][55] Once consisting of several layers of walls, only one of these remain today. By the 20th century it was necessary to remodel the entrance to the Old City to accommodate modern traffic. Today, the two side-by-side arches cut into the wall serve as one of the primary entrances to the city.

El Arco de los Blancos is the gate to the Populo district, built around 1300. It was the principal gate to the medieval town. The gate is named after the family of Felipe Blanco who built a chapel (now disappeared) above the gate.

El Arco de la Rosa ("Rose Arch") is a gate carved into the medieval walls next to the cathedral. It is named after captain Gaspar de la Rosa, who lived in the city during the 18th century. The gate was renovated in 1973.

The Baluarte de la Candelaria (fortress or stronghold of

homing pigeons, birds used to carry written messages over hostile terrain. Thoroughly renovated, it is now used as a cultural venue. There has been some discussion of using it to house a maritime museum, [citation needed
] but, at present, it is designated for use as a permanent exposition space.

The Castle of San Sebastián is also a military fortification and is situated at the end of a road leading out from the Caleta beach. It was built in 1706. Today the castle remains unused, although its future uses remain much debated.

The Castle of Santa Catalina is also a military fortification, and is situated at the end of the Caleta beach. It was built in 1598 following the English sacking of Cádiz two years earlier. Recently[when?] renovated, today it is used for exhibitions and concerts.

  • Las puertas de tierra
    Las puertas de tierra
  • Arco de la Rosa
    Arco de la Rosa
  • Inside view of Castillo de Santa Catalina
    Inside view of Castillo de Santa Catalina
  • Hand-drawn plan with a special focus on the street-grid and fortifications. In the seas surrounding the city there are ships.
    1699 plan of Cádiz.

Notable people born in Cádiz

Main category: People from Cádiz

Climate

Cádiz has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa; Trewartha: Csal) with very mild winters and warm to hot summers. The city has significant maritime influences due to its position on a narrow peninsula. Cádiz has one of the warmest winters in Spain and the warmest winter in Europe outside Spain, with an average temperature of 12.9 °C (55.2 °F) in the coldest month.[56] The annual sunshine hours of Cádiz are above 3,000h, being one of the sunniest cities in Europe. Although summer nights are tropical in nature, daytime temperatures are comparatively subdued compared to nearby inland areas such as Jerez and the very hot far inland areas in Andalucía. The average sea temperature is around 16 °C (61 °F) during the winter and around 22 °C (72 °F) during the summer.[57] Snowfall is unknown at least since 1935.[58]

