General
Information - Jerez
Sights and Monuments
The home of ‘Sherry’ Jerez is a place that holds many more charms
besides its world famous reputation for Sherries and Brandies.
The town is also famous for its horses, Flamenco music and dance.
The town dates back to the 11th century when the Moors established
themselves here with a fortress locally known as the Alcazaba
with an impressive octagonal tower which is part of an ongoing
restoration project. You’ll find the church within of particular
interest as it was once originally a mosque having been converted
once the Christians claimed back their lands in the 15th century.
Around the town there are many orange tree lined streets and
giant oak barrels as a reminder of its traditions.
The church in Plaza de San Miguel is well worth a visit, along
with the San Miguel de Cervantes a public college with impressive
architecture. The Royal Andalucía School of Equestrian
Art is also a must when visiting Jerez, its popular horse displays
and carriage museum a very popular all year round. There’s an
Archaeological Museum on Plaza del Mercado with ancient Greek
artefacts, and Bronze Age sculptures for you to enjoy. A Clock
Museum, The Palace of Time, is situated in La Atalaya Exhibition
Centre and also features some impressive gardens. And finally
the most important museum of its kind is the Flamenco Museum
at Plaza de San Juan which houses a lot of artefacts and history
on the art of Flamenco.
Transportation
in Jerez
Jerez is excellently located with well placed transport connections
to and from all the surrounding towns and cities in Andalucía,
as well as the rest of Spain and Europe. Thanks to the recent
restoration of the railway station all links to regional capitals
and major cities are easily accessed. The development of the
international airport with almost 1.5 million passengers per
year also ensures travelling to and from the rest of Europe
is as convenient as possible.
The excellent roads and motorways connect you to every part
of the region and beyond. Within Jerez itself taxis normally
congregate at public transport hubs such as the airport, train
and bus stations. A lot of the local hotels are also happy to
book a taxi for you, as well as the restaurants in the area.
Due to its compact size Jerez is easy enough to get around by
foot, but the internal bus service is regular and reliable.
Weather
in Jerez
Due to its close proximity to the coastal region of Cadiz it
normally experiences a lot of the same weather. You can sunbathe
almost every day from June to September, with practically no
threat of rain. The highest temperatures can reach around 350C
during the height of summertime, and winter lows of about150C.
The winters are very mild in this part of the world. Temperatures
rarely drop below double figures and if it rains heavily, it
won’t last for any more than a few days. Temperatures vary between
200C in the daytime, and a low of 100C at night so a jumper
during the day and a jacket at night is advisable.
Nightlife
in Jerez
There is something for all tastes in Jerez. In the centre next
to the fashionable areas is where you’ll find lots of restaurants,
tapas bars, Flamenco Tablaos, theatres, pubs, bars, clubs, and
nightclubs. If it’s international karaoke you’re after then
El Rincon del Pirata in Divina Pirata is the place for you,
for a traditional Irish experience O’Donnoghues in Plaza Canterbury
won’t disappoint. Equally for more traditional Spanish surroundings
Gambrinus, next to the Irish Bar, gives you a typically Andalucian
experience with a twist of local influence. Next to the Plaza
del Toros is Sala Latina Premiere which will get you in the
mood for dancing all night long. For a more tranquil night out
the Villamarte Theatre on Plaza Romero Martinez has a variety
of shows on throughout the year of different types and partakes
in the annual Festival de Jerez.
Short
Breaks
With its close proximity to the coastal towns of Puerta de Santa
Maria, Cadiz, Chipiona, Chiclana, Conil, Rota, Sanlucar deBarrameda,
and Donana National Park at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River,
there is no shortage of quaint seaside villages and towns to
visit. To the north there is Arcos de la Frontera the gateway
to the white washed villages of Grazalema, El Bosque, Villamartin,
Algodonales, Puerto Serrano, and the incredible town of Ronda
perched hindreds of metres above the Tajo gorge and separated
on two precipices by a Roman bridge. For incredible views of
the countryside, hills, mountains, and walks through some of
the most outstanding natural beauty Andalucia has to offer,
then this is the place for you.
