Chiclana de la Frontera – Backing beaches
Chiclana de la Frontera is a small city, east of Cadiz, backing a long stripe of sand from the old Sancti Petri to the new one, with the long La Barrosa beach between them.
We’ve been there on Sunday, a “closed” day in Spain, with jammed roads connecting to the beaches, allowing us just a short glimpse of everything.
Not bad, for a good vacation, it seems!
Church and clock tower
Rebuilt in the beginning of the 19th century, after being used by Napoleon’s army as stable, St. John Baptist church, in plaza Mayor, shares with the nearby clock tower, built about 50 years before it, the reputation of the most important monuments in Chiclana.
Sancti Petri
Chiclana is the main small town backing two touristy destination sharing the name but opposite fates – Sancti Petri.
The old village is no more than a ruin by the sea; the new one, luxury resorts a couple of kilometers away.
It’s a very good place to see how things change so quickly, with tourism destroying and building with a single direction and rule – “call the money”.
Well, the visit was a hell of disappointment, but also a lesson.
Old Sancti Petri
-We must go to Sancti Petri!
The enthusiasm of my daughter-in-law was born in the wonderful paintings in touristy stuff identifying the place.
Well, we saw nothing, everything seems to be gone – the village lost its charm, almost abandoned, and only a few nautical sports give life to the place.
The natural conditions seem precious, but tourism has other interests, and its is now betting a few kilometers away.
New Sancti Petri
High standard investments built a couple of kilometers far from the old settlement, built a brand new town.
Scattered hotels, a big mall, a good beach not too far, but… where is Spain?
Yes, inland, I know!
Castle
A small island close to the coast, it’s totally occupied by a fortress.
With strong links between famous names of antiquity (Hercules, Asdrubal, Anibal Barca) and the islet, the fort comes from the 16th century, and may visited by boat, easy to rent in the beach.
La Barrosa
Planning my vacations, I needed to rent a villa near the sea, and the final decision was between the chosen one in Puerto de Santa Maria, and one in this beach.
I think that I made the best choice, but, checking this area, I got the idea that it would be also a good solution. The beach is wide, calm, the water a little bit colder, and the houses lining the long beach, all of them with good access.
Several shops and restaurants spreading all over the place, guarantee the essential, only parking seemed to be a real nightmare.
However, I must remember that it was a Sunday in August.
Arroceria Atlântico – Local food
Arroceria Atlântico – Local food
Located by the main road, this restaurant had, for us, the advantage of a large park across the street, in the pine forest.
Not far from the beach, it has a common cuisine, mixing fish and meat with a reasonable variety, matching all the family’s tastes.
The esplanade was pleasant, shaded by trees, the service was gentle, the food well prepared, with a correct price.
Nothing to complaint!
Address: Complejo Atlántico, s/n
Facebook: Arroceria
