Cádiz
Flag Coat of Arms
Location
Coordinates : 36°32′N 006°18′W / 36.533, -6.3Coordinates: 36°32′N 006°18′W / 36.533, -6.3 Time zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer : CEST (GMT +2)
General information
Native name	Cádiz (Spanish)
Spanish name	Cádiz
Nickname	Tacita de Plata
Founded	1104 BCE
Website	www.cadiz.es
Administration
Country	Spain
Autonomous Community	Andalusia
Province	Cádiz
Comarca	Bay of Cádiz
Neighborhoods	11
Mayor	Teófila Martínez (PP)
Geography
Land Area	12. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Central European Time ( CET) is one of the names of the Time zone that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. Greenwich Mean Time ( GMT) is a term originally referring to mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London Central European Summer Time ( CEST) is one of the names of UTC+2 Time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages The term administration, as used in the context of Government, differs according to Jurisdiction. In Political geography and International politics, a country is a Political division of a geographical entity Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. An autonomous community is a first-level political division of the Kingdom of Spain, established in accordance with the Spanish Constitution. Andalusia (Andalucía is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the most populous and the second largest in terms of land area In addition to its autonomous communities, Spain is divided into fifty Provinces. Cádiz is a province of southern Spain, in the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia, the southernmost part of continental A comarca (meaning Shire or County, Spanish and Portuguese plural comarcas, Catalan plural The comarca of the Bay of Cádiz is one of six traditional and touristic subdivisions of the Province of Cádiz. A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 10 km²
Altitude	11 m AMSL
Population
Population	128,554 (2007)
Density	10,893 hab. Altitude is the Elevation of a point or object from a known level or datum (plural data The term above mean sea level ( AMSL) refers to the Elevation (on the ground or Altitude (in the Air) of any object relative to the In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different /km² (2007)

Cádiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is the capital of the province of the same name, a province which is one of eight comprising the autonomous community of Andalusia. Cádiz is a province of southern Spain, in the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia, the southernmost part of continental An autonomous community is a first-level political division of the Kingdom of Spain, established in accordance with the Spanish Constitution. Andalusia (Andalucía is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the most populous and the second largest in terms of land area

Cádiz, the oldest continuously-inhabited city in western Europe, has been a principal home port of the Spanish Navy since the accession of the Spanish Bourbons in the 18th century. Structure of the Spanish Navy in the New Millennium - From the early years of the new century the structure of the Spanish Navy has changed and under the new structure the The House of Bourbon is an important European Royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system It is also the site of the University of Cádiz. The University of Cádiz (in Spanish: Universidad de Cádiz) founded in 1979 is noted for its Medicine and Marine sciences curricula

Its peculiar location at the end of a narrow isthmus protruding into the Bay of Cádiz lends added charm to this ancient city. An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas The Bay of Cádiz is a body of water adjacent to the southwestern coast of Spain In actuality, Cádiz is on an island which is separated from the mainland by a larger island, the Isla de Léon; thus, to reach the mainland from Cádiz, it is necessary to cross a narrow channel to the low-lying Isla de Léon, before crossing another narrow channel to the mainland. This geographical circumstance has played, time and again, a significant part in the city's history, commerce, and culture. Isolated behind its high thick medieval walls on its improbable site in the middle of the bay, Cádiz, on approach from the sea, presents a dramatic and aesthetically appealing view.

Despite its unique site, Cadiz is, in most respects, a typically Andalusian city with a wealth of attractive vistas and well-preserved historical landmarks. The older part of Cádiz, within the remnants of the city walls, is commonly referred to as the Old City (in Spanish, Casco Antiguo). It is characterized by the antiquity of its various quarters (barrios), among them El Populo, La Viña, and Santa Maria, which present a marked contrast to the newer areas of town. While the Old City's street plan consists largely of narrow winding alleys connecting large plazas, newer areas of Cádiz typically have wide avenues and more modern buildings. In addition, the city is dotted by numerous parks where exotic plants, including giant trees supposedly brought to Spain by Columbus, flourish. Christopher Columbus (1451 &ndash May 20 1506 was an Italian Navigator, colonizer

Etymology of the city's name

1813 Map of Cádiz

Gadir (in Phoenician: גדר), the original name given to the outpost established here by the Phoenicians, means "castle", "fortress", or, more generally, "walled stronghold" or simply "wall". Phoenician was a language originally spoken in the coastal region then called Pūt in Ancient Egyptian Canaan in Phoenician, Hebrew, and Phoenicia ( Phoenician: Phoenician nunsvg|12px|נ]]Phoenician nun The name is equivalent to the place-name, Agadir, which is common in north Africa. To this day, "agadir" means "wall" in the Berber language. Nomenclature The term Berber has been used in Europe since at least the 17th century and is still used today Gadir became the most important Phoenician enclave on the Iberian Peninsula. The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra

Later, the city became known by a similar Attic Greek name, Gadeira, τὰ Γάδειρα. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly In Ionic Greek, the name is spelled slightly differently: Γήδειρα. Ionic Greek was a sub-dialect of the Attic-Ionic dialectal group of Ancient Greek (see Greek dialects) This spelling appears in the histories written by Herodotus. Herodotus of Halicarnassus ( Greek: Hēródotos Halikarnāsseús) was a Greek Historian who lived in the 5th century BC ( 484 BC&ndash Rarely, the name is spelled ἡ Γαδείρα, as, for example, in the writings of Erastosthenes (as attested by Stephanus of Byzantium). Eratosthenes of Cyrene ( Greek; 276 BC - 194 BC was a Greek Mathematician, Poet, athlete, Geographer and Stephanus of Byzantium, also known as Stephanus Byzantinus ( Greek:; fl

In the Latín language, the city was known as Gades; in modern Arabic, it is called قادس, Qādis. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language The Spanish autonym for a resident of Cádiz is gaditano.

