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Chiclana is a medium sized town situated between Conil and Cádiz at the southern end of the Bahia de Cádiz and in fact its municipal boundaries take in part of the Bay of Cádiz Natural Park. It is a mere half an hour drive from Jerez airport and under an hour and a half from Seville airport. The landscape around Chiclana is well endowed with beautiful golden sand beaches, which have favoured the development of high quality tourism, luscious pine woods and salt marshes with an extremely high ecological value.
Although Phoenician and Roman archaeological remains (as well as Paleolithic and Calcolithic) on show in the Cádiz Archaeological Museum prove that there was a human presence in this area during those times, Chiclana did not become a true settlement until 1303 when King Fernando IV donated the area to our old friend Alonso Perez de Guzman – El Bueno for him to settle it.
It was, however, not until the transfer of the headquarters of the Fleet of the Indies from Seville to Cádiz in 1680 that the development of the town really took place, largely as a result of merchants from Cádiz and abroad and wealthy businessmen who made investments and built their second homes, attracted by the beauty of the area and the spa waters. As far back as 1650 there was a "fountain with the bath inside it, for the healing of all the sick people of the village and of the surrounding area at Fuente Amarga". This spa still exists today albeit in different buildings!
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During the 18th century the relationship between Cadiz and Chiclana strengthened as more and more wealthy "gaditanos" (people from Cádiz) chose Chiclana as their holiday residence. The Duke of Medina Sidonia, lord of the town and surrounding area (and descendant of Guzman el Bueno)reminded the Town Council that the festive activities should be organised according to the "tourist" season. So one could say that Chiclana developed as one of the first tourist resorts.
During the 19th century agriculture played an ever-increasing part in the economic development of Chiclana with investments made in vineyards, olive groves and pinewoods, and in fact it was in recognition of the importance of the wine-making industry that King Alfonso XII gave the title of "Ciudad" (town or city) to Chiclana in 1876.
In the 20th century in addition to the Fuente Amarga spa, the new tourist resorts of La Barrosa and Novo Sancti Petri were built. Novo Sancti Petri is a resort that has been built around the 36 hole golf course designed by Severiano Ballesteros (for more information on the course and golf in the area please see the Golf link above). This means that today, Chiclana has the widest range of hotels in the province of Cádiz.
Horse riding, golf, sailing, and cycling are all popular sports that can be practiced in the area.
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El Convento de Jesus Nazareno
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This is the main baroque monument of the town. It was founded by Madre Antonia de Jesus, a nun, in 1666 with the inestimable help of various wealthy "gaditano" families who made contributions for the construction of the convent. Of importance among these benefactors were Don Carlos Pressenti and Don Diego de Iparraguirre who contributed all the necessary silver, so enabling the work to be completed in such a short time.
It is worth noting the main altar and the façade of the church, which has the finest example of a Baroque portal in the entire province. The courtyard of the convent is considered to be the finest example of 17th century architecture in the town of Chiclana and is extremely beautiful.
La Iglesia Mayor de San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist)
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This church is one of the best examples of neo-classical architecture in the entire region. It consists of three naves, a large hall and dome. A large pediment adorned with sculptures that bear a heraldic coat of arms made by Cosme Vazquez crowns the building.
The works commenced in 1776, the first master was Torcuato Cayón who was succeeded by Torcuato Benjumeda. The works were completed in 1820.
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Ermita de Santa Ana (St. Ann´s Hermitage)
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This original octagonal domed chapel surrounded by an octagonal arched portico was built between 1772-1774 according to plans drawn by Torcuato Cayón. It has interesting views over the Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park and indeed is a visible landmark when approaching Chiclana from Cádiz.
The Castle of Sancti Petri
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This is an 18th century fortress (except the tower that dates from the 16th century) built on the small island of the same name on the site of the Temple of Hercules-Melqart.
Melqart was the Punic God of Tyre and King of the Underworld and was considered the Tyrians´ Hercules, though he did come from a more distant past than the Greek Hercules or Heracles. Many Roman historians, such as Josephus Flavius, refer to Melqart and Heracles interchangeably.
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Bolonia