Climate data for Cádiz
WMO ID: 08452; Climate ID: 5973; coordinates 36°29′59″N 06°15′28″W / 36.49972°N 6.25778°W / 36.49972; -6.25778; elevation: 2 m (6 ft 7 in); 1991–2020 provisional normals, extremes 1955–present[59]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 24.1
(75.4) 		25.3
(77.5) 		29.0
(84.2) 		31.4
(88.5) 		36.5
(97.7) 		37.6
(99.7) 		40.0
(104.0) 		43.0
(109.4) 		37.8
(100.0) 		31.5
(88.7) 		27.6
(81.7) 		23.6
(74.5) 		43.0
(109.4)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 19.5
(67.1) 		20.8
(69.4) 		24.2
(75.6) 		26.1
(79.0) 		29.2
(84.6) 		31.7
(89.1) 		33.9
(93.0) 		33.9
(93.0) 		31.4
(88.5) 		28.2
(82.8) 		23.8
(74.8) 		20.2
(68.4) 		35.1
(95.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 16.1
(61.0) 		16.8
(62.2) 		18.7
(65.7) 		20.2
(68.4) 		23.0
(73.4) 		25.5
(77.9) 		27.6
(81.7) 		28.2
(82.8) 		26.1
(79.0) 		23.5
(74.3) 		19.6
(67.3) 		17.1
(62.8) 		21.9
(71.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 12.9
(55.2) 		13.7
(56.7) 		15.5
(59.9) 		17.2
(63.0) 		19.9
(67.8) 		22.6
(72.7) 		24.6
(76.3) 		25.3
(77.5) 		23.3
(73.9) 		20.5
(68.9) 		16.5
(61.7) 		14.0
(57.2) 		18.8
(65.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 9.6
(49.3) 		10.5
(50.9) 		12.4
(54.3) 		14.1
(57.4) 		16.8
(62.2) 		19.6
(67.3) 		21.5
(70.7) 		22.3
(72.1) 		20.4
(68.7) 		17.5
(63.5) 		13.4
(56.1) 		10.9
(51.6) 		15.8
(60.4)
Mean minimum °C (°F) 5.1
(41.2) 		6.2
(43.2) 		8.1
(46.6) 		10.5
(50.9) 		12.8
(55.0) 		16.7
(62.1) 		18.8
(65.8) 		19.4
(66.9) 		17.1
(62.8) 		13.2
(55.8) 		8.7
(47.7) 		5.8
(42.4) 		3.7
(38.7)
Record low °C (°F) 0.2
(32.4) 		−1.0
(30.2) 		3.0
(37.4) 		6.5
(43.7) 		9.2
(48.6) 		11.0
(51.8) 		16.6
(61.9) 		15.6
(60.1) 		12.6
(54.7) 		8.0
(46.4) 		4.6
(40.3) 		1.5
(34.7) 		−1.0
(30.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 59.6
(2.35) 		51.4
(2.02) 		55.0
(2.17) 		42.1
(1.66) 		29.7
(1.17) 		5.9
(0.23) 		0.2
(0.01) 		1.7
(0.07) 		27.6
(1.09) 		75.2
(2.96) 		87.1
(3.43) 		76.6
(3.02) 		512.1
(20.16)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 8.97 8.33 8.48 7.20 4.67 1.14 0.31 0.62 3.41 8.11 8.79 9.59 69.62
Average
relative humidity
(%) 		73.7 72.6 70.7 68.3 67.2 67.3 68.0 68.4 70.9 72.6 72.9 75.4 70.8
Percentage possible sunshine 60.6 66.2 61.1 69.1 71.3 79.0 78.9 79.4 68.7 64.6 62.9 56.0 68.2
Source 1: State Meteorological Agency/AEMET OpenData (Percent possible sunshine 1991-2013)[60][61][62][63]
Source 2:
NCEI[64]
Climate data for Cádiz, 1981-2010 normals
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 16.0
(60.8) 		16.8
(62.2) 		18.8
(65.8) 		19.9
(67.8) 		22.1
(71.8) 		25.3
(77.5) 		27.7
(81.9) 		27.9
(82.2) 		26.3
(79.3) 		23.4
(74.1) 		19.6
(67.3) 		16.9
(62.4) 		21.6
(70.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 12.7
(54.9) 		13.8
(56.8) 		15.5
(59.9) 		16.8
(62.2) 		19.1
(66.4) 		22.4
(72.3) 		24.6
(76.3) 		25.0
(77.0) 		23.3
(73.9) 		20.3
(68.5) 		16.5
(61.7) 		13.9
(57.0) 		18.6
(65.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 9.4
(48.9) 		10.7
(51.3) 		12.3
(54.1) 		13.7
(56.7) 		16.2
(61.2) 		19.5
(67.1) 		21.4
(70.5) 		22.0
(71.6) 		20.3
(68.5) 		17.3
(63.1) 		13.4
(56.1) 		10.9
(51.6) 		15.4
(59.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 69
(2.7) 		58
(2.3) 		35
(1.4) 		45
(1.8) 		27
(1.1) 		7
(0.3) 		trace 2
(0.1) 		24
(0.9) 		67
(2.6) 		98
(3.9) 		92
(3.6) 		523
(20.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6.9 6.4 4.8 5.6 3.2 0.9 0.1 0.2 2.5 5.6 7.2 8.1 50.7
Average
relative humidity
(%) 		75 74 71 69 70 69 68 70 71 74 74 76 72
Mean monthly sunshine hours 184 197 228 255 307 331 354 335 252 228 187 166 3,024
Source:
Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[65]

Beaches

Cádiz, situated on a peninsula, is home to many beaches.

