A small Spanish city is steeped with some of the country’s best-known traditions – but tourists rarely take the time to visit.
Jerez La Frontera in the south of Spain gets 115,782 international tourists and 199,941 Spanish tourists a year, which may sound like plenty – but not when compared to nearby Cadiz, which sees over three million in the same time. Beautiful wine and flamenco music can be found among its streets, making it perfect for those looking to really get a taste of Spanish history and culture.
It is a city best experienced not by following a checklist of places, but simply by walking its streets. According to Lonely Planet, Jerez is the capital of Andalucian horse culture, and stop one on the famed Sherry Triangle. The vibrant modern city is a place where fashion brands live in old palaces and sherry taverns line the streets, filled to the brim with businessmen and women.
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It’s history of various religions can be seen across the various buildings tourists can stumble across. There is a magnificent cathedral, as well as a 12th-century Mosque inside a fortified Alcazar – an Islamic castle.
The castle, which dates even further back to the 11th century, is the oldest building in Jerez La Fronter. The mosque inside is the only one remaining of the 18 that used to be dotted around the city. But where the city really shines is its wine.
Winegrowing has long made up a key part of the economy of Jerez. The city has emerged as a leading destination for the drink not just in Spain, but the world at large.
In the 19th century, its local wine Sherry became a major foreign export in Jerez, and was made to cater to the British market. Many of the cities’ wineries are within the Jerez-Xérèz-Sherry denominaciones de origen or DO (the Spanish version of the French AOC for its wine regions).
To sample the rich flavours, duck into a tabancos – a traditional tavern where local products will be stocked. There is also a museum of wines and various wine shops.
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But for those looking for more adrenaline on their holidays, look no further than Jerez’ Motorcycle Grand Prix. It has been hosted at the Circuito de Jerez since 1987, now held in early May.
Thousands of motorbikers from around the world come to the city this week to watch the MotoGP race held in Jerez annually, and it is one of the most watched events of its kind in Europe.
Another popular festival is the Feria del Caballo, devoted primarily to horses, coming right after the Grand Prix.
According to TripAdvisor, the top-rated thing to do in Jerez de la Frontera is to visit the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art Foundation, which is famous all over the world for its incredible show called “How the Andalusian Horses Dance”, a unique exhibition of horsemanship.
One visitor, from Ireland, in a glowing review said: “We really enjoyed our visit to the Royal Equestrian School. A visit here is a must when visiting Jerez. Beautiful horses, expertly trained.”
While an impressed Canadian tourist added: “Exactly as advertised. Very professional, polished and disciplined performance in a comfortable venue accompanied with a glass of wine. So civilized.”
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