 |
|
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
BEACHES The most popular beaches are Conil de la Frontera which has 16 km of beaches backed by large cliffs in many stretches; Conil town itself is a smart little centre full of alleyways and small streets that host good bars, cafés, shops and some night life. Deep in the Parque Natural del Acantilodo is Caños de Meca; it is a smaller centre with a sub tropical feel halfway between Cadiz and Tarifa; its beach is backed by large cliffs in many stretches, and looks out to Cape Trafalgar, where the famous battle was fought, and its lighthouse. Perched on the cliff tops this sleepy village is fast waking up to its growing reputation as a slightly off beat but trendy spot. Zahara de los Atunes has one of the best sandy beaches and retains a fishing village atmosphere; a few kilometres further south there is a headland and rocks for snorkelling. Visit the ruins of the Roman city of Baelo Claudia, the gentle, sandy curve of a four kilometre beach rising to a giant sprawling dune; the meadow-green valleys tumbling down from high rocky escarpments, dotted with tiny, fragrant purple flowers. These Romans knew a thing or two about location! The village to the south is rapidly waking up to tourism and bars and hotels are opening up. Strict building controls on the nearby land, (a nature area called Playa de los Lances) prevents development elsewhere.
PLACES OF INTEREST The historic walled city of Cadiz, said to be the oldest city in Europe, is built on a peninsula jutting into the bay of Cadiz, which is a natural park. Just inland is the city of Jerez de la Frontera, with its international airport, famous for Andalucian horses and flamenco, and also for its sherry and brandy production. Here you can go to the School of Equestrian dance and watch the magical performance of the pure bred Spanish horses. The town of Tarifa was developed under Moorish rule in the eighth Century, and the warren of tight, twisting streets in the souk-like old town has changed little since then.
FOOD AND WINE The gastronomy in Costa de la Luz is influenced by the sherry wines and the fish that live off its shores. Sea bass, cod, plaice and red tuna can be found in abundance everywhere; the red tuna is caught by a traditional fishing technique (‘almadrabas’). Nearly every single part of tuna is used, and it can be served in a great diversity of dishes which can be stewed, grilled, larded with onion; or when salted try it cured (‘mojama’), or soaked in olive oil. You must try ‘Morillos de Atun’, which is considered the best part of the tuna. You will also love the taste of ‘tortillitas de camarones’ (baby prawns) . Cadiz also produces some exquisite traditional cheeses and excellent meats in the towns and villages of the Cadiz Mountains. You are bound to enjoy the "Tapa culture". Eating one or two tapas with a glass of sherry is a ‘tasty’ experience and also slows down the effect of the alcohol! You can treat yourself for a day trip to Jerez tasting their aromatic wines like Oloroso seco and Amontillado, while eating typical tapas from seafood to ‘presa iberica’ (the highest quality of pork meat) in ‘La Moderna’ one of the most famous and oldest tapas bar in Jerez. If you wish to return to the map of Costa de la Luz then please click here. |
The Costa de la Luz is the western part of the Andalucía coastline that faces out to the Atlantic. The sand is finer and a more golden colour than the neighbouring Costa del Sol. The typical beaches here are more expansive and backed by sand dunes and pine trees. This part of the coast has not seen the same development of other areas to the east. The temperatures are slightly milder and the Atlantic winds and waves are favoured by wind surfers and surfboarders alike. The coastline is dotted with small fishing villages and has been popular with tourists from Seville for a long time; now international travellers are discovering its charms.
