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Cadiz is a historic city in the southwest of Spain, on the Atlantic coast. It is known for its strong Roman and Moorish influences.
The city was founded by the Phoenicians, who lived there until the 3rd century BC. Later, Cadiz became an important trading post for the Romans.
The Moors took control of the city in 711 AD, until they were expelled by King Alfonso X of Castile in 1262. He ordered the reconstruction of the city with single-storey buildings along narrow streets to make it easier to defend against the invaders.
During World War II, Cadiz was declared an 'open city' and not bombed because it was of no military importance at the time.
With all this history behind it, the Andalusian city has a lot to offer tourists, and a special and different way to discover it is by night. To make sure you don't miss a single detail, there's nothing better than the specialised and professional guidance of the Cadiz by Night Free Tours that we offer here at GuruWalk.
Cadiz has many wonderful neighbourhoods to explore, and Pópulo is one of the most beautiful. It is a residential area with gardens and green spaces such as Los Jardines de los Vinos, with its tree-lined avenues and ornamental pools.
The Plaza de Pópulo is a popular place to visit, especially on Sundays when residents gather in the morning for a traditional chat or gossip, although it is not detracted from by the illuminated night, which is how we will enjoy it on this occasion.
The narrow stone streets lead to churches such as the Church of St Gabriel the Archangel, which was built in 1727. But what really makes this neighbourhood special are its small museums, such as the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum "Tierra del Fuego". Unfortunately they are not open at night, although with their artificial lighting they look really spectacular.
You cannot miss the Cathedral of Cádiz, which is one of the most significant monuments of the Renaissance. The cathedral was built in Gothic-Renaissance style and is located in the Plaza de la Catedral. The cathedral was consecrated in 2001 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.
It is one of Spain's most emblematic landmarks and an impressive sight at night for visitors and locals passing by.
And of course, the Church of Santa Cruz de Cádiz, which is a religious building of impressive colonial architecture. It is now a tourist attraction for visitors to Cádiz. From the entrance, the visitor walks up to the main altar and enters a labyrinth of chapels and corridors on different levels. The church has a façade that was built in neoclassical style in 1771.
The church was originally built to replace one that had been destroyed by an earthquake in 1522. It is known as "The Old Cathedral" and is believed to have been built on the site of a former mosque. You can imagine how impressive it looks with its night-time illumination.
Last but not least, the Gran Teatro de Falla, which is located near the Plaza de España, in the heart of Cádiz. It was built between 1905 and 1907 according to the plans of the architect Aníbal González.
The theatre has a capacity for 1,900 people and is also used as an exhibition centre, theatre school and cinema. Its night-time illumination is worthy of being enjoyed by visitors.