Day trip to Cádiz

<p>Cádiz has a strong claim to being the oldest continuously inhabited city in Western Europe, founded by the Phoenicians around 1100 BC. It sits at the end of a narrow peninsula jutting into the Atlantic, which means it is almost entirely surrounded by sea and has a completely different feel from inland Andalusian cities. The light here is Atlantic light, brighter, saltier, more dramatic than the Mediterranean.</p> <p>The old city is compact and almost entirely contained within its original fortifications. The streets are narrow, the buildings tall, and there is a constant sea breeze regardless of season. Spend time just walking, the Barrio del Pópulo is one of the oldest surviving neighbourhoods, and the cathedral quarter has some of the best street architecture in southern Spain. The Cathedral of Cádiz, with its distinctive golden dome visible from the sea, is a Baroque masterpiece and houses the tomb of Manuel de Falla.</p> <p>The seafood in Cádiz is extraordinary. The city sits at the junction of the Atlantic and the fishing grounds of the Bay of Cádiz, and the fish market (Mercado Central) reflects that. Fried fish, pescaíto frito, is the local signature dish: a mixed plate of whatever came in that morning, lightly battered and fried. Eat it at the market or at one of the freidurías nearby. It is some of the best cheap food in Spain.</p> <p>The Castillo de Santa Catalina and Castillo de San Sebastián guard either end of the peninsula and are worth visiting for the Atlantic views. The Torre Tavira is the highest watchtower in the city and has a camera obscura that projects live images of Cádiz onto a screen inside, oddly compelling and with a good panoramic view from the top.</p> <p>From Gibraltar the drive is around 95 minutes via the A-7 and AP-4. ALSA and Comes buses run Algeciras,Cádiz and take roughly 2 hours.</p>