0 Things to do in Cadiz, Spain

Cadiz is a fantastic city, situated on an isthmus poking into the Atlantic Ocean. It has not packed full of tourist attractions, though although the Tavira tower with its camera obscure is worth a visit, and the cathedral is immense and impressive. However, many things to do are completely free.

Do a walking tour

Cadiz is extremely walked able, and the local government knows it they have prepared several walking routes through the city, and have marked the way in brightly colored paint. I particularly enjoyed the green line, which takes you to the old and new cathedrals, the Roman amphitheatre, the market, the town walls, and other highlights. At each stop, there is an information board in Spanish and English brilliant.

Visit the museum

If you are an EU citizen or resident, entrance to the museum is completely free. If you are not, the €1.50 entrance fee probably will not break the bank anyway.

The pride of the museum is the two sarcophagi which were found almost 100 years apart right here in Cadiz. You will also see Phoenician relics, a bunch of headless statues and exhibitions of religious and modern art. Don’t miss the puppet display, which is on the third level but has to be accessed by a separate staircase from the other exhibitions on this level you will be given a map when you enter the museum, which should help you find it.

If you have a bag, you will have to leave it in a locker on the lowest level make sure you have a €1 coin to activate the locking mechanism.

Learn about La Pepa

Spain’s first constitution was signed 200 years ago, and you can learn all about it in a free exhibition at the Oratorio de San Felipe Neri. The document is known as La Pepa, because it was signed on St Joseph’s feast day.

The exhibition is all in Spanish but it is worth a look even if you do not speak a word; I enjoyed the table hanging from the ceiling and the holographic displays.

Get your castle fix

When looking at a map of Cadiz, you might have noticed the long walkway heading out to sea, with a castle at the end of it. Although you cannot enter the San Sebastian castle, you get good views of the city from its gates, as well as a chance to be sprayed by the occasional wave crashing against the rocks as you walk along the walkway.

The Santa Catalina castle is a different story. Not only can you enter, the various rooms of the complex are used as an art gallery and exhibition space and it is definitely worth a visit.

Detail: Things to do in Cadiz, Spain

0 Wine Tours In Spain

The wines of Spain are as accurate a measure as any of the country's refinement and sophistication. Spain is a world class producer of reds, whites, sherry, and champagne. All over Spain, there are roughly 5,500 wineries producing 870 million gallons of wine annually. Undoubtedly, winemaking is a very important part not only of Spain's economy but also of its history. It is, thus, no surprise that Madrid hotels offer guided wine tours to guests. Wine tours give guests the chance to sample different Spanish wines and immerse themselves in Spanish culture, history, and art at the same time.

With so much wine distributed in the countryside, Madrid hotels' wine tours only have room for the best. Below are some of the best Spanish wineries that are frequently included in Madrid hotels' wine tours.

Valdepenas

Valdepenas is one of the most affordable wine regions of Spain. It is, thus, advisable that during the Valedepenas stopover, you buy as much table wine as you can. This area of cold winters and humid summers is home to excellent Reserva and Gran Reserva, two wines that are produced using a hundred percent Tempranillo grapes.

Jerez

The hot and dry southwestern region of Jerez is another historic Spanish wine country. Jerez is the birthplace of sherry, a much underrated wine that may be dry, medium, or ultra-rich.

Rioja

Rioja is the heart of Spain's wine country. Most of the country's most successful vineyards are found in this region.

Navarra

After Rioja, Madrid hotels' wine tours often stop at Navarra next. This is because Navarra is nearer to Rioja. It produces traditional wines, or wines made from indigenous grapes, and modern wines, manufactured through a combination of French grapes and Spanish grapes.

Ribero del Duero

The vineyards of the Ribero del Duero is one of the most picturesque stops of Madrid hotels' wine tours. This region has, in recent years, become as popular a producer of wine as Rioja. It produces wines with a bold fruity flavor. In fact, it is home to the Vega Sicilia, the most famous of Spain's wines made almost entirely from French grapes.

Rueda

Rueda is incorporated into Madrid hotels' wine tours because of one reason: white wine. Rueda is the best white wine region of Spain and the wines made there are made of Verdego grapes and nothing else. You could learn more about the wines of Rueda and other wine regions through sites like http://www.Holiday4You.com/.

You will find out, as the tour progresses, that the wines from Spain excel in both quality and quantity. Though frequently eclipsed in popularity by wines produced in Italy and France, Spain's wines will surely put a grin on the face of even the most discriminating wine connoisseurs. There is no denying or disguising quality, even if you have to travel miles to take a sip of it. As the Romans put it so succintly, “In vino veritas.” In wine, there is truth.

Detail: Wine Tours In Spain