Population and demographic trends

According to a 2006 census estimate, the population of Cádiz proper was 130,561, and the population of the entire metropolitan area was estimated to be 629,054. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population Cádiz is the seventeenth largest Spanish city. However, in recent years, the city has been steadily losing population; it is the only municipality of the Bay of Cádiz (the comarca composed of Cádiz, Chiclana, El Puerto de Santa María, Puerto Real, and San Fernando), whose population has diminished. The comarca of the Bay of Cádiz is one of six traditional and touristic subdivisions of the Province of Cádiz. A comarca (meaning Shire or County, Spanish and Portuguese plural comarcas, Catalan plural Chiclana de la Frontera is a city in southwestern Spain, in the province of Cadiz near the Gulf of Cadiz. El Puerto de Santa María (Spanish for "The port/harbour of Saint Mary " locally known as just El Puerto) is a city located on the banks of the Guadalete Puerto Real (Port Royal is a seaport in southern Spain, in the province of Cádiz and the autonomous region of Andalusia. San Fernando ( Spanish for Saint Ferdinand) may refer to San Fernando Buenos Aires, city of Greater Buenos Aires Between 1995 and 2006, it lost more than 14,000 inhabitants, a decrease of 9%.

Among the causes of this loss of population is the peculiar geography of Cádiz; the city lies on a narrow spit of land hemmed in by the sea. Consequently, there is a pronounced shortage of buildable land. The city has very little vacant land, and a high proportion of its housing stock is relatively low in density. (That is to say, many buildings are only two or three stories tall, and they are only able to house a relatively small number of people within their "footprint". ) The older quarters of Cádiz are full of buildings that, because of their age and historical significance, are not eligible for urban renewal. Urban Renewal (similar to Urban Regeneration in British English) is a controversial U Replacement of these old buildings with high-density apartment projects would allow Cádiz to sustain a higher population.

Source: INE (Spain)

Two other physical factors tend to limit the city's population. Demography is the statistical study of all Populations. It can be a very general science that can be applied to any kind of dynamic population that is one that changes over Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It is impossible to increase the amount of land available for building by reclaiming land from the sea; a new national law governing coastal development thwarts this solution. Also, because Cádiz is built on a sandspit, it is a costly proposition to sink foundations deep enough to support the high-rise buildings that would allow for a higher population density. As it stands, the city's skyline is not substantially different than it was in medieval times. A skyline is best described as the overall or partial view of a Silhouette of a city's tall buildings and structures consisting of many Skyscrapers A seventeenth-century watchtower, the Tavira tower, still commands a panoramic view of the city and the bay despite its relatively modest 45-metre height. (See below. )

Cádiz is the provincial capital with the highest rate of unemployment in Spain. This, too, tends to depress the population level. Young Gaditanos, those between 18 and 30 years of age, have been migrating to other places in Spain (Madrid and Castellón, chiefly), as well as emigrating to other places in Europe and the Americas. Madrid (pronounced in English in Spanish and colloquially in Spain) is the Capital and largest city of Spain. The population younger than twenty years old is only 20. 58% of the total, and the population older than sixty-five is 21. 67%, making Cádiz one of the most aged cities in all of Spain.

Despite these trends, some are cheered by the fact that the other towns and cities surrounding the Bay of Cádiz are growing modestly, absorbing some of the population fleeing the capital. Improvements in roads and railways have allowed people to commute to Cádiz for work more easily. Increasingly, outlying communities, like Puerto Real and San Fernando, are providing bedrooms for Cádiz's workforce. In recent years, Cádiz has become more of a place to work than a place to live.

History

The city was originally founded as Gadir (Phoenician גדר "walled city") by the Phoenicians, who used it in their trade with Tartessos, a city-state believed by archæologists to be somewhere near the mouth of the Guadalquivir River, about thirty kilometres northwest of Cádiz. Phoenician was a language originally spoken in the coastal region then called Pūt in Ancient Egyptian Canaan in Phoenician, Hebrew, and Phoenicia ( Phoenician: Phoenician nunsvg|12px|נ]]Phoenician nun Tartessos (also Tartessus) was a harbor city and its surrounding culture on the south coast of the (Its exact location has never been firmly established. )

Phoenician sarcophagus found in Cadiz, now in the Archaeological Museum of Cádiz. The sarcophagus is thought to have been designed and paid for by a Phoenician merchant and made in Greece

Cádiz is the most ancient city still standing in western Europe^[1]. Traditionally, its founding is dated to 1104 BCE^[2] although no archaeological strata on the site can be dated earlier than the ninth century. One resolution for this discrepancy has been to assume that Gadir was merely a small seasonal trading post in its earliest days.

