While wintering in eastern Portugal 2013/14 we made a short trip to Cadiz - about 3 hours by car. We left our motorhome behind and opted to drive into the old town of Cadiz where we had booked ourselves into a boutique hotel that was once a Dominican convent and even now has a church attached to it. Apparently there are still monks inhabiting part of the building but we did not see them during our stay.
It was called Hotel Boutique Convento Cádiz and we booked via Bookings.com/
There is a municipal campsite at El Puerto de Santa Maria which you can see on the map below. There is another at Chiclana de la Frontera which is a little further away. We did not see any motorhomes parked in the old town but there was some parking near the port where it might be possible to park a motorhome for a few hours.
It was called Hotel Boutique Convento Cádiz and we booked via Bookings.com/
There is a municipal campsite at El Puerto de Santa Maria which you can see on the map below. There is another at Chiclana de la Frontera which is a little further away. We did not see any motorhomes parked in the old town but there was some parking near the port where it might be possible to park a motorhome for a few hours.
Above is the cloister of the former convent and to the right is the operational church attached to the hotel.
Cadiz is a large modern city but in the old town you will find charming winding narrow streets that lead into large and airy plazas with lots of cafes and shops as well as churches and of course some pretty ancient city walls.
Cadiz is reputed to be the oldest inhabited town in the whole of europe and estimates have it as having existed for four thousand years.
Cadiz is reputed to be the oldest inhabited town in the whole of europe and estimates have it as having existed for four thousand years.
Historically it was an important sea port providing links to growing Spanish empire in the New World. It remains an important port today and the American Navy was in town when we visited.
El Greco
Permanent 3D nativity scene in the Women's Hospital
This is the former women's hospital dating from 18th century. The main chapel is beautifully and extravagantly decorated in the baroque style and there is lots to see in here as well as the El Greco shown above, the Ectasy of St Francis.
A great selection of restaurants and bars
There is a permanent market in Cadiz where in common with the best Spanish markets is full of delightful things to see, buy and eat. When we were there it was the start of the snail season, see below.
If you are staying in the old town there is very pleasant walking around the peninsula following the old city walls, the pedestrianised footpaths and the lovely gardens.
