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Jerez de la Frontera is a very Spanish town south of Sevilla on the highway to Cadiz. See the official Tourism web site for full details of the town and surrounds. Is is an interesting, typically Andalucian place; friendly and relaxing. Best of all it’s the centre of Spain’s sherry industry and the home of Gonzalez-Byass, makers of the famous Tio Pepe (means Uncle Joe!) dry sherry.
As is so typical of Andalucian towns, it is full of history, has interesting churches, Arab and other historic buildings. They say that the Phoenicians first brought grape vines and olive trees to Spain in this area. Also, the tapas were among the best we tried anywhere in Spain.
We stayed at the interesting Nuevo Hotel, a converted grand house, and can recommend it as an economical and comfortable destination right near all the attractions.
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One of the things I love about Spain is its rich historical heritage. It seems that if you dig under just about any inhabited place you find a previous inhabited place! In this case a modern house had been demolished revealing an ancient well, cooking area, walls and terrazo flooring. This site was unsignposted and I stumbled on it while walking from my hotel to the Arab fort in Jerez de la Frontera. Another thing I love about Spain and the Spanish is the way a young couple saw me looking at the site and stopped for a friendly chat. |
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The spacious and attractive main plaza in Jerez de la Frontera. There is a large underground car park under the plaza and the young Spanish couple I mentioned told me that the excavations had uncovered all kinds of historical buildings and artifacts, including some thought to possibly be Phoenician. |
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Jerez de la Frontera is graced with a particularly well preserved and attractive Arab fort. This scene of a fortified tower is often seen on tourist literature for the town. |
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The old Arab fort in Jerez de la Frontera has some stunning formal gardens which include these ancient olive trees, maybe dating back 1,000 years to the time of the Arabs or even earlier. |
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The old Arab fort in Jerez de la Frontera contains a beautifully preserved mosque. This is the entry. |
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The towers in the old Arab fort in Jerez de la Frontera afford lovely views all around town, including this view to the Cathedral. |
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One of the fierce gargoyles protecting the Cathedral in Jerez de la Frontera, with a feathered visitor. |
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Jerez de la Frontera is the capital of the Spanish sherry industry and Bodega Gonzalez Byass, the home of famous Tio Pepe (Uncle Joe!) sherry, is probably the largest and best known of the bodegas (cellars). This is the entry to the bodega taken from the gardens around the old Arab fort. |
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Tio Pepe himself waits to greet visitors to the Bodega Gonzalez Byass in Jerez de la Frontera! |
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The tasting area is the final destination for visitors to the Bodega Gonzalez Byass in Jerez de la Frontera! |
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El Gallo Azul (Blue Cock) Restaurant is a well known site in the main restaurant area in Jerez de la Frontera. |
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