Cádiz is the most southerly of Andalucia's eight provinces and its capital, also called Cádiz, is the oldest city in the western world. According to Greek legends, the city was founded by Hercules, though in actual fact it was the Phoenicians who named it Gadir in 1100 BC.
It's a lovely old city, comparatively small in size but rich in history. For a time during Spain's Golden Age following the dicovery of America it was Spain's prime entry port for ships sailing to and from the New World. Ar one time Cádiz was the capital of Spain and the birthplace of the 1812 Spanish Constitution. You can still see the buildings of the merchants, the 18th century cathedral, the old quarter, the San Felipe Neri which housed the Spanish parliament when it approved the 1812 Constitution and the Santa Cueva Chapel with its paintings by Goya. As might be expected in a place with such a strong maritime tradition, fish is a favourite dish in the restaurants of Cádiz.
The whole province has a seafaring flavour, for it front on both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Just near the city of Cádiz is Puerto de Santa María, where Columbu's ship the Santa María was fitted out before her Voyage of Discovery to the New World. Puerto de Santa María's presentday marina rivals Marbella's Puerto Banús, and the town also offers a casino, waterpark and ninehole golf course at Vistahermosa.
To the south on the coast, at Vejer-Barbate, is the Dehesa Montenmedio golf complex. Another coastal municipality in the province is Tarifa, the most southerly town in continental Europe and a favourite among windsurfes because of its strong winds. There are old walls around the town and a Moorish, though most visitors are drawn to the wide sandy beaches.
Chiclana, too, has beautiful beaches and is also notable for its extensive saslt flats. Just off the coast is the island of Sancti Petri with its 13th century castle. Excellent accommodation, windsurfing and golf are to be found here, notably at the Ballesteros-designed course at Novo Sancti Petri. The El Campano course is neaby and it's only a 10 minute drive to Costa Ballena, designed by José María Olazábal.
Inland lies Jerez de la Frontera, famous for its sherry and Andalucían horses. Many other towns in the area also carry the name "de la frontera", recalling the time when they stood on the border between the Moors and the Christians.
Golfers will undoubtedly find the area around San Roque near Gibraltar particularly interesting, for the list of courses here included, Valderrama, Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, San Roque Club, Alcaidesa, La Cañada and the new Almenara course.