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Cadiz:<br />
“La Tacita <strong>de</strong> P<strong>la</strong>ta”<br />
In Cadiz the sea is the<br />
beginning and the end of<br />
everything – “salt-glittering”<br />
was the term used by the poet<br />
Manuel Machado. A seafaring<br />
city always (foun<strong>de</strong>d by<br />
Hercules himself according to<br />
legend) Cadiz c<strong>la</strong>ims to be the<br />
ol<strong>de</strong>st city in the West. If<br />
possible, visitors should try to<br />
approach the city by sea,<br />
crossing the bay on one of<br />
the boats (known locally as<br />
vaporcitos, or little steamers)<br />
that shuttle between Cadiz<br />
and El Puerto <strong>de</strong> Santa María<br />
on the far si<strong>de</strong> of the bay, a<br />
crossing of about one hour.<br />
Those who do will un<strong>de</strong>rstand<br />
why Cadiz is popu<strong>la</strong>rly<br />
known as La Tacita <strong>de</strong> P<strong>la</strong>ta<br />
(the Silver Cup).<br />
The new part of the city,<br />
recognisable by the<br />
mo<strong>de</strong>rn buildings,<br />
f<strong>la</strong>nks a long avenue<br />
which is the only<br />
means of access for those<br />
arriving by car. The Puerta <strong>de</strong><br />
Tierra, or Land Gate – a piece<br />
of 17 th -century fortification –<br />
separates the old town from<br />
the new. The best way to start<br />
is by taking a stroll through<br />
the Barrio <strong>de</strong>l Pópulo, the<br />
most authentic part of the old<br />
Cadiz, which huddles around<br />
the Cathedral – a <strong>la</strong>rge<br />
Baroque building with a bluetiled<br />
dome. Not far from there<br />
is the church of Santa Cruz,<br />
the first p<strong>la</strong>ce of Christian<br />
worship in Cadiz foun<strong>de</strong>d by<br />
King Alfonso X the Wise on<br />
the site of an Arab mosque.<br />
The many churches inclu<strong>de</strong><br />
Santo Domingo (which has a<br />
marble-columned cloister),<br />
Santa María, Santiago,<br />
San Agustín, San Francisco<br />
(containing works by<br />
Montañés), San Antonio,<br />
P<strong>la</strong>za <strong>de</strong> San Juan <strong>de</strong> Dios.<br />
Cadiz<br />
El Carmen and El Rosario<br />
(which houses sculptures of<br />
the city’s patron saints San<br />
Servando and San Germán).<br />
Also worth seeing are the<br />
old Cigar Factory, the Royal<br />
Prison, the Provincial Museum,<br />
the Santa Cueva or Holy Cave<br />
(with frescoes by Goya), the<br />
Town Hall, the Gran Teatro<br />
Fal<strong>la</strong>, Torre Tavira and<br />
Castle of San Sebastián. Cadiz<br />
Paseo Campo <strong>de</strong>l Sur. Cadiz<br />
the Oratory of San Felipe Neri,<br />
where Spain’s first<br />
Constitution was approved in<br />
1812. It contains a painting by<br />
Murillo and is c<strong>la</strong>ssified as a<br />
National Monument.<br />
Lining the A<strong>la</strong>meda and the<br />
square of San Antonio are<br />
the finest houses in Cadiz,<br />
outstanding for their<br />
remarkable filigreed<br />
balconies. Some also preserve<br />
the original gleaming brassstud<strong>de</strong>d<br />
mahogany doors,<br />
which open on to marbled<br />
patios be<strong>de</strong>cked with climbing<br />
p<strong>la</strong>nts and flowers. On the<br />
si<strong>de</strong> facing the sea, the houses<br />
are painted in bright colours.<br />
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