Jerez de la Frontera

History and Overview

Each of the many different cultures that have settled here over the past few centuries have had an enormous influence upon the physical appearance of Jerez and numerous archaeological remains which bear witness to this fact can still be seen, both in the surrounding countryside and within the city itself. Archaeological remains from the Phoenician Xera, the strongly Roman Ceret, and the important Muslim Sherish, merge with the beauty of the later Christian buildings to offer a wide range of architectural styles and distinctive edifices which all combine to give Jerez a truly individual urban physiognomy of great beauty.

Few places in Spain can be said to enjoy the international renown of Jerez given that, thanks to its sherry wines, the name of the city crossed international borders many years ago and has since gone on to become truly universal.

But Jerez is not just a city of wines and beautiful buildings, it has much more to offer than that: home of the Carthusian horse, the fighting bull, cradle of flamenco art, capital of motorcycle racing and home to international sporting events, and on top of all that, declared to be of Artistic and Historical interest.

Nowadays Jerez is a large city where long-standing traditions coexist in perfect harmony with the modern: large shopping centres and wide avenues converge upon the historic, cheerful and bustling city-centre, where shopping and tapas go hand in hand. All of these distinctive features, together with a privileged geographical situation and climate, a unique and distinct tourist attractiveness, and modern infrastructures, all make Jerez the perfect place to live in and to visit.

There is a rivalry between the two cities of Cadiz and Jerez that can be displayed on no greater occasions than sport and more specifically, football. If you talk to local people from one or the other, both will say their city is nicer than the others. However, it is important not to get taken in by this, as both cities in their own right are beautiful and to miss out on one or the other would be a wasted trip to the region. There are train services connecting the two cities and also connecting Jerez with Sevilla

Places of Interest

- Jerez City Centre (Bodega Tours & Very Historical Centre)

- Cádiz (Historical Centre & Narrow Street Shopping)

- Arcos de la Frontera, Medina Sidonia or Vejer de la Frontera (White hill top towns)

- Conil de la Frontera (Beautiful sweeping white sandy beach)

- Tarifa (Surfers Paradise)

- Sanlucar de Barrameda (Beach Horse Racing in August, check dates)

- Tangiers, Morocco (Day trip shopping and haggling)