Medina Sidonia is a beautiful municipality in the province of Cadiz. It is a small town, which belongs to the La Janda region. The interesting thing about this town is that it has been declared a Historic-Artistic Site.
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What are its origins?
The first settlements in the area date from the Bronze Age. Traditionally it is believed that the Phoenician settlers were the ones who founded the municipality itself. The Phoenicians belonged to Sidon, hence their name. Then it was populated by Romans and in the 1st century the urban nucleus that today belongs to the historical complex of the city was built. During the Muslim conquest, it was the capital of the Muslim heart. It was reconquered by Alfonso X the Wise, more than five centuries later, being the border line with the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada.
What can I visit?
In this small town there are many monuments and museums to visit such as:
- The Archaeological Museum of Medina Sidonia, together with the Roman Archaeological Complex belonging to the 1st century AD. As a whole you can find the water conduction and the organization of waste or sewers of the city, the Roman bridges, the Roman road.
- The Town Hall, the tower of Doña Blanca de Borbón, the Duque’s stables and the Alameda, which all belong to the 16th century
- The Plaza de Abastos of the year 1871
- The Miguel Mihura Alvarez Municipal Theater, which was formerly the Thebussem Theater.
The Medina Sidonia Castle and Arco de la Pastora
It also has two castles and the wall that ran through the city in the 13th-15th century has been preserved. The Medina Sidonia Castle is located at the top of the Castle Hill, a strategic position. Its structure has different parts: the Roman military castellum, where the defense and protection of the city organized; the Arab fortress, where the Sultan and his family lived during Muslim times; and the medieval castle, where the 2nd Duke of Medina Sidonia lived. Remains of the wall remain, such as the Arco de la Pastora, one of the access gates of the old wall. It conserves the purest Muslim style, with a horseshoe arch and a large staircase. This door dated from the 10th century
It also has several very old churches that would be interesting to see, as well as convents, hermitages, and a monastery. We recommend you visit the Church of Santa María and the Church of Santiago.
A Campo Abierto
Another tourist attraction, although not to everyone’s taste, is visiting A Campo Abierto. It is about the breeding of brave bulls of Torrestrella and the horse of Alvaro Domecq. They perform dressage and herding shows, demonstrating how they work with different types of fighting bulls and purebred horses. It is quite a show.
What parties did they celebrate?
Several festivals held, such as the cattle and horse fair in June. The town’s patron saint festivities are on January 24 for Our Lady of Peace. Carnival, as in all of Cádiz, celebrated in February and consists of a contest of groups and different traditions. Holy Week and Corpus Christi are also a very important moment of celebration in the town, during the week different processions go out, going around the streets.
Why should you visit Medina Sidonia too?
For its gastronomy, of course! Being a town we assure you that the vegetables and meats have a high quality. The stews are also worth trying if you are a fan of spoonful dishes. The most recommended restaurant in Medina Sidonia is El Show. It is the best option for lunch or dinner, with its best selection of tapas, with top quality products.
Without a doubt, Medina Sidonia is known for its sweets. Currently, together with tourism, they are the mainstay of the Assidian economy. Aromas de Medina, the Medina Sidonia candy brand, founded in 1958, although this trade inherited from years ago, from family tradition and ancestral recipes. Its philosophy is to preserve tradition, mainly in the production processes, with natural ingredients, as they always made. The hallmark of the brand is the oldest sweet in Europe, the alfajores. Medina Sidonia was the pastry capital of the Andalusian world and the fame of its alfajores crossed all borders, spreading to all civilized countries at the time.
Medina Sidonia is a beautiful town that has many things to offer. From Alsherry Experiences we are sure that we can find the best way for you to fully enjoy Medina Sidonia. Let us train your visit, forget about worrying about organizing anything. In our hands, your trip will be perfect. Contact us and dedicate your visit to enjoy.