Later, the Greeks knew the city as Gadira or Gadeira. According to Greek legend, Gadir was founded by Hercules after performing his fabled tenth labor, the slaying of Geryon, a monstrous warrior-titan with three heads and three torsos joined to a single pair of legs. In Greek mythology, Heracles or Herakles ("glory of Hera " or In Greek mythology, Geryon ( Geryones, Geyron) son of Chrysaor and Callirrhoe and grandson of Medusa was a fearsome As late as the early third century CE, a tumulus (a large earthen mound) near Cádiz was associated with Geryon's final resting-place. A tumulus (plural tumuli) is a Mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves ^[3]

Votive statues of Melqert-Hercules from the Islote de Sancti Petri

One of the city's notable features during antiquity was the temple dedicated to the Phoenician god Melqart. Melqart, properly Phoenician Milk-Qart "King of the City" less accurately Melkart, Melkarth (Melqart was associated with Hercules by the Greeks. In Greek mythology, Heracles or Herakles ("glory of Hera " or ) According to the Life of Apollonius of Tyana, the temple was still standing at the beginning of the third century CE. Some historians, based in part on this source, believe that the columns of this temple were the origin of the myth of the pillars of Hercules. The Pillars of Hercules was the phrase that was applied in Antiquity to the promontories that flank the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. ^[4]

Around 500 BCE, the city fell under the sway of Carthage. Carthage (Καρχηδών Karkhēdōn, Carthago from the Phoenician קרת חדשת phn-Latn Qart-ḥadašt meaning new town) refers Cádiz became a base of operations for Hannibal's^[5] conquest of southern Iberia. Hannibal (Pronounced in Phoenician: Hanniba'al means " Ba'al is my grace " or " Ba'al has given me grace " 247 BC &ndash The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra However, in 206 BCE, the city fell to Roman forces under Scipio Africanus. Events By place Roman Republic In the Battle of Ilipa ( Alcalá del Río, near Seville) in Spain, the The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a Republican form of government a period which began with the overthrow of the Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major ( Latin: P·CORNELIVS·P·F·L·N·SCIPIO·AFRICANVS ¹) (236&ndash183 The people of Cádiz welcomed the victors. Under the Romans, the city's Greek name was modified to Gades; it flourished as a Roman naval base. The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a Republican form of government a period which began with the overthrow of the By the time of Augustus, Cádiz was home to more than five hundred equites (members of one of the two upper social classes), a concentration of notable citizens rivaled only by Padua and Rome itself. Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was Padua ( Padova 'padova Latin: Patavium, Padoa) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 It was the principal city of a Roman colony, Augusta Urbs Julia Gaditana. However, with the decline of the Roman Empire, Gades's commercial importance began to fade. The Decline of the Roman Empire, leading to the Fall of the Roman Empire, or the Fall of Rome, was the end of the Western Roman Empire.

The fifth century overthrow of Roman power in Hispaniia Baetica by the Visigoths saw the destruction of the original city, of which there remain few remnants today. The Visigoths (Visigothi, Wisigothi, Vesi, Visi, Wesi, or Wisi were one of two main branches of the Goths, an East Under Moorish rule between 711 and 1262, the city was called Qādis (Arabic قادس), from which the modern Spanish name, Cádiz, was derived. The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of Muslim (and earlier non-Muslim people of Berber and Arab descent Events By Place Europe April 30 — Ummayad troops led by Tariq ibn Ziyad land at Gibraltar, and begin Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language The Moors were finally ousted by Alphonso X of Castile in 1262. Alfonso X (November 23 1221 Toledo Spain &ndash April 4 1284 Seville Spain) was a Spanish monarch who ruled as the King of Castile, The Crown of Castile, as a historic entity is usually considered to have begun in 1230 with the third and definitive union of the two kingdoms of León and Castile

Defense of Cádiz against the English, by Francisco de Zurbarán, 1634 (Prado Museum, Madrid)

During the Age of Exploration, the city experienced a renaissance. Francisco de Zurbarán ( November 7 1598 &ndash August 27 1664) was a Spanish painter. The Age of Discovery or Age of Exploration was a period from the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century during which Europeans explored The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere Christopher Columbus sailed from Cádiz on his second and fourth voyages, (see Voyages of Christopher Columbus) and the city later became the home port of the Spanish treasure fleet. Christopher Columbus (1451 &ndash May 20 1506 was an Italian Navigator, colonizer Christopher Columbus (1451–1506 was a Navigator and an Admiral for the Crown of Castile whose voyages to America greatly expanded Beginning in the 16th century the Spanish treasure fleets (or simply West Indies Fleet from Spanish Flota de Indias) transported various metal resources and agricultural Consequently, the city became a major target of Spain's enemies. The sixteenth century also saw a series of failed raids by Barbary corsairs. The Barbary pirates, also sometimes called Ottoman corsairs, were Muslim Pirates and Privateers that operated from North Africa, from The greater part of the old town was consumed in the conflagration of 1569. A firestorm is a Conflagration which attains such intensity that it creates and sustains its own wind system In April 1587 a raid by the Englishman Sir Francis Drake occupied the harbour for three days, capturing six ships and destroying 31 others as well as a large quantity of stores. Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral, (c 1540 &ndash 27 January 1595 was an English Privateer, navigator, Slaver, and politician The attack delayed the sailing of the Spanish Armada by a year. The Spanish Armada ( Spanish: Grande y Felicísima Armada, "Great and Most Fortunate Navy" or Armada Invencible, "Invincible Archive copy at the Internet Archive The city suffered another raid in 1596 by the Earl of Essex and Lord Charles Howard, who sacked part of the town but were unable to hold the city and port. The Internet Archive ( IA) is a Nonprofit organization dedicated to maintaining an on-line Library and archive of Web and Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex ( 10 November 1566 &ndash 25 February 1601) a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I of England Charles Howard 1st Earl of Nottingham (1536 &ndash 14 December 1624) was an English statesman and admiral In the Anglo-Spanish War Admiral Robert Blake blockaded Cádiz from 1655 to 1657. The Anglo-Spanish War fought between the British Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell and Spain between 1654 and 1660. Robert Blake (1599 — August 17, 1657) was one of the most important military commanders of the Commonwealth of England, and one of the most famous In the Battle of Cádiz (1702), the British attacked again under Sir George Rooke and James, Duke of Ormonde, but they were repelled after a costly siege. The Battle of Cádiz, fought in August/September 1702 was an Anglo-Dutch attempt to seize the southern Spanish port of Cádiz during the War of the Spanish Succession Admiral Sir George Rooke (1650 &ndash January 24 1709) English naval commander was born at St Lawrence near Canterbury in 1650 James Butler 2nd Duke of Ormonde KG, KT ( April 29, 1665 – November 16, 1745) Irish statesman and soldier son

