Cádiz

Situated on a roughly pentagonal peninsula sticking out into the Atlantic, the province’s capital is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Western Europe, founded as a trading post by the Phoenicians circa 1100 BC.

The city was used as a port by the Romans as well, but its apex was during the Age of Exploration, when it served as the home port of the Spanish treasure fleet, which ferried gold, silver, and other prized possessions from the New World back to Europe, as well as the point of departure for Columbus’s second and fourth voyages to the Americas. Later on, the port would enjoy a near monopoly on Spanish trade, raising Cádiz to the status of the country’s richest city in the 18th century.

Today, the city boasts a wide range of historical monuments that tell of its long history, from its 1st century BC Roman Theater, to its 18th century cathedral financed by trade with the Americas, to the forts Castillo de San Sebastián and Castillo de Santa Catalina that protected the riches passing through its port, to the charming neighborhood of La Viña, traditionally inhabited by fishermen who plied their trade in the waters off the beach Playa de la Caleta.

La Viña is also a great place to get to know Cádiz’s excellent gastronomic scene, full of lively bars to indulge and imbibe.

Taberna Casa Manteca is a classic spot where you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, although I will highlight the tortillita de camarones, a shrimp fritter that is one of the region’s most famous dishes.

You should also be sure to check out the bustling Mercado Central de Abastos, where you’ll find all kinds of great food.