ROTA - ATTRACTIONS
Rota is an ideal town to view on foot; stroll down its wide streets from Calle Italia, Garcia López and San Clemente arriving at the Palacio Municipal Castillo de Luna and the church of Nuestra Señora de la Expectación. From there you can visit the harbor Deportivo Pesquero Astaroth and perhaps round off your walk with the fine view of the Bay of Cádiz to be seen from the Mirador or the Balcón de las Almenas.
Walking through the center of the town you will come across many interesting shops. A visit to the fish market at the harbor of Pesquero Astaroth is a must. Here you`ll see the shellfish and fish catches of the day at what is known as the most famous fish market on the Cádiz coast. Gourmets should also be sure to walk through the Plaza de Abastos where are displayed the horticultural, fruit and vegetable produce of the rich farmlands near Rota.
The old medieval town of Rota has some fine monuments that visitors should make time to see.
This magnificent building is the official emblem of the town. It also houses the town hall and tourist office. It was erected on the remains of a Moorish castle after the Christian conquest of the town in the 13th century.
The church was built between the 16th and 17th. Perhaps because of that it incorporates different architectural styles, gothic, plateresque and baroque.
As the street name suggests the tower once was part of the Convent of Merced. The convent was destroyed when an earthquake hit Rota in 1722 but the tower was rebuilt.
The chapel is a fine example of Andalucían architecture of the 18th century. The interior is particularly noted for its fine high altar, which is the work of Diego Roldán.
The old hermitage is dedicated to the saint of the same name. It has been a popular place of devotion for centuries.
It houses exhibitions of paintings, sculpture and photography plus other types of cultural activity.