CONIL DE LA FRONTERA

The city of Conil de la Frontera is located in the slope of a hill at 31 meters over the sea level from where it softly lays its constructions to a gorgeus beach in the Atlantic. From the opposite slope runs a 2km road that joins the city center with the main Cádiz-Málaga road (N-340).

Conil de la Frontera has the smallest size in Janda Litoral but also the one that has kept an increasing and constant population grow during the last few years. In terms of economy and territory, it shows a large variety of coasts, city centre, hills, pinewoods and cottages scattered on the cornfields. This variety leads the way of life for their inhabitants that split their activities between agriculture, fishing, commerce and, recently, tourism.

It is known that in Medieval ages Conil was mainly a fishing town: Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, lord of almost every village in the coast of Cádiz, raised the productivity of this city with the exploit of their trapnets. