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Towers and viewpoints in Cádiz

The Torre Tavira in Cádiz

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The Torre Tavira is a watchtower and the tallest point in the city of Cadiz, located 45 meters above sea level. It is situated in the Casa-Palacio de los Marqueses de Recaño (currently the Conservatory of Music of Cadiz) and was built in the Baroque style in the 18th century. It was designated as the official watchtower of the Cadiz port in 1778 because it had the highest elevation, and was named after its first watchman, Lieutenant Frigate D. Antonio Tavira.

Currently, it houses the Camera Obscura, one of the most symbolic tourist attractions in the city of Cadiz, as well as two exhibition halls and a viewpoint, from which the entire historic city center can be admired.

Tickets to the Torre Tavira at Get Your Guide

Explore the ancient city of Cadiz on this 2-hour guided walking tour. Visit two of its most impressive monuments: the Cadiz Cathedral and the Tavira Tower while passing historical landmarks along the way.

The Camera Obscura was inaugurated in 1994 and is composed of an optical system that reflects real-time scenes from the outside onto a white screen. The exhibition halls show, through informative panels, the development of the city of Cadiz and its history in general, and the Torre Tavira in particular during the 18th and 19th centuries. Visitors can also admire the original telescope and the watchman’s daily logbook, as well as photographs from the 19th and present centuries that show the changes undergone by the city during the last century.

From the Torre Tavira, in addition to all the rooftops of Cadiz, one can see Puerto Real, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Rota, and Sancti Petri. When the horizon is clear, the African coast can be glimpsed.

Read more about the watchtowers of Cádiz here: https://visitingcadiz.com/the-watchtowers-of-cadiz/

Opening times and practical information

October – April: 10am – 6pm.
May – September: 10am – 8pm.

  • Duration of the Visit : 45 min.
  • The last entrance in the tower is one hour before closing time.
  • Open every day all year except the 25th of December, the 1st and the 6th of January.
  • Limited capacity. It is necessary to book in advance and follow safety instructions.
Prices
  • Normal Price: 7,00 Euro
  • Reduced price: 5,50 Euro, for People over 65, Students (with student ID), Groups of more than 10, Disabled people.

Official website: https://www.torretavira.com/en/

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Plazas in Cádiz, Tourist Information, What to see in Cádiz

Plaza de las Flores in Cádiz

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Plaza de las Flores, located in the historic center of Cádiz, is a beautiful square named after the original flower market that once took place there. (There still are flower stalls.)The square is surrounded by colorful buildings with wrought-iron balconies, palm trees, benches, and a central fountain, making it a popular spot for both locals and tourists to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

La Sal by Pillow hotel

La Sal by Pillow is a hotel in the historic centre of Cádiz close to the Plaza de las Flores. This small, completely refurbished hotel in Cádiz is the ideal option for travellers who like to discover the best corners of the city and explore its streets, without giving up the comfort and convenience offered by Pillow.

Restaurants and bars offering local cuisine and drinks are also available around the square. The plaza is conveniently located near some of Cádiz’s most popular attractions, including the Cathedral of Cádiz, the Gran Teatro Falla, and the Mercado Central de Abastos, making it an excellent starting point for exploring the city. It’s also a well-known meeting spot for locals.

Also known as Plaza Topete, Calle Compañía and Calle Columela lead to the square, as well as the Barrié and Libertad streets. Its proximity to the city’s main food market, which is located right next to it, adds to the lively atmosphere.

The Post Office building is a notable construction that presides over the widest point of the Plaza de las Flores. This triangular urban space is completely pedestrianized, bustling, and often used as a traditional meeting point. Its flower stalls create the perfect atmosphere for leisurely walks and the stay of passersby.

In addition to shops and cafes with outdoor terraces, one of the city’s most famous fish fryers is also located in the square.

Freiduría los Flores
Plaza de las Flores in Cádiz
In addition to shops and cafes with outdoor terraces, one of the city’s most famous fish fryers is also located in the square.

