Cadiz is said to be the oldest city in western Europe, as it was founded by Phoenician sailors about 3.000 years ago, as a commercial stronghold. Archeological remains can be found all around the old town. The Archeological Museum (Plaza de Mina) exhibits are interesting, specially two Phoenician stone sarcophagus. The remainings of the Roman theatre just behind the cathedral are also worth a visit.
The massive stone walls and forts that can be seen surrounding the old town were built to protect the city after the British attack and sacking in 1596, and the forts of San Sebastian and Santa Catalina (and occasionally Baluarte de la Concepcion) are open to the public.
Everyone should visit the Cathedral in the old town and climb to the top of the North Tower for a nice view of the entire city.
The church Oratorio de San Felipe Neri, where the first Spanish Constitution was signed, has plenty of marble and bronze plates to honour the s representatives from mainland Spain and colonial territories, ranging from Philippines Islands to Central and South America.The Torre Tavira, near the Central Market (Mercado de Abastos) holds a “camera obscura”. Located in one of the towers originally used by merchants to watch out for their ships returning home from the Americas, it provides a birds-eye view of the old part of town.The Central Market itself is well worth a visit in the morning, especially the fish section.A modern monument of Cadiz are the huge pylons of the powerline crossing the bay of Cadiz. These 150 metre high pylons are lattice towers with cylindrical cross section.
