Besides Cadiz’s obvious appeal as a beach destination, it attracts significant tourist numbers with its historical architecture. In the central old part of the city rests Moorish buildings alongside Baroque and Renaissance facades while the city’s impressive cathedral steals the limelight with its onsite museum and tomb of favourite Spanish composer, Manuel de Falla.

Cadiz Carnival
One of the liveliest times to visit Cadiz is during the annual Cadiz Carnival, which occurs around Shrove Tuesday. Locals don costumes and masks and the streets fill with flamenco and satirical street performances. Taking many of its characteristics from the Venice Carnival, the Cadiz Carnival was first initiated by merchants who regularly traded with Venice and is today one of the world’s biggest carnivals. The festival culminates in a colourful explosion of fireworks.

Cadiz Cathedral (Catedral de Cadiz)
The city’s cathedral took over 100 years to build, with construction spanning from 1720 to 1838. The cathedral famously houses the tomb of Manuel de Falla, a famous Spanish composer, while it also features a small museum exhibiting New World treasures. A highlight of the museum’s collection is Enrique de Arfe's processional cross, which is used in the annual Corpus Christi celebrations.

Caleta Beach (La Playa de la Caleta)
When you’ve had your fill of Cadiz’s architectural and historical sights, don’t overlook visiting the city’s beaches. Among the best beaches in the country, Caleta Beach in the city’s La Vina district is backed by Santa Catalina and San Sebastian forts and features soft sands that attracts hordes of bathers in the peak summer months. The beach starred in the James Bond film Die Another Day.

Oratorio de San Felipe Neri
Lovers of Baroque architecture will not want to miss a visit to this splendid church where the country’s first liberal constitution was signed in 1812. The oval-shaped interior features Murillo’s Immaculate Conception as its centrepiece while the exterior of the church exhibits plaques commemorating the constitutional declaration of 1812.

Santa Cruz Church
Originally constructed as a Gothic church in the 1700s, Santa Cruz Church was later remodelled into a Renaissance structure. Situated in the Populo district and featuring two parts, the church encompasses a simple, oval-shaped chapel and an ornate upper floor. The focus of a visit here for many is the Goya paintings housed within the church.