If Cádiz is famous for its fish fryers, much of the “blame” lies with this establishment whose showcase, where freshly fried fish is deposited, is one of the most visited “monuments” in the city. Thanks to a thorough renovation, the old fish fryer annexed a bar located next to it and has a large number of tables where you can taste freshly fried fish, as well as seafood and some dressings. It also has a pleasant terrace in the Plaza de Las Flores. The establishment was expanded in 2022 and now has a spacious indoor lounge.

Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella - Plaza de las Flores in Cádiz

The monument to Lucio Junio Moderato Columela, after whom the Calle Columela is named, is located in the center of the square.

He was a famous Roman agronomic treatise writer from Cádiz who wrote “De re rustica” and “Liber de arboribus,” which dealt with all fieldwork in a broad sense, including agriculture, livestock farming, beekeeping, and animal care.

See the full list of plazas in the city of Cádiz here: https://visitingcadiz.com/plazas-in-cadiz/

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Plazas in Cádiz, Tourist Information, What to see in Cádiz

The Plaza de Sevilla in Cádiz

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The Plaza Sevilla in Cádiz is a large urban space located in the interior of the old historic center. Very close to the Puertas de Tierra, its only access from the mainland, it is an important point in the city, as the symbolic Puerta del Mar is also located nearby (facing the emblematic San Juan de Dios square.) It is one of the main accesses to the passenger port area, where the catamarans and large cruise ships are located.

On one side of the square, near the entrance to the port, is one of the two “Liberty Torches” that were installed in the city of Cádiz in 2012 on the occasion of the bicentennial of the Constitution of 1812. The “torch” was designed by architect Antonio Ángel García Moreno, who won the contest organized by the City Council of Cádiz.

In front of the torch stands the classic building of the old railway station, built in 1890, representing a classic work of iron architecture engineering of the time. Currently, it is unused as a passenger station. Next to it is the new train station that extends behind it, and a little further away, the new bus station, making this Seville Square the starting or ending point for most visitors to the city.

In the center of the square is a large circular fountain with landscaped flowerbeds around it, serving as a roundabout for road traffic. Some of the other important historic buildings in Cádiz are distributed around it. One of them is the building of the Old Customs House, a unique and stately building that was inaugurated on October 27, 1959, designed by architect Manuel Ródenas. It is of eclectic historicist style, highlighting its symmetry, its central body with a large balcony and giant Ionic columns, and the successful arrangement of its openings and bicromy of its facade.

Hotel Boutique Convento Cádiz is close to the Plaza de Sevilla

Set in the historic center, this quaint hotel in a 17th-century convent is a 2-minute walk from Cádiz train station, and a short walk to the baroque architecture of Cádiz Cathedral. Caleta beach is 2 KM. The rooms provide free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, safes and minibars. Some have sea views and/or sleep up to 3 guests. Amenities include a simple cafe, an ornate chapel, a central courtyard and an exercise room, as well as a library. A breakfast buffet is also available.

On this plaza you will also find the National Tobacco Factory bulding (now converted into the Congress Palace of Cádiz.) The best facade, with neo-Mudéjar reminiscences, faces Calle Plocia. This important brick building, of which its slender conical chimney stands out, is a work of 19th-century industrial architecture, created in 1883, and designed by Federico Gil de los Reyes.

Further up the Cuesta de las Calesas is the Convent and Church of Santo Domingo, a magnificent Baroque complex built in 1650 by Martín Calafate and Bartolomé Ruiz. The church, with expressive Baroque style, was reformed in 1666 by Luis Lojo, and also subsequently in the mid-18th century. Its interior highlights the magnificent marble altarpiece by the Andreoli brothers from 1691, and the altar where the patron saint of Cádiz, Our Lady of the Rosary, is venerated.

Parking close to the Plaza de Sevilla in Cádiz

Also you will find easy parking at Parking Train Station Cádiz (Plaza de Sevilla, s/n 11006, Cádiz)

See the full list of plazas in the city of Cádiz here: https://visitingcadiz.com/plazas-in-cadiz/

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