Barbate de Franco Things to Do

If birdwatching is your thing in Andalusia, then I would strongly recomend contacting Stephen Daly of Andalusian Guides. Higueral de la Oliva, 11160, Barbate, Cadiz Province, Andalusia, Espania. 00 34 956 432316, 00 34 647 713641 mobile. Our time with Stephen was excellant and the lunch times at local restaurants were an added bonus. The variety of species were varied both alround the salt pans along the Costa de la Luz and in the Parc Nacional de Donana.

A little way west from Canos de Meca is Cabo de Trafalgar. Yes, The Trafalgar. The only attractions here are the dunes, the sea, the lighthouse, great big masses of sand steeped up to the lighthouse that stands, somewhat dilapidated, on the brow of a hill.

There's a few restaurants and cafes on the way (like, three), none are worth bothering about. Unless you fancy hanging out with the 'dog on a string brigade' druggies who are selling their hair braids?

On the way in you'll pass plenty of cars parked on the side of the road, up against the sand dunes. Be careful where you park the car, cos you might be digging it out later...

Essentially, you're here for the picture of you next to a sign that says 'Faro de Trafalgar' and some beautiful views of the sea over the dunes. And it is worth it. Just not worth spending more tha 20 minutes.

Cabo de Trafalgar is not generally a place to to sunbathe - too much sand swishing about and too windy.

Harsh? Moi?!

Not many but we founded a few squares with nice vegetation, gardens always make a city look nicer at least in my opinion. The one at the town hall was nice with different styles of Palms.

On the Plaza Inmaculada, just in a corner we founded the Iglesia Parroquial de San Paulino, I love towers, so I could not stop making photos of it. It was closed by the time we passed as it was the 1st of January.

Baesippo Port, that was the name of the Roman port that was sited here.

They were also famous for the fishing and the Salted fish.

Later when the Moors came it became Barbat, where the actual name comes from.

The modern port is at the other side of the city in direction to Trafalgar or Conil. We did this photo from the top of the road when we were already at the Natural Park of Breña

This is Plaza de la Inmaculada, in the city center.

At one side is the town hall and on the other side the church.

Once you walk inside the city you can walk to the old port, well what is left of it, really. Hope one day they can restore, as we founded lots of rubbish over there.