Jerez De La Frontera
The characteristic features of a small city
Jerez de la Frontera is a lively small city resembling Sevilla; it is, in fact, just 100 kilometers to the north of Sevilla. Even though in many respects it resembles the older brother, Jerez de la Frontera has its typical features that show its uniqueness. These features are the sherry, the flamenco and the horses.
In Jerez de la Frontera you’ll find no less than nine sherry bodegas opened to visit, and the Royal Andalusia Equestrian Art School famous around the world for its horse shows; but you will also find the two gipsy districts, San Miguel and Buleria. These are the districts that carry on the traditions of the legendary Lola Flores, the famous flamenco dancer, who was born in Jerez.
Around Jerez de la Frontera
These are the features that differentiate Jerez de la Frontera from other Spanish cities, but the city also has an impressive Alcazar surrounded by old walls, with a well kept mosque, beautifully restored baths and shady gardens. Alcazar is a neighbor to the Baroque Villavicencia Palace, where you can climb into an obscure chamber; the chamber offers a perfect view over the landscape and the city.
The Palacio Atalaya hosts a clock museum, Museo de Rejoles, where 302 clocks dating back to the XVIIth and the XIXth centuries beat simultaneously at noon. The pedestrian centre has many beautiful Baroque houses and old, but very interesting churches. The Cathedral is an excellent combination of Baroque styles.
The Centro Andaluz de Flamenco is both a flamenco school and a museum where tourists can watch videos of former flamenco stars. The horses and the bulls are part of the landscape of the city; you can even visit the museum dedicated to bulls: Museo Taurino.
Having fun
Andalusia is very proud of its sherry. In Jerez de la Frontera, just as in Sevilla, at the entrance of every bar, there is a barrel of sherry. Out of the nine bodegas in Jerez de la Frontera, Bodega Gonzales Byass is the most famous one.
Situated near Alcazar, this bodega is the place where you can admire a construction conceived by Gustav Eiffel, as well as numerous barrels signed by great personalities such as Orson Welles, Winston Churchill, General Franco, Steven Spielberg and the entire Spanish Royal Family.
As you can imagine, Jerez de la Frontera is one of the many beautiful places in Spain where you can spend a pleasant holiday.