In the eighteenth century, the sand bars of the river Guadalquivir forced the Spanish government to transfer the port monopolizing trade with Spanish America from upriver Seville to Cádiz with better access to the Atlantic. A shoal or sandbar (also called sandbank) is a somewhat Linear Landform within or extending into a body of Water, The Guadalquivir is the fifth longest River in Spain (after the Tagus, Ebro, Duero and Guadiana) and the longest in Seville ( Spanish: Sevilla, see also different names) is the artistic cultural and financial capital of southern Spain. During this time, the city experienced a golden age during which three-quarters of all Spanish trade was with the Americas. It became one of Spain's greatest and most cosmopolitan cities and home to trading communities from many countries, among whom the richest was the Irish community. Many of today's historic buildings in the Old City date from this era.

By the end of the century, however, the city suffered another series of attacks. The British blockade and siege of Cádiz between February 1797 and April 1798 was, by most standards, a costly failure. Nelson, returning from his defeat at Santa Cruz, bombarded the city in 1800. Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson 1st Viscount Nelson 1st Duke of Bronté, KB (29 September 1758– 21 October 1805 was a British The Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was a British attack on the Spanish Port city of Santa Cruz in the Canary Islands. During Napoleon's conquest of Europe, Cádiz was one of the few cities in Spain that was able to resist the French invasion. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe.

The success of the Irish merchant community in late eighteenth-century Cádiz was due mainly to their engagement in the colonial trade. Small in number compared to other immigrant groups, they played a disproportionately prominent role in civic and ecclesiastical life, and as patrons of the arts in their adopted city. Their success stories in Cádiz contrast starkly with the lack of opportunity available to them in Ireland. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Nevertheless, they did maintain vigorous mercantile and dynastic connections with their homeland. Their accomplishments were all the more remarkable in that they were achieved against a background of fierce competition in Europe's most dynamic entrepôt of the day. An entrepôt (from the French " Warehouse " is a Trading post where merchandise can be imported and Exported without ^[6] It is a connection that continutes to this day.

Cádiz was also the seat of the liberal Cortes (parliament) that fought against Joseph Bonaparte (who reigned as Joseph I) in the Peninsular War; at Cadiz the liberal Spanish Constitution of 1812 was proclaimed. The Cádiz Cortes were sessions of the national legislative body (traditionally known in Spain as the ''Cortes'') which met in the safe haven of Cádiz Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte King of Naples and Sicily, King of Spain (during a time) and the Indies (never de facto and never de iure The Peninsular War or Spanish War of Independence pitted an alliance of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal against France The Spanish Constitution of 1812 was promulgated by the Cádiz Cortes, the national legislative assembly ( Cortes Generales "General Courts" The citizens revolted in 1820 to secure a renewal of this constitution; the revolution spread across Spain, leading to the imprisonment of King Ferdinand VII in the city of Cádiz. Early life In his youth he occupied the painful position of an heir apparent who was jealously excluded from all share in government by his parents and the royal favorite French forces secured the release of Ferdinand in the Battle of Trocadero (1823) and suppressed liberalism. The Battle of Trocadero August 31, 1823, was a battle in the Spanish Civil War of 1820-23 which ended the war in favor of the conservative In 1868, Cádiz was once again the seat of a revolution, resulting in the eventual abdication and exile of Queen Isabella II. "Isabella II" redirects here For the Queen of Jerusalem also known as Isabella II see Yolande of Jerusalem. The same Cádiz Cortes decided to reinstate the monarchy under King Amadeo I just two years later.

Map of Cádiz, 1886

In recent years, the city has undergone much reconstruction. Many monuments, cathedrals, and landmarks have been cleaned and restored, adding to the considerable charm of this ancient city. Originally a landmark literally meant a Geographic Feature used by explorers and

Diocese

Main article: Diocese of Cadiz y Ceuta

The diocese of Cadiz y Ceuta is a suffragan of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seville; that is, it is a diocese within the metropolitan see of Seville. Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain located on the Mediterranean, on the North African side of the Strait of Gibraltar, which A suffragan bishop is a Bishop subordinate to a Metropolitan bishop or Diocesan bishop. It became a diocese in 1263 after its Reconquista (reconquest) from the Moors. The Reconquista (a Spanish and Portuguese word for "Reconquest" Arabic: الاسترداد, "Recapturing" was a period By the Concordat of 1753, in which the Spanish crown also gained the rights to make appointments to church offices and to tax church lands, the diocese of Cadiz was merged with the diocese of Ceuta, a Spanish conclave on the northern coast of Africa, and the diocesan bishop became, by virtue of his office, the Apostolic Administrator of Ceuta. A concordat usually refers to an agreement between the Apostolic See and a Government of a certain country on religious matters although it is also used Year 1753 ( MDCCLIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year

