Cádiz
Cádiz is one of the oldest cities in Europe. There are vestiges of human
settlement going as far back as 1100 BC. Some of them form the
collection of the city's archeological museum.
The director of the museum tells Inka about one of the most significant
finds - a sarcophagus discovered in the grounds of the house where one
of his predecessors lived.
In the 18th Century the Guadalquivir River silted up and ships from the
Americas stopped in Cádiz because they couldn't reach Sevilla. Rich
merchants settled here and funded the building of the new cathedral.
They also built a set of watchtowers spread across the city which allowed them to be alerted to the arrival of ships in the port. Some of the 126 remaining towers now offer visitors an excellent view over the city.
Looks like a serenade? In fact a chirigota is an amateur group which
sings satirical songs on the occasion of the carnival in February, the
most important festival in Cádiz.
Travelling a bit further along the Costa de la Luz,
the 'coast of light', Inka stops at the Cabo de Trafalgar, which
overlooks the site of the famous sea battle. There she visits the
lighthouse on what may be the most untouched coastline in Spain,
according to its keeper, Juan Martínez, who has worked in lighthouses
all over Spain.
Inka meets a famous local resident, the Duchess of Medina Sidonia. A
controversial character, she is highly critical of the aristocracy.
She has collected a private archive of historic documents unequalled in
the country. It contains mainly private letters from women which, the
Duchess says, gives a new perspective on history.
Cádiz - Local Links
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Carnaval de Cádiz
The province of Cádiz on the Internet
