Chiclana de la Frontera

Chiclana de la Frontera is a lively bustling ancient town with a beautiful park and a wide range of shops and all the usual amenities including a historic theatre, art gallery, library and college which offers Spanish lessons. There is a large indoor market where local fruit, vegetables, fresh fish, meat, snails, shrimps, bread and cakes are all on sale from Monday to Saturday, as Sunday is a religious day.

There is another market every Tuesday morning where you can snap up bargains galore including clothes, local spices, leather goods (including soft leather hand-made shoes) and typically Spanish food including olives.

In the town centre you will find typical Spanish local bodejas (wine shops) where you can sample the local wines. If you take your own containers, a litre of wine will typically cost around £0.30 (approx €0.45).

Only a short distance from Chiclana lies the town of San Fernando which has a large shopping complex and multiplex cinema with ten screens. Only a ten-minute journey from Chiclana is the beautiful beach at Sancti Petri. Here there is a busy marina in the nearby harbour where you can participate in numerous water sports including jet skiing, canoeing, deep sea diving and sea fishing trips. You should sample Sancti Petri's wonderful fish restaurants: their menus offer a wide selection of freshly caught fish at reasonable prices.

A little further along the coast you will find the impressive golden sandy beach of La Barossa - a popular tourist attraction during the summer season. Here you will find restuarants, bars, beach shops and kiosks. During the night the area is alive with street entertainers and small markets that offer a selection of goods from Morocco.

Among the villages in the Chiclana area are:

- El Marquesado is only a ten-minute drive from the centre of Chiclana, the village enjoys the tranquillity of the Spanish countryside complemented by its beautiful villas and views of Puerto Real port and the surrounding hillsides. It has a fast-food burger bar and a local taberna (pub), butchers' and bakers' shops and a small supermarket.

- Pago del Humo is less than a five-minute journey by car from the centre of Chiclana. Set in quiet countryside, it enjoys panoramic views of Medina Sidonia (itself a historic Spanish white village, particularly famous for making 'Ferrero Rocher' chocolates and polvorones, a popular local cake.)

- Roche is a lovely thriving village about fifteen minutes away from Chiclana, an exclusive estate offering luxurious homes by beautiful quiet sandy beaches.

- Nova Sancti Petri is a very desirable area on the coast offering a number of bars, restaurants and free entertainment during the summer season: hence it is a popular place for tourists. There are many first-rate hotels here offering quality accommodation close to the excellent Nova Sancti Petri beach.

You are never far from one of the area's National Parks where pine trees flourish and wildlife thrives. Chiclana De La Frontera is a wonderful place to visit or live. Unlike other parts of Spain, Chiclana and its neighbourhood have remained unspoilt by widespread tourism and have retained much of their traditional character: Spanish culture, fiestas and traditional Spanish food.

Here you will find the "real" Spain and its warm and friendly people. The weather is wonderful and temperatures rarely drop below 16°C (60°F) in the winter and the summer is full of glorious sunshine with temperatures reaching 42°C (108°F) without the humidity experienced in the U.K..


History

Nearby there are the Sancti Petri Castle - an 18th century fortress built around a 16th century tower, and several churches in which are some historically important works of art. In the town of Chiclana you will also find a theatre and an exhibition hall.


Crafts

In Chiclana are the Marin doll factory  - and its museum - which is famous all over Spain and throughout the world for its craftsmanship and history.


Sport

In the Chiclana area you will find tennis schools, a riding centre, golf courses, indoor swimming pools, a municipal cycle track and football pitch, and a yacht club.


Food and Drink

There are several cake and coffee shops in the town where you can just sit and watch the world go by while enjoying the gorgeous pastries. Join the locals as they enjoy merienda (high tea). You must also try a local breakfast dish called 'churros', deep-fried sticks of batter, normally dipped in sugar and served with hot chocolate or coffee.

Chiclana boasts a superb steak house where juicy steaks are served accompanied by high quality wines. You will find several Spanish restaurants serving authentic Spanish food, including the local delicacy 'jamon' and traditional seafood dishes. There are also restaurants offering Mexican, Chinese, English and Italian food.

The town also has many bars and restaurants, including a newly opened pub which screens football matches and serves traditional English breakfast. In the bodegas (wine shops) you can taste the local wine and sherry from Jerez.