Tag Archives: Plazas

Plazas in Cádiz

The Plaza Candelaria in Cádiz

Leave a comment

The Plaza Candelaria is a historic area located in the heart of Cadiz. The square is named after the Virgen de la Candelaria and is one of the oldest public spaces in the city.

Known for its impressive architecture and cultural significance. It is surrounded by several notable buildings, including the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. The houses that surround the square are, for the most part. from the end of the 19th century, with elements from the romantic period predominating. House number 15, known as “Asilo de Oviedo” and is built in the Elizabethan style. The Chilean insurgent leader Bernardo O’Higgins lived for years. Its magnificent façade stands out with its attached pilasters and corbels that have figures of eagles. Also noteworthy is house number 6, built in 1906 and in which glass and iron architecture are combined.

Emilio Castelar

Another of the characteristic elements of this square is the bronze statue of Emilio Castelar, a great orator and last president of the First Republic, born in one of the houses facing the square, which presides over the central gazebo. Also, on one of the sides there is a small marble fountain.

The Plaza Candelaria in Cádiz
Emilio Castelar y Ripoll (1832-1899) was a Spanish politician, writer, and orator who played an important role in the history of modern Spain during the second half of the 19th century.

Castelar was a prominent member of the Republican Party and was known for his eloquence and liberal ideas. He was elected to the Spanish Parliament several times and served as President of the Chamber of Deputies in 1873-1874. He also briefly served as President of the First Spanish Republic in 1873, but the republic was short-lived and was replaced by a monarchy a year later.

As a writer and orator, Castelar was highly regarded for his speeches and essays on democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression. He was a vocal opponent of authoritarianism and advocated for a more democratic and progressive Spain. He also supported the abolition of slavery and was a defender of women’s rights.

Castelar’s legacy as a politician, writer, and orator has been widely recognized in Spain and beyond. He is remembered as a key figure in the history of Spanish liberalism and as a symbol of democratic values and ideals.

The gardens

The landscaped space is organized around a central gazebo with radial paths connected to a perimeter promenade, some of them covered by bougainvillea-covered pergolas. The external sidewalk that borders the square has a row of elm trees on the outer edge that, like other existing elm trees in the city, are gradually being replaced by other species such as hackberry, due to their poor health status. In the inner part of the sidewalk we find a row of bitter orange trees, which in spring perfume the square with the intense smell of their orange blossoms.

In the flower beds, among the tree species present, the following specimens stand out

An Araucaria or Norfolk Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) over 100 years old; a Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) also over 100 years old; Canary Island Palm (Phoenix canariensis), a specimen over 100 years old. A dragon tree (Dracaena draco) about 40 years old; a Livistona (Livistona chinensis) at more than 80 years; a silk floss tree (Chorisia speciosa), Orchid Tree (Bauhinia variegata), Cycad (Macrozamia communis), Coconut or Queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana) and a Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens).

The Senator Cádiz Spa Hotel

Not too far from the the Plaza Candelaria is the Senator Cádiz Spa Hotel which is also close to the Canalejas park and plaza de las tortugas.

Set in a stately Mediterranean-style building and featuring wood floors. The warm, casual rooms come with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and desks, plus tea and coffeemaking facilities. Suites add separate living spaces. Room service is available. A breakfast buffet is available and there is a relaxed cafe/bar. Other amenities include a seasonal outdoor pool, a fitness room and a spa with hot tubs, an ice cave and saunas. There’s also a bright enclosed courtyard with a fountain and seating. The hotel also has parking.

See more parks and gardens in Cádiz here: https://visitingcadiz.com/parks-and-gardens/

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

Ronda Today

Everything you need to know before you visit Ronda “The city of dreams” in Andalucia. https://www.rondatoday.com/

The Caminito del Rey

Find tickets for the Caminito del Rey: https://www.caminodelrey.es/

Wildside Holidays – Spain

Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies.

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

Plaza de las Flores in Cádiz

Leave a comment

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/

The Caminito del Rey

Find tickets for the Caminito del Rey: https://www.caminodelrey.es/

Wildside Holidays – Spain

Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies.

Iberia Nature Forum

Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum!

Discover the Iberia Nature Forum – Environment, geography, nature, landscape, climate, culture, history, rural tourism and travel.

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

The Plaza de Sevilla in Cádiz

Leave a comment

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/

The Caminito del Rey

Find tickets for the Caminito del Rey: https://www.caminodelrey.es/

Wildside Holidays – Spain

Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies.

Iberia Nature Forum

Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum!

Discover the Iberia Nature Forum – Environment, geography, nature, landscape, climate, culture, history, rural tourism and travel.