A town with its roots in Roman times, although now better known from its development during the Muslim era in Andalucía. The historic and artistic centre is wrapped around the small rocky eminence at the town centre, known as the 'Villa' (simply, 'small town'), the site of almost all the buildings of major historical interest, and nearby streets, some ski-slope steep, others dug into the stone walls of the cave dwellings that have survived (some still inhabited today) since prehistoric times. Most notable of the historic sites are the remains of the Arabic fortified castle, dating from the 12th century, the Iglesia de la Encarnación church, in the Gothic-Renaissance style of the 16th century, and the handsome Ayuntamiento (council) building. Among its popular fiestas the most outstanding are those celebrating the town patron saint, San Sebastián, held in the middle of January, the carnavales of February, the Semana Santa Holy Week, Corpus Christi, and the annual August Fair (Feria de Agosto).

An exquisite example of the pueblos blancos, seen gleaming white and clinging to its rocky pinnacle from miles around, Olvera was declared a Conjunto Histórico-Artístico, site of Historic and Artistic Importance, in 1983. Its Arabic castle, and the neoclassical Iglesia de la Encarnación church, are visible from almost every point in the town. Its surroundings of rolling farmland and stark mountains conceal an astonish ecological diversity in painterly landscapes that resemble a Renaissance canvas.

The capital of wine (it gave 'sherry' its name), of equestrian horses and the birthplace of flamenco song, equidistant between ocean and mountain, Jerez is blessed with a wealth of unique tourism sites and some eccentric ones besides: wines and world-famous bodegas, the Royal School of Equestrian Art of Andalucía, the Watch and Clock Museum, the Andalucían Flamenco Centre, the Archeology Museum and, not least, the most remarkable of Andalucía's small number of renovated cameras obscuras, a spy-eye at the heart of the town centre. The old town has been declared a 'Conjunto Histórico-Artístico', the Semana Santa celebrations are now officially listed as of Interés Turístico Nacional, and its unique annual horse festival, the Feria del Caballo, is now of Interés Turístico Internacional.

Situated on the 'ruta del vino', Santa María is the nerve centre of Cádiz Bay, with magníficent natural surroundings, long beaches and still more world famous sherry and wine bodegas. Its foundation has been attributed to an early Greek ruler of the town, Menestheo, of Athens, who is just one of the earliest figures in the town's long and rich history. Santa María was also the shipyard and home port of the caravel (well, 'nao', flagship) of the same name that Columbus sailed in his first transatlantic voyage in 1492.

The capital of the province, situated on the bay of the same name and surrounded by sea. It is the oldest city in the west, with just over 3,000 years (founded circa 1,100BC) of history. Originally settled by the Phoenicians, it has seen all of the early European cultures pass through: Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs. Some contrasts can be seen in the typical local barrios such as La Viña, Santa María and El Pópulo, and certainly in comparison to the smart modern 'downtown' below the Puertas de Tierra, whose street grid recalls Manhattan. The old town's parks, squares and alamedas (boulevards) feature trees over a thousand years old. Cádiz Bay and its beaches are ideal for all sorts of water sports, and each year the city celebrates a whole calendar of nautical events. Of all its fiestas the most outstanding is its February Carnaval, a profound and proud tradition in the town, and these days on a par with Rio, Venice and New Orleans; more information on Cádiz.