Cádiz
 Cádiz,
the capital and principal seaport of the Cádiz province
of Andalusia, stands on a peninsula jutting out into a bay, and
is almost entirely surrounded by water. Hemmed in by the sea from
which it is protected by walls, the city has only one land exit.
Unlike most other ports of its size Cadiz seems relaxed, easy
going, and not at all threatening, even at night. The town has
traditionally been a bastion of liberalism and tolerance which
was maintained all through the years of Franco's dictatorship
and can be experienced today.
Industrial development is rather
limited, but more importantly private and public beaches are the
key attraction here. Many are considered the best in Europe and
the water is of great quality. The city is primarily a commercial
port, exporting wine (principally sherry from Jerez de la Frontera),
salt, olives, figs, corks, and salted fish; and importing coal,
iron and machinery, timber, cereals, and coffee.
Jerez de la Frontera
 In
1587 Sir Francis Drake made a devastating raid on Cadiz, setting
fire to the whole of the Spanish fleet, and helping himself to
some 300,000 gallons of sherry. This huge supply of wine must
have contributed to establishing a taste for the wine in Britain.
As a result, a large number of English, Irish and Scottish settled
in the area and there have been strong ties between Jerez, Britain
and Ireland ever since. The most impressive sight in Jerez is
the El Alcazar or Moorish Fortress built in the 11th century.
Jerez is an attractive town small enough to visit on foot. Also
visits to the "bodegas" may be arranged in advance by
calling the various sherry houses (they all speak English).
Ronda
 Rising
amid a ring of dark angular mountains is the Andalucian town of
Ronda. Built on an isolated ridge of the sierra, it is split in
half by the gaping river gorge of the River Tajo with a sheer
drop of 130m on three sides. A stupendous 18th Century bridge
spans the gorge, while tall, whitewashed houses lean from its
precipitous edges. Other attractions include the Bullring which
was built in 1781 and is one of the earliest in Spain. The bullfights
during the Feria de Ronda held in May take place in 18th century
costume. The bullring can be visited to wander around the arena
and there is also a museum inside.
Nature Parks
El Pinar
Just 3 km away (1.8 miles)
El Pinar boasts one of the most spectacular cliff faces in the
province, the cliffs of Caños de Meca, which reach a height
of 100m (328ft) above sea level. The woodland extends right up
to the cliff tops. Its pine trees were originally planted at the
end of the last century as a reforestation project to stabilize
the sand dunes and prevent their shifting inland. The forest consists
principally of "umbrella pines" accompanied by sabinas,
junipers, a Mediterranean brushwood and sandy soils, and is worthy
of note for being one of the most diverse and well-conserved of
its kind on the Andalucian coast.
Los Alcornocales
The Alcornocales Nature Park
is undoubtedly one of the jewels of Spain's many protected nature
reserves. Covering over 170,000 hectares this park is unique in
Europe not only for its size but also for the fact that there
is not a single town, village or hamlet within its boundaries.
The density of the woodland, the 1,000m (3280ft) peaks, the narrow
valleys and ridges are what has protected this area from man's
development. The Alcornocales Park is Europe's largest continuous
woodland area and coincidentally the largest oak forest on our
planet.
Sadly bears and wolves are
no longer a feature of the park's wildlife. The last of these
mammals were killed only forty years ago. Wildlife is now protected
by strict measures and red deer, roe deer and wild boar are a
common sight. The park is also home to an astounding variety of
smaller wildlife such as otters, polecats, foxes, mongoose and
the Iberian Lynx which are occasionally seen. On the highest peaks
the population of the elusive "Cabra Montes" (mountain
goat) is flourishing.
Overhead Griffon vultures soar
on thermals. This is only one of the many birds of prey that live
in the park. Protected by the remote and rugged terrain, Imperial
eagles; booted eagles and Egyptian vultures soar overhead. Smaller
birds of prey include peregrine falcons, sparrow hawks and kestrels.
Grazalema
 In
1977 UNESCO declared the Grazalema Natural Park a Reserve of the
Biosphere in recognition of its astounding natural values. The
limestone rock forms spectacular features of immense caves, crags
and canyons while a dense Mediterranean forest of cork oak, common
oak and wild olive covers and fills the landscape. This spectacular
mountain range was the frontier post of innumerable battles between
the Moors and the Christians, whose cultural and architectural
legacies dominate the small villages and towns of the park. The
Natural Park extends over an area of 51,695 hectares. The Sierra
del Pinar at 1654m (5425ft) is its highest point with spectacular
views over the provinces of Malaga and Cadiz. |
