Prehistoric (Paleolithic and Calcolithic) remains document man's presence in this territory on the coast as well as in the interior. Phoenician, Punic, and Roman remains were found in Chiclana and can now be seen in Cádiz's Archaelogical Museum.
Chiclana's history continues in 1303 when King Fernando lV donated this, then uninhabited, place to Alonso Pérez de Guzmán "EI Bueno" (The Good) with the intention to populate it. The Dukes of Medina Sidonia, successors of Pérez de Guzmán, would be the town's lords until the 19th century.
The discovery of America led to a true uprising of the Bay villages, including Chiclana, when production and export of wines from this region began. ln the l7th and l8th centuries, this development became more evident with the transfer of the centre of the Fleet (1680) and the Hiring Bureau (1717) to Cádiz. The urban and rural landscapes changed notably. The Church of "San Martín", the Church and Convent of "Jesús Nazareno" and "San Telmo", as well as the ancient country church of "San Sebastian", which converted into a parish church, are all from these centuries.
The second halfof the l8th centuryshaped the City of Chiclana as beautiful civil buildings were constructed, promoted by the middle class of Cádiz. Additionally, an agricultural expansion took place due to this same wealth classes investment in vineyards, olive groves, fruit-andvegetable- growing zones, and pine forests.
At the end of the l8th and the beginniry of the l9th century Chiclana was the birthplace of the eminent speaker and outstanding naturalist Antonio Cabrera, as well as the famous politician and financial expert Mendizabal, also the playwright Antonio García Gutiérrez, author of "El Trovador" (The Troubadour)who had, the Ereatest success in the romantic theatre. Over theyears, in bullrings all over Spain, the masters of Chiclana bullfighting, José Cándido, Jerónimo José Cándido, Francisco Montes "Paquiro" and José Redondo "El Chiclanero” stand out.
After the French Occupation (1802- I8 | 2) Chiclana needed a time o[ recovery that lasted until the second half of the I 9th century. The well-off people and the nobility once again chose the town for their vacations and cures at the Braque and Fuente Amarga spas. At the same time, Chiclana's wines experienced a renaissance. lt is because of the important increase in the wine indusl’ry that king Alflonso XII granted Chiclana the title of City(t876).
During the 20th century specially in its second half, Chiclana reached its hisghest demographic growth, together with spectacular economic development based on a diversification of activities in all sectors, but particularly in the secondary and tertiary. Currently Chiclana has he highest number of hotel beds in the province of Cádiz- due to an effort that sensibly combines this booming economy with environmental protection.
Texts provided by
Turismo of Ayuntamiento Chiclana de la Frontera
Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.
