Cádiz dates back to 1100 B.C., making it one of the oldest cities not only in Andalusia, but also in Spain and all of Europe. The city’s strategic location at the mouth of the Mediterranean explains its architectural landscape, which features over 100 watchtowers and provides a clue as to why it is home to Spain’s navy. Further inland is the city of Seville, which boasts a history that, while not as long, is certainly rich. Highlights in Seville include the 1,100-year-old royal palace of Alcazar, replete with gardens and fountains, an opulent 15th-century cathedral—Europe’s third largest—and the hillside village of Arcos de la Frontera, whose city center was officially declared a national artistic-historic monument.
