Cádiz, Ancient port city on Atlantic coast, Spain.
Cádiz is a port city in southern Spain, set on a narrow peninsula almost entirely surrounded by the Atlantic. Narrow lanes connect several historic plazas, churches with golden domes, and remnants of Roman structures, while the old town stretches along the coast for a few kilometers.
Phoenician traders founded this settlement around 1100 BC and turned it into a major trading port in the western Mediterranean. In the 18th century, the city controlled much of the trade with the Americas, which led to a building boom and economic growth.
During February's carnival, groups sing satirical songs at Teatro Falla, often commenting on current events and local gossip. Locals meet in small bars that serve tapas with fresh fish, and many families walk along the waterfront promenade in the late evening.
Regular trains and buses connect the city with Seville and other towns in Andalusia, while ferries run to El Puerto de Santa María. The old town is easy to explore on foot, as most landmarks are close together and many lanes are inaccessible to cars.
A Roman theater, discovered in 1980, once held 20,000 spectators and has a diameter of about 120 meters (390 feet). Parts of the stage and seating tiers remain visible, though many stones were reused for other buildings over the centuries.
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