View of the cathedral from Playa de la Santamaría

La Playa de la Caleta is the most popular beach of Cádiz. It has always been in Carnival songs, due to its unequalled beauty and its proximity to the Barrio de la Viña. It is the beach of the Old City, situated between two castles, San Sebastian and Santa Catalina. It is around 400 meters (1,300 ft) long and 30 meters (98 ft) wide at low tide. La Caleta and the boulevard show a lot of resemblance to parts of Havana, the capital city of Cuba, like the malecon. Therefore, it served as the set for several of the Cuban scenes in the beginning of the James Bond movie Die Another Day.

La Playa de la Victoria, in the newer part of Cádiz, is the beach most visited by tourists and natives of Cádiz. It is about three km long, and it has an average width of 50 meters (160 ft) of sand. The moderate swell and the absence of rocks allow family bathing. It is separated from the city by an avenue; on the landward side of the avenue, there are many shops and restaurants.

La Playa de Santa María del Mar or Playita de las Mujeres is a small beach in Cádiz, situated between La Playa de Victoria and La Playa de la Caleta. It features excellent views of the old district of Cádiz.

Other beaches are Torregorda, Cortadura and El Chato.

Culture

Language

The Spanish spoken in Cádiz reflects features of Western Andalusian and urban dialects. It is seseante, meaning there is no distinction between the sounds of "s" and "z," and the "s" is pronounced with the front part of the tongue (predorsal s).[66] Key characteristics include:

  • Aspiration of /s/ at the end of syllables (e.g., los amigos becomes [loh amigo]).[67]
  • Dropping /r/ at the end of syllables and aspirating /r/ when it comes before "n" or "l" (e.g., carne pronounced [kahne]).[67]
  • The /x/ sound (as in jamón) is usually pronounced as [h], a softer sound.[68]
  • Intervocalic /d/ (e.g., cansado) is often omitted (e.g., cansao).[69]
  • Occasionally, "l" is pronounced as "r" (rhotacism), though this is less common.[70]

These features make the Cádiz accent unique, showcasing a strong influence of regional and urban speech patterns.

Carnival

Main article: Carnival of Cádiz
Poster advertising the 1926 Carnival of Cádiz

The Carnival of Cádiz is one of the best known carnivals in the world. Throughout the year, carnival-related activities are almost constant in the city; there are always rehearsals, public demonstrations, and contests of various kinds.

The Carnival of Cádiz is famous for the satirical groups called

barbershop quartets of African-American culture or the mariachis of Mexico; cuartetos, consisting of four (or sometimes three) performers alternating dramatic parodies and humorous songs; and romanceros, storytellers
who recite tales in verse. These diverse spectacles turn the city into a colourful and popular open-air theatre for two entire weeks in February.

The Concurso Oficial de Agrupaciones Carnavalescas (the official association of carnival groups) sponsors a contest in the Gran Teatro Falla (see above) each year where chirigotas and other performers compete for prizes. This is the climactic event of the Cádiz carnival.

Cuisine

Tortillita de camarones

The gastronomy of Cádiz includes stews and sweets typical of the comarca and the city.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
184253,922—    
185770,811+31.3%
187764,551−8.8%
188763,277−2.0%
190069,191+9.3%
191067,306−2.7%
192076,137+13.1%
193074,367−2.3%
194085,854+15.4%
195098,754+15.0%
1960114,951+16.4%
1970134,342+16.9%
1981156,711+16.7%
1991154,347−1.5%
2001133,363−13.6%
2011124,014−7.0%
2021114,442−7.7%
Source: INE[72]

According to a 2021 census estimate, the population of the city of Cádiz was 114,244 (the third-most-populated city of the province after Jerez de la Frontera, with 212,830 inhabitants, and Algeciras with 122,982). It is the only capital city in Spain that is not the most or second-most populated City on its province. Cádiz is the fifty-seventh-largest Spanish city.[73] In recent years, the city's population has steadily declined; it is the only municipality of the Bay of Cádiz (the comarca composed of Cádiz, Chiclana, El Puerto de Santa María, Puerto Real, and San Fernando), whose population has diminished. There are forecasts that Cádiz may become the fourth or fifth city in the province after losing more than 10,000 inhabitants from 2011 to 2021.[74] Between 1995 and 2006, it lost more than 14,000 residents, a decrease of 9%.

