Most Beautiful Towns of Cádiz Province

Vejer de la Frontera

The enchanting hilltop town of Vejer is a quintessential example of Andalucía’s sunsoaked, whitewashed villages. Not far from the well-known beaches of El Palmar and Barbate, the town, with its sweeping views of citrus groves and fertile farmland stretching out to the Atlantic coast, makes for a perfect place to stay during your trip. Walking through the narrow, winding streets of the town feels like a sort of southern Spanish fairy tale, with beauty around every corner.

The town’s Moorish influence can be felt not only in the architecture but also in the food. Go for a charming dinner on the patio at El Jardín del Califa, sampling exquisite Moroccan dishes. In addition to the restaurant and a hotel, the Califa group also runs a nice tapas bar as well as an express restaurant with kebabs, shawarma, and falafel that make for a great lunch on the go. For another delightful dinner experience, head to Taberna de la Judería de Vejer, in an old house in the town’s Jewish quarter up behind the castle.

Arcos de la Frontera

Another picturesque hilltop, whitewashed village, Arcos sits atop steep cliffs overlooking a sharp turn of the Guadalete river, which flows on past Jerez before emptying into the Bay of Cádiz. Make your way up the streets to the old town’s main square and highest point, the Plaza del Cabildo. All four sides of the square contain something of interest: the duke’s castle, built on the site of an old Moorish alcázar; the Basílica de Santa María de la Asunción, built on the old Moorish mosque; the Parador de Arcos de la Frontera, part of a chain of luxury hotels run by the Spanish government located in historic buildings in towns around the country; and, finally, a mirador overlooking the river far below with a fine view towards the Iglesia de San Pedro.

For some traditional Andalusian fare, check out Taberna Jóvenes Flamencos.

Medina-Sidonia

The sleepy tranquility of Medina-Sidonia belies its historical significance as the seat of what was once among the richest and most powerful duchies in Europe. The Duke of Medina-Sidonia was a hereditary noble title that traced its origins back to Guzmán El Bueno, whose steadfast defense of Tarifa against a Moorish siege made him a legend of medieval Castille. The house of Medina-Sidonia amassed a great fortune before falling into disrepute through the misfortunes of Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, 7th Duke of Medina-Sidonia, who led the infamous Spanish Armada in its disastrous defeat at the hands of the British in 1588. Another more recent member of the line was Luisa Isabel Álvarez de Toledo, 21st Duchess of Medina-Sidonia, known popularly as La Duquesa Roja (The Red Duchess) for her lifelong devotion to left-wing, pro-democracy activism, for which she was imprisoned during the 1960s under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco.

Today, the town is a typical village of Andalucía, with its characteristic white houses and its panoramic views of the farmland that surrounds it. Take your time strolling around, and be sure to make your way up to the Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor as well as the ruins of the old castle.

Tarifa

Located at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean Sea, Tarifa is the southernmost point not only of Iberia but of all of continental Europe, even farther south than the North African capitals of Algiers and Tunis. The Moroccan coast is clearly visible across the water, just nine miles (14 km) away.

Naturally, it was the site of plenty of action during the Muslim conquista and subsequent Christian reconquista of Iberia; but today, its location at the literal edge of Europe makes it an internationally renowned destination for windsports.

The wind is great for kite-surfing, but it has a spiritual component as well. In the Levante––the warm, dry wind that blows from the east––you can almost feel the air carried across from the North African coast, the same wind that carried the ships of the Moors who established their domain across the Iberian peninsula in the 8th century. Readers of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist will surely remember this wind, which the main character Santiago speaks with as he begins his journey from Tarifa.