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.
Discovering the Charms of Cadiz: A One-Day Itinerary
Experience the allure of Cadiz, affectionately known as the ‘Tacita de Plata’ (‘the little silver cup’), believed to be the oldest city in the Western world, founded by the Phoenicians in 1100 BC.
For a short visit to the city, why not use an audio guide or take advantage of a tapas tour or city guided tour. read on to find out how to get the best out of a day trip to Cádiz.
Morning: Unveiling the cities treasures with an audio guided tour
Begin the audio tour at the iconic Puerta de Tierra, the historic gateway that took over 200 years to complete, as part of the medieval city’s expansion in the 1500s.
The Alameda Apodaca y Marqués de Comillas
The Alameda Apodaca y Marqués de Comillas is a beautiful promenade in Cádiz that borders the historic city center to the south and faces the bay of Cádiz and nearby towns like El Puerto de Santa María and Rota. The promenade is landscaped in a romantic style with a linear layout marked by the regionalist style of the early 20th century, featuring glazed ceramics from Seville and wrought iron on benches and lampposts.
The Cathedral in Cádiz
During the early years of the18th century, as Cádiz grew wealthy on trade with the Americas and Indies, its was decided to replace the old cathedral (Iglesia Santa Cruz) with a new and more lavish building that reflected the citys riches during this golden age.
The new cathedral was designed by Vicente Acero, construction began in 1722 funded by the wealthy shipping magnates of the city.
Search for guided tours and activities in Cádiz here: https://visitingcadiz.com/guided-tours-and-activities-in-cadiz/
The Audio guided tour of Cádiz
The Cathedral and its plaza is included in the Visit Cádiz audio guided tour. Check it out here: https://visitingcadiz.com/immerse-yourself-in-cadizs-rich-history-a-guided-audio-tour/
Or, just scan the QR code on the left with your mobile phone.
The fortress of Santa Catalina
After the Anglo-Dutch sack of the city in 1596, King Felipe II sent the engineer Cristóbal de Rojas to Cádiz to carry out a defense project. Rojas considered that the quickest and most effective way to protect the city was to design a fortification in the bay of Santa Catalina. So, in order to defend the most vulnerable maritime borders of the city of Cádiz, the fortress of Santa Catalina was built.