Day 114 - Cadiz, Spain

Weather
Sunny, 72

Map

What we did
Today we visited Cádiz, which is considered to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in Western Europe, with roots stretching back more than 3,000 years to the Phoenicians. Set on a narrow peninsula and surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, it has an almost island-like atmosphere with water and sweeping coastal views in every direction. The historic center is compact and easy to explore on foot, aside from the short shuttle ride we needed to leave the cruise terminal.

In the morning we did the included excursion Viking provides which consisted of a walking tour through the charming streets of Cádiz, first walking through a main plaza where the town hall stands. We then had an in-depth visit to the Cádiz Cathedral. Construction of the cathedral began in 1722 and stretched over a century, resulting in a blend of architectural styles. Inside, we saw collections of religious relics (bones of unknown saints) and impressive silver pieces used for major ceremonies. From there, we wandered through a nearby flower market before parting ways with our guide at the fish market.

We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring on our own, doing a bit of window shopping before settling into a spot in the main plaza for lunch, where we enjoyed croquetas, gazpacho, and much anticipated sangria. The weather was pleasantly mild with a light breeze as we continued northward away from the equator. After lunch, we visited the Teatro Romano de Cádiz, a remarkable site dating back to the 1st century BCE that once held around 10,000 spectators. What's amazing about this place is that these ruins remained hidden until 1980, buried beneath later construction for centuries.