Torre Tavira: Visit the Cadiz camera obscura tower for amazing views
What to do in the port city of Cadiz, Spain – go up the Tavira Tower to see the sights from the viewing point
When visiting the city of Cadiz in southwest Spain, an absolute must-see for many tourists is the Torre Tavira, which is the tallest tower in the whole of Cadiz’s old town and offers incredible views of the city both from the rooftop terrace and from its camera obscura dark room.
A trip to the Torre Tavira tower while you’re visiting Cadiz capital city will not only provide you with unbeatable views of the whole city, but, thanks to information and talks in English, German, French and Spanish, you can also learn about the history of Cadiz as an important trading port, departure point for expeditions to the Americas and a juicy prize for pirates.
History of Cadiz’s Torre Tavira
The Torre Tavira tower is an 18th-century observation point that is part of the Marquis of Recaño Palace. It is situated at the highest point of the old town, at 45 metres above sea level, and for that reason it was proclaimed the official watchtower of the port of Cadiz in 1778.
It is named after the first ever watchman of the tower, Lieutenant Antonio Tavira. Along with Torre Gorda, in the isthmus between Cadiz and the nearby town of San Fernando, were the highest lookout points and were used to warn the main maritime movements through a system of signs with flags.
Where is the Torre Tavira tower?
The Torre Tavira is located in the small, mainly pedestrianised labyrinth of streets in Cadiz’s historical centre, and from the ground it is actually not obvious that it is one of the tallest towers in the area and such an important historical landmark.
It is on the corner of Calle Sacramento and Calle Marqués del Real Tesoro, near the Yacimiento Arqueológico Gadir Phoenician Archaeological Museum.
See map:
Torre Tavira opening times
The Tavira tower is open all year round, but the opening times change between summer and winter:
- May to September: 10am – 8pm
- October to April: 10am – 6pm
- December 25, January 1 and January 6: Closed
The last entrance to the tower is one hour before closing time.
How much does it cost to go to the Torre Tavira?
- Normal price: 7 euros
- Reduced price: 5.50 euros (Over 65s, students, families with 3 or more children, groups of more than 10 people, disabled people)
It’s absolutely essential to book ahead. The tower is extremely popular and if you don’t book, you will not be able to go up.
You can make a reservation online, by phoning +34 956 21 29 10 or via WhatsApp +34 630 56 46 83. They speak English, French and German.
What is the Torre Tavira experience like?
A visit to the Tavira Tower in Cadiz basically consists of walking up the 173 steps to the various levels of the tower. The first two floors you come to are basically small museums and have exhibitions explaining the history of Cadiz port through the centuries, and describing what a Camera Obscura is.The third floor houses the Camera Obscura itself, which is a dark room with a round table in the middle. High above the table, pointing out towards the city at an angle, is a huge mirror that, via a system of lenses, reflects a scene onto the tabletop surface of what is happening in real time out in the city.
You can book to go to the Camera Obscura and have a talk in English, Spanish, French or German about the sights you can see in Cadiz, and also enjoy spying on people from above without them knowing it.
Go right up to the open-air rooftop terrace on the final floor 5 minutes before your scheduled talk starts to wait for your guide. While you’re up there, you can take a look out at the whole of Cadiz from a fantastic viewing point that offers a surprising look at the city, and makes you realise that the buildings look far less modern and more like an old Andalusian pueblo blanco white town from above.
It’s worth pointing out that the only way to get up this 18th-century tower is by climbing the stairs. There is no lift and no wheelchair access.
How to get to the Torre Tavira in Cadiz
By car
While it is possible to access the road the tower is on by car, the street is very narrow and, being in the city centre, there is limited parking nearby. The closest car park is the Interparking San Antonio about 5 minutes away.
By train
Cadiz is the last stop on the Cádiz Cercanías train line from Jerez de la Frontera.
From Cadiz train station, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the Torre Tavira tower, through the scenic Cadiz old town.
By bus
There are no buses that go right to the door of the tower. The nearest buses stop in Plaza de España near the port and are numbers M-010, M-011, M-020 and M-030. Alternatively, you could get the number 7 bus which stops on the south side of the city. All of these stops are just a 5-minute walk from the tower.
By cruise ship
Cadiz is a port city that has dozens of cruises passing through it every month. From the Puerto de Cadiz port where the cruise ships disembark, it is just a 10-minute walk to the Torre Tavira.
By plane
The closest Spanish airport to Cadiz is Jerez de la Frontera airport, which has a direct connection via Cercanías train, although there are only about four trains per day going in each direction that go all the way to the airport, which is at the end of the line.
Other tourists who choose to visit the province of Cadiz often fly to Seville airport as it is larger and has more connections, and is only about an hour away from Cadiz by train or car.
For British tourists, flying to Gibraltar airport from the UK is also a popular option when visiting Cadiz as there are lots of flight connections and it is also only about an hour away.
Images: Torre Tavira
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