Medina+Sidonia



Medina Sidonia is a city and municipality in the province of Cadiz in the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. It is considered by some to be the oldest city in Europe, used as a military defense location due to its elevated location. The city's name comes from Medina (Arabic for City) and Sidonia (of Sidon), meaning "City of Sidon". Medina-Sidonia was one of Spain's most important ducal seats in the 15th century; producing an admiral who led the Spanish Armada against England. The title of Duque de Medina Sidonia was bestowed upon the family of Guzman el Bueno for his valiant role in taking the town, a line which continues and is currently led by the controversial socialist, Luisa Isabel Alvarez de Toledo, 20th Duchess of Medina Sidonia(b. 1936). The village has a slightly shabby grandeur with medieval walls and tidy narrow cobbled streets flanked by rows of reja-fronted houses.


 * __Population:__** 10,962


 * __Altitude:__** 68 meters


 * __Distance from Granada:__** 323.6 km

Plaza de la Iglesia Mayor 11170 Medina Sidonia 34 956 412404
 * __Information Center:__**

Arco de Belen: It is also called the Door of Belen and leads to the heart of the medieval villa, next to some linen cloths of the old wall, tower, and Stables of Duque.It´s another one of the access doors to the walled enclosure, whose name in century XVIII seems to be that he was the one of Arc of the Gypsys. One theory is that it does not comprise of the context of the medieval villa but that it was built very later. The true door, that has charasterictics of Islamic would be the one that today is masked in the existing house to the right of the arc, that was made unusable so as not to allow traffic, beacause by defensive necessities it had a bend in its way towards the other side of the wall. Present name comes to it from the altar placed in its internal superior part, that blankets an image of María Santísima de Belén that was in 1860 in the choir of the Agustinas of the Convent of San Cristóbal. Arco de la Pastora: One of the access doors to the walled enclosure and more representative of the symbols of Medina Sidonia. It´s construction dates from califal age, around the century X. It shows two pointed arcs of horseshoe, one of which it leans on good used columns that belonged to the temple of Hércules. The set is elaborated with sillares of manufacture that was very taken care of from stones of quarry that were in the municipality Calzada Romana Convento de San Cristobal: The concent was completed in 1651 and despite what it may look like today the convent was very prosperous and received a lot of revenue when it was built. Iglesia de la Victoria La Alameda: The Alameda is located in Plaza de Espana and is named after the existence in the past, of cottonwoods surrounding the square. The plaza is always busy and alive with people. Plaza de España - Elegant rectangular plaza with plenty of public seating, surrounded by handsome three storey buildings. __The Town Hall__- A 17th century building reflecting Baroque and Neo-classical architecture with a magnificent Renaissance façade. __Santa Maria la Coronado Church__- Built on the foundations of the original castle and later a mosque, this church is a fine example of Andalusian Gothic architecture. Inside there is an enormous 15m high and exquisite retablo, that typically depicts scenes from the life of Christ.
 * __Monuments:__**

Festividad de la Patrona Carnaval Easter week: These celebrations vary from town to town, but all involve religious processions, street music, flamenco songs and much more. Fiestas San Isidro- May 10th to May 13th
 * __Festivals:__**

__**Crafts:**__ Craftsmanship is gaining a greater importance in Medina, while the artisans of the village dedicate themselves to the making of reed products: baskets, bags, leather, custom-made shoes and knee-high boots, etc.


 * __Food and Drink:__** Plaza de España is probably the best place to experience an assortment of different kinds of Spanish food. Restaurant Cádiz and Mesón Machin offer good local cuisine and tapas.