Historically, the diocese counts among its most famous prelates Cardinal Juan de Torquemada, a Dominican theologian and expert on canon law, who took a leading part in the Councils of Basle and Florence, and defended, in his Summe de Ecclesiâ, the direct power of the pope in temporal matters. A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official usually a bishop, of the Catholic Church. Juan de Torquemada ( 1388 - September 26, 1468) or rather Johannes de Turrecremata, Spanish ecclesiastic was born at Valladolid The Order of Preachers ( Latin: Ordo Praedicatorum) after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is It is Torquemada who is most closely associated with the fifteenth-century Spanish Inquisition. The Spanish Inquisition started and was established in 1478 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile to maintain

Map of the central city

Architecture and Major landmarks

Among the many landmarks of historical and scenic interest in Cadiz, a few stand out. The city can boast of an unusual cathedral of various architectural styles, a magnificent theatre, an attractive old municipal building, an eighteenth-century watchtower, a vestige of the ancient city wall, an ancient Roman theatre, and electrical pylons of an eye-catching modern design carrying cables across the Bay of Cadiz. The old town is characterised by its narrow streets connecting into magnificent squares, bordered from the sea by the City walls. Most of the landmark buildings are situated in the squares.

Plazas and their landmark buildings

The old town of Cadiz is one of the most densely populated urban areas in Europe, and is packed with narrow streets. The old town benefits though from several striking plazas, which are enjoyed by citizens and tourists alike. These are Plaza de Mina, Plaza San Antonio, Plaza de Candelaria, Plaza de San Juan de Dios and Plaza de España.

Plaza de Mina

Located in the heart of the old town, Plaza de Mina, (the most beautiful of the Cadiz plazas) was developed in the first half of the nineteenth century. Previously, the land occupied by the plaza was the orchard of the convent of San Francisco. The plaza, was converted into a plaza in 1838 by the architect Torcuato Benjumeda and (later) Juan Daura, with its trees being planted in 1861. It was then redeveloped again in 1897, and has remained virtually unchanged since. It is named after General Francisco Espoz y Mina, a hero of the war of independence. Francisco Espoz y Mina ( 17 June 1781 – 24 December 1836) was a Spanish guerrilla leader and general Manuel de Falla y Matheu was born in Number 3 Plaza de Mina, where a plaque bears his name. Manuel de Falla y Matheu ( November 23, 1876 &ndash November 14, 1946) was a Spanish Composer of classical music The plaza also contains several statues, one of these is a bust of José Macpherson (a pioneer in the development of petrography, stratigraphy and tectonics) who was born in number 12 Plaza de Mina in 1839. Petrography is that branch of Petrology which focuses on detailed descriptions of rocks. Stratigraphy, a branch of Geology, studies rock layers and layering ( stratification) This article discusses the geologic usage for the philosophical or architectural usage see Architectonics ' Or see Plate tectonics. The Museum of Cadiz, is to be found at number 5 Plaza de Mina, and contains many objects from Cadiz's 3000 year history as well as works by artists such as Peter Paul Rubens. The houses which face the plaza, many of which can be classified as neo-classical architecture or built in the style of Isabelline Gothic, were originally occupied by the Cadiz bourgeoisie. Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century both as a reaction against the Rococo Isabelline Gothic (in Spanish, Gótico Isabelino) is the name of an Architectural style that was developed in Spain, during Isabella

Plaza de San Francisco and San Francisco Church and Convent

Located next to Plaza de Mina, this smaller square houses the San Francisco church and convent. Originally built in 1566, it was substantially renovated in the 17th Century, when its cloisters were added. Originally, the Plaza de Mina formed the convent's orchard.

Plaza San Antonio

In the 19th century Plaza San Antonio was considered to be Cadiz’s main square. It is a beautiful square, surrounded by a number of mansions built in neo-classical architecture or Isabelline Gothic style, once occupied by the Cadiz upper classes. Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century both as a reaction against the Rococo Isabelline Gothic (in Spanish, Gótico Isabelino) is the name of an Architectural style that was developed in Spain, during Isabella San Antonio church, originally built in 1669, is also situated in the plaza,

The plaza was built in the 18th century, and on 19 March 1812 the Spanish Constitution of 1812 was proclaimed here, leading to the plaza to be named Plaza de la Constitución, and then later Plaza San Antonio, after the hermit San Antonio. The Spanish Constitution of 1812 was promulgated by the Cádiz Cortes, the national legislative assembly ( Cortes Generales "General Courts"

In 1954 the cities mayor proclaimed the location a historic site. All construction is prohibited.

Plaza de Candelaria

The Plaza de Candelaria is named after the Candelaria convent, situated in the square until it was demolished in 1873, when its grounds were redeveloped as a plaza. The plaza is notable for a statue in its centre of Emilio Castelar, president of the first Spanish republic, who was born in a house facing the square. Emilio Castelar y Ripoll ( September 7, 1832 — May 25 1899) was a Spanish republican and a president of the First Spanish Republic A plaque situated on another house, states that Bernardo O'Higgins, an Irish-Chilean adventurer and former dictator of Chile also, lived in the square. Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme ( August 20, 1778 &ndash October 24, 1842) South American independence leader was one of the commanders

Plaza de la Catedral and the Cathedral

Main article: Cádiz Cathedral

The cathedral

The Plaza de la Catedral houses both the Cathedral and the baroque Santiago church, built in 1635. Cádiz Cathedral was built in 1635 The Plaza de la Catedral houses both the Cathedral and the Baroque Santiago church built in 1635 Baroque art redirects here Please disambiguate such links to Baroque painting, Baroque sculpture, etc

One of Cádiz's most famous landmarks is its cathedral. It sits on the site of an older cathedral, completed in 1260, which burned down in 1596. The reconstruction, which was not started until 1776, was supervised by the architect Vicente Acero, who had also built the Granada Cathedral. Year 1776 ( MDCCLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a An architect is a licensed individual who leads a design team in the Planning and Design of buildings and participates in oversight of Building Construction Vicente Acero was a 16th century Spanish architect born in Seville in 1540 Acero left the project and was succeeded by several other architects. As a result, this largely baroque-style cathedral was built over a period of 116 years, and, due to this drawn-out period of construction, the cathedral underwent several major changes to its original design. Baroque art redirects here Please disambiguate such links to Baroque painting, Baroque sculpture, etc Though the cathedral was originally intended to be a baroque edifice, it contains rococo elements, and was finally completed in the neoclassical style. Rococo is a style of 18th century French art and Interior design. Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century both as a reaction against the Rococo Its chapels have many paintings and relics from the old cathedral and monasteries from throughout Spain. A chapel is a holy place or area of Worship for Christians, which may be attached to an institution such as a large church, a College, a

Plaza de San Juan de Dios and the Old Town Hall

Construction of this plaza began in the 15th century on lands reclaimed from the sea. With the demolition of the City walls in 1906 the plaza increased in size and a statue of the Cadiz politician Segismundo Moret was unveiled. Overlooking the plaza, the Ayuntamiento is the town hall of Cádiz's Old City. For a discussion of the historic ayuntamiento see Cabildo (council. A city hall or town hall is the chief administrative building of a City or Town 's administration and usually houses the city or The structure, constructed on the bases and location of the previous Consistorial Houses (1699), was built in two stages. The first stage began in 1799 under the direction of architect Torcuato Benjumeda in the neoclassical style. Year 1799 ( MDCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century both as a reaction against the Rococo The second stage was completed in 1861 under the direction of García del Alamo, in the Isabelline Gothic (in Spanish, "Gótico Isabelino" or, simply, the "Isabelino") style. Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Isabelline Gothic (in Spanish, Gótico Isabelino) is the name of an Architectural style that was developed in Spain, during Isabella Here, in 1936, the flag of Andalusia was hoisted for the first time. Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Andalusia (Andalucía is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the most populous and the second largest in terms of land area

The old town hall

Plaza de España and the monument to the constitution of 1812

The Plaza de España is a large square close to the port. It is dominated by the Monument to the Constitution of 1812, which came into being as a consequence of the demolition of a portion of the old city wall. The Spanish Constitution of 1812 was promulgated by the Cádiz Cortes, the national legislative assembly ( Cortes Generales "General Courts" The plaza is an extension of the old Plazuela del Carbón. The goal of this demolition was to create a grand new city square to mark the hundredth anniversary of the liberal constitution, which was proclaimed in this city in 1812, and provide a setting for a suitable memorial. The work is by the architect, Modesto Lopez Otero, and of the sculptor, Aniceto Marinas. The work began in 1912 and finished in 1929. Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Monument to the Constitution of 1812

The lower level of the monument represents a chamber and an empty presidential armchair. The upper level has various inscriptions surmounting the chamber. On each side are bronze figures representing peace and war. In the center, a pilaster rises to symbolize, in allegorical terms, the principals expressed in the 1812 constitution. A pilaster is a slightly-projecting flattened Column built into or applied to the face of a wall At the foot of this pilaster, there is a female figure representing Spain, and, to either side, scuptural groupings representing agriculture and citizenship.

Plaza de Falla and the Gran Teatro Falla (Falla Grand Theatre)

The original Gran Teatro was constructed in 1871 by the architect García del Alamo, and was destroyed by a fire in August, 1881. Year 1871 ( MDCCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The current theatre was built between 1884 and 1905 over the remains of the previous Gran Teatro. Year 1884 ( MDCCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting The architect was Adolfo Morales de los Rios, and the overseer of construction was Juan Cabrera de la Torre. The outside was covered in red bricks and is of a neo-Mudejar or Moorish revival style. Moorish Revival or Neo-Moorish is one of the exotic revival Architectural styles that were adopted by architects of Europe and the Americas in the wake of the Moorish Revival or Neo-Moorish is one of the exotic revival Architectural styles that were adopted by architects of Europe and the Americas in the wake of the Following renovations in the 1920s, the theatre was renamed the Gran Teatro Falla, in honor of composer Manuel de Falla, who is buried in the crypt of the cathedral. The 1920s is sometimes referred to as the " Jazz Age " or the " Roaring Twenties " when speaking about the United States and Canada Manuel de Falla y Matheu ( November 23, 1876 &ndash November 14, 1946) was a Spanish Composer of classical music After a period of disrepair in the 1980s, the theatre has since undergone extensive renovation. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989.

El Gran Teatro Falla

Other Landmarks

Tavira tower

In the 18th century, Cádiz had more than 160 towers from which local merchants could look out to sea for arriving merchant ships. These towers often formed part of the merchants' houses. The Torre Tavira, named for its original owner, stands as the tallest remaining watchtower. It has a cámara oscura, a room that uses the principal of the pinhole camera (and a specially-prepared convex lens) to project panoramic views of the Old City onto its interior walls. The camera obscura (Latin dark chamber) is an optical device used for example in drawing or for entertainment A' pinhole camera' is a very simple Camera with no lens and a single very small Aperture. (Also see the article titled Widow's walk. A widow's walk (or roofwalk) is a railed Rooftop platform typically on a Coastal House, originally designed to observe vessels )

Admiral's House

The Casa del Almirante is a palatial house, adjacent to the Plaza San Martín in the Barrio del Pópulo, which was constructed in 1690 with the proceeds of the lucrative trade with the Americas. It was built by the family of the admiral of the Spanish treasure fleet, the so-called Fleet of the Indies, Don Diego de Barrios. Beginning in the 16th century the Spanish treasure fleets (or simply West Indies Fleet from Spanish Flota de Indias) transported various metal resources and agricultural The exterior is sheathed in exquisite red and white Genoan marble, prepared in the workshops of Andreoli, and mounted by the master, García Narváez. The colonnaded portico, the grand staircase under the cupola, and the hall on the main floor are architectural features of great nobility and beauty. The shield of the Barrios family appears on the second-floor balcony.

Old customs house

Within the plan of reforms of the walls that protect the flank of the port of Cadiz projects the construction of three identical and next buildings to each other: the Customs, the House of Hiring and the Consulate. Of only the three it is executed first, of neoclassic, sober style and of ample and balanced proportions. The works began in 1765 under the direction of Juan Caballero at a cost of 7,717,200 reales.

Palacio de Congresos

Cadiz's superbly refurbished tobacco factory offers excellent international conference and trade-show facilities. Home to the third annual MAST Conference and trade-show (12th to 14th November 2008)

Roman theatre

In 1980, in the El Pópulo district of Cádiz, there was a fire in some old warehouses belonging to a company called Vigorito, SA, causing catastrophic damage. In the aftermath of the fire, an exciting discovery was made: the remains of an ancient Roman theatre. The fire had destroyed the warehouses revealing a layer of construction that was judged to be the foundations of some medieval buildings; the foundations of these buildings had been built, in turn, upon much more ancient stones, hand-hewn limestone of a Roman character. Systematic excavations, which still continue, have revealed a largely in-tact Roman theatre.

The theatre, constructed by order of Lucius Cornelius Balbus (minor) during the first century BCE, is the second largest Roman theatre in the world, surpassed only by the theater of Pompeii, south of Rome. Lucius Cornelius Balbus (called Minor to distinguish from his uncle) received the Roman citizenship at the same time as his uncle Pompeii is a ruined and partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples and Caserta in the Italian region of Campania, in Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Cicero, in "Epistulae ad Familiares" (Letters to his friends), wrote of its use by Balbo for personal propaganda. Marcus Tullius Cicero ( Classical Latin ˈkikeroː usually ˈsɪsərəʊ in English January 3, 106 BC &ndash December 7, 43 BC was a Roman

According to archaeologists, this discovery confirms the greatness of the Roman city of Gades. Cádiz ( Spanish:) is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the province of the same name, a province which is one of eight The ancient city had a population even greater than the 80,000 people who lived in Cádiz during the sixteenth and seventeenth century, when the city dominated trans-Atlantic commerce, and it was one of the most prosperous cities of the Roman empire.

Pylons of Cádiz

The Pylons of Cádiz are electricity pylons of unusual design, one on either side of the Bay of Cádiz, used to support huge electric-power cables. The Pylons of Cádiz, also known as the Towers of Cádiz, are two tall Pylons supporting two 132 kV Three-phase AC powerlines crossing the The Bay of Cádiz is a body of water adjacent to the southwestern coast of Spain The pylons are 158 metres high and designed for two circuits. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International An electrical network is an interconnection of Electrical elements such as Resistors Inductors Capacitors Transmission lines Voltage The very unconventional construction consists of a narrow frustum steel framework with one crossbar at the top of each one for the insulators. Elements special cases and related concepts Each plane section is a base of the frustum Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0

City walls and fortifications

City Gates

Las Puertas de Tierra originated in the 16th century, although much of the original work has disappeared. Once consisting of several layers of walls, only one of these remain today. By the 20th century it was necessary to remodel the entrance to the Old City to accommodate modern traffic. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on Today, the two side-by-side arches cut into the wall serve as one of the primary entrances to the city.

Las puertas de tierra

El Arco de los Blancos, is the old gate to the Populo district, built around 1300. It was the principal gate to the medieval town. The gate is named after the family of Felipe Blanco who built a chapel (now disappeared) above the gate.

El Arco de la Rosa (The Rose Arch) is the old gate carved into the walls of medieval Cádiz next to the cathedral. These walls and the gate were built during the reign of Alfonso X. The gate is named after Captain Gaspar de la Rosa, who lived in the City in the 18th Century. The gate was renovated in 1973.

Fortress of Candelaria

The Baluarte de la Candelaria (fortress or stronghold of Candlemas) is a military fortification. The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple celebrates an early episode in the life of Jesus, and falls on or around 2 February. Taking advantage of a natural elevation of land, it was constructed in 1672 at the initiative of the governor, Diego Caballero de Illescas. Protected by a seaward-facing wall that had previously served as a seawall, Candelaria's cannons were in a position to command the channels approaching the port of Cádiz. In more recent times, the edifice has served as a headquarters for the corps of military engineers and as the home to the army's homing pigeons, birds used to carry written messages over hostile terrain. The homing pigeon is a variety of domesticated Rock Pigeon ( Columba livia domestica) that has been selectively Thoroughly renovated, it is now used as a cultural venue. There has been some discussion of using it to house a maritime museum, but, at present, it is designated for use as a permanent exposition space.

San Sebastian

The Castillo de San Sebastian is also a military fortification, and is situated at the end of a road leading out from the Caleta beach. It was built in 1706. Today the castle remains unused, although its future uses remain much debated. . .

Santa Catalina

The Castillo de Santa Catalina is also a military fortification, and is situated at the end of the Caleta beach. It was built in 1598 following the English sacking of Cadiz two years earlier. Recently renovated, today it is used for exhibitions and concerts.

Notable people born in Cádiz and Cádiz province

• Esteban Piñero Camacho, know as Basty, member of the Spanish band D'NASH

Beaches

La Caleta beach

Cádiz, situated on a peninsula [2], is home to some of Spain's most beautiful beaches. Esteban Piñero Camacho (born 28 February 1981) is a member of the boyband D'NASH. D'NASH is a Spanish Boy band, best known for representing Spain in the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest.

La Playa de la Caleta is the best-loved beach of Cádiz. La Caleta is a Beach located in the historical center of the city of Cádiz, Spain. It has always been in Carnival songs, due to its unequalled beauty and its proximity to the Barrio de la Viña. It is the beach of the Old City, situated between two castles, San Sebastian and Santa Catalina. It is around four hundred meters long and thirty meters wide at low tide. La Caleta served as the set for several of the Cuban scenes in the beginning of the James Bond movie Die Another Day. Die Another Day is a 2002 film the 20th in the James Bond series, and the fourth and final film to star Pierce Brosnan as fictional MI6

La Playa de la Victoria, in the newer part of Cádiz, is the beach most visited by tourists and natives of Cádiz. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel It is about three kilometers long, and it has an average width of fifty meters of sand. The moderate swell and the absence of rocks allow family bathing. A swell, in the context of an Ocean, is a formation of long Wavelength Ocean surface waves on the sea It is separated from the city by an avenue; on the landward side of the avenue, there are many shops and restaurants.

La Playa de Santa María del Mar or Playita de las Mujeres is a small beach in Cádiz, situated between La Playa de Victoria and La Playa de la Caleta. It features excellent views of the old district of Cádiz.

Satellite view of Cádiz

Carnival

Main article: Carnival of Cádiz

The Carnival of Cádiz is one of the best known carnivals in the world. The Carnival of Cádiz is one of the best known Carnivals in the world Carnival is a festival season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February and March Throughout the year, carnival-related activities are almost constant in the city; there are always rehearsals, public demonstrations, and contests of various kinds.

Map of Cádiz showing its location within the province of Cádiz

The city of Cádiz is often noted for having the most humorous people in Spain. Consequently, the central themes of the carnival are sharp criticisms, often of a political nature, clever plays on words, and the off-beat imagination displayed in revelers' costumes, which, unlike in carnival venues elsewhere in the world, do not emphasis the glamourous or scandalous. The word critic comes from the Greek el κριτικός ( el-Latn kritikós) "able to discern" which in turn derives from the word Word play is a Literary technique in which the nature of the words that are used become the main subject of the work

A chorus singing in the Carnival of Cádiz

The Carnival of Cádiz is famous for the satirical groups called chirigotas, who perform comical musical pieces. Typically, a chirigota is composed of seven to twelve performers who sing, act and improvise accompanied by guitars, kazoos, a bass drum, and a variety of noise-makers. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles The kazoo is a simple Musical instrument ( Membranophone) that adds a "buzzing" timbral quality to a player's voice when one vocalizes into it Other than the chirigotas, there are many other groups of performers: choruses; ensembles called comparsas, who sing in close harmony much like the barbershop quartets of African-American culture or the mariachis of Mexico; cuartetos, consisting of four (or sometimes three) performers alternating dramatic parodies and humorous songs; and romanceros, storytellers who recite tales in verse. Barbershop Vocal harmony, as codified during the barbershop revival era (1940s-present is a style of A cappella, or unaccompanied Vocal music characterized African American culture in the United States refers to the cultural contributions of African ethnic groups to the culture of the United States either as part of or distinct from MARIACHI, the Mixed Apparatus for Radar Investigation of Cosmic-rays of High Ionization, is an apparatus for the detection of Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECR Storytelling is the ancient art of conveying events in Words Images and Sounds often by Improvisation or embellishment These diverse spectacles turn the city into a colorful and popular open-air theater for two entire weeks in February.

The Concurso Oficial de Agrupaciones Carnavalescas (the official association of carnival groups) sponsors a contest in the Gran Teatro Falla (see above) each year where chirigotas and other performers compete for prizes. This is the climactic event of the Cádiz carnival.

Gastronomy

Tortillita de camarones

Gachas

Sister cities

Sister cities of Cádiz are:

• Baltimore, Maryland, USA
• Brest (France)
• Buenos Aires (Argentina)
• Cartagena de Indias (Colombia)
• Ceuta (Spain)
• Huelva (Spain)
• La Coruña (Spain)
• Havana (Cuba)
• Medway, UK
• Montevideo (Uruguay)
• Móstoles (Spain)
• Rochester, New York, USA
• Tangier (Morocco)
• Torrevieja (Spain)
• San Juan, (Puerto Rico)
• Villa Cisneros or ad-Dajla (الداخلة), (Western Sahara)

See also

• Battle of Cadiz
• Cádiz Club de Futbol
• Costa de la Luz

References

Sources and external links

• Official City of Cádiz Homepage
• Official University of Cádiz Homepage
• Diario de Cádiz (Local Newspaper)
• Cádiz Football Club Official Homepage
• 360º Panoramic walk through the City of Cádiz
• Cádiz Province Official Tourism Homepage