Nowadays, Cadiz, with a population of about 164,000 inhabitants, is a small, white and blue coloured coastal city. The 3000-year-old city, being the oldest city in Europe, is located at the Costa de la Luz and is almost completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Cádiz is divided into two sections which are separated by the walls of Tierra Gate. One of these sections is a modern, industrial area next to the Atlantic, while the other contains the typical white narrow streets with their evocative gardens and small squares. Cádiz is only about 100 km afar from the southernmost point of the European continent, Tarifa.

Cadiz is a fine place to spend time and soak up the sights and the culture. The port is busy yet feels relaxed and safe to wander round. During the 16th century Cadiz was twice used by Christopher Columbus for his expeditions across the Atlantic Ocean in order to discover the new lands of America.

Here are lots of things to see and do. Cadiz boasts of a 260 km. coastline containing innumerable beaches of fine white sand and beautiful shores. If you can travel to Cádiz in February, you will be able to experience one of Spains wildest and most entertaining carnivals. The Cádiz carnival usually takes place during the second week of February and, during this month, music fills the air from mandolins, tambourines, guitars, and even whistles. Singing, dancing, and riotous street behavior characterize the event, which lasts all night long, ending when revelers flood the cafes for freshly cooked "churros" and hot cups of chocolate.

Cádiz can boast of an unusual Cathedral of various architectural styles. This Cathedral was completed in 1260 and then burned down in 1596. The reconstruction, which was not started until 1776, was supervised by the architect VicenteAcero, who had also built the Granada Cathedral. Though the cathedral was originally intended to be a baroque edifice, it has many rococo elements, and was finally completed in the neoclassical style.

The Gran Teatro Falla, this century-old red brick building, is a cultural institution that is part of the fabric of old Cadiz. The original Gran Teatro was constructed in 1871 by the architect García del Alamo, and was destroyed in an August 1881 fire. The current theatre was built between 1884 and 1905 over the remains of the previous Gran Teatro. It was finally completed in 1905. The theater was renamed as the Gran Teatro Falla in 1926 to honor the noted Spanish composer Manuel de Falla.

A small plaza (Plaza de Falla) fronts the north (main) facade of the Gran Teatro Falla. There are programs scheduled throughout the year. The ticket booth is on the east side of the theater, selling tickets for upcoming events as well as day-of-performance tickets.

The "Ayuntamiento" (Town Hall) (Plaza San Juan de Dios s/n - Phone: 95-624-10-00) which stands facing the port across the square of San Juan De Dios, was built in two stages: In 1799 and the second in 1861. The town hall is dramatically illuminated at night. Inside there's not much to see except an impressive chapter house. The Bells of the Town Hall play Fallas music called 'The three cornered hat' every hour. The Town Hall is open on Saturday only from 11am to 3pm and the admission is free.

The Tavira Tower was part of the palace of the Marquis of Recano and was named after its first watchman D. Antonio Tavira. This highest and most important of the city's old towers is a fine place to get your bearings and affords a dramatic panorama of the city. Around 1800, 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 their houses. Now the tower has become a Camera Obscura: A room that uses the principal of the pinhole camera to project panoramic views of the Old City, upside-down, onto its interior walls.

For more info visit www.torretavira.com