Among the causes of this loss of population is the peculiar geography of Cádiz; the city lies on a narrow spit of land hemmed in by the sea. Consequently, there is a pronounced shortage of land to be developed. [citation needed] The city has very little vacant land, and a high proportion of its housing stock is relatively low in density. [citation needed] (That is to say, many buildings are only two or three stories tall, and they are only able to house a relatively small number of people within their "footprint".) The older quarters of Cádiz are full of buildings that, because of their age and historical significance, are not eligible for urban renewal.[citation needed]

Two other physical factors tend to limit the city's population. It is impossible to increase the amount of land available for building by reclaiming land from the sea; a new national law governing coastal development thwarts this possibility. Also, because Cádiz is built on a

high-rise buildings that would allow for a higher population density. As it stands, the city's skyline is not substantially different from in the Middle Ages
. A 17th-century watchtower, the Tavira Tower, still commands a panoramic view of the city and the bay despite its relatively modest 45 meters (148 ft) height. (See below.)

Cádiz is the provincial capital with the highest

Castellón, chiefly), as well as to other places in Europe and the Americas. The population younger than twenty years old is only 20.58% of the total, and the population older than sixty-five is 21.67%, making Cádiz one of the most aged cities in all of Spain.[citation needed
]

Population density

The population distribution of the municipality is extremely uneven. In its inhabited areas, Cádiz is one of the most densely populated cities in Europe. The uninhabited Zona Franca industrial area, Bay of Cádiz Port Area, and Bay of Cádiz Natural Park occupy 63.63% of the municipal area. The entire city population lives in the remaining 4.4 square kilometers (1.7 sq mi), at an average density close to 30,000 inhabitants per square kilometer. The city is divided for statistical purposes into 10 divisions, the most densely populated one having 39,592 inhabitants per square kilometer, the least having 20,835.

The table below lists the area, population, and population density of the ten statistical divisions of Cádiz. Divisions 1 to 7, the "stats divisions", belong to the old town; 8, 9 and 10 correspond to the "new city".

Area, population, and density of the statistical divisions of Cádiz[75]
Statistical division 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Area 0.32 0.20 0.28 0.15 0.13 0.17 0.20 1.09 0.83 1.03
Population 6,794 6,315 6,989 5,752 5,147 4,637 4,167 29,936 28,487 32,157
Density 21,231.25 31,575.00 24,960.71 38,346.67 39,592.31 27,276.47 20,835.00 27,464.22 34,321.69 31,220.39

Area is in km2 and population density in inhabitants per square kilometer.

Transportation

View of the Port of Cádiz

Cádiz is connected to European route

E5 which connects it with Sevilla, Cordoba and Madrid to the North and Algeciras to the South East, continuing as E15
northbound along the Spanish Mediterranean coast.

The city is served by Jerez Airport, which is approximately 40 km (25 mi) north of the city centre. The airport offers regular domestic flights to Madrid and Barcelona as well as scheduled and seasonal charter flights to the UK, Germany and other European destinations. Cercanías Cádiz line C1 connects the airport to Cádiz main train station in 1hr.[76]

Cádiz railway station is located just outside the old town. It offers suburban, regional and national services. The connection to the Madrid-Seville high-speed rail line was finished in 2015 after 14 years of construction, which extends the high speed Alvia trains to the city. Local services make the outskirts and regional destinations accessible along the line to Jerez and Seville. It is also the terminal of the new Cádiz Bay tram-train.

The port opposite the train station provides weekly ferry services to the Canary Islands (2–3 days travel time)[77] as well as providing a stop for seasonal cruise ships.[78]

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain

Cádiz is

twinned
with:

See also

References

Citations

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Bibliography

See also: Bibliography of the history of Cádiz
Wikisource has the text of a 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article about Cádiz.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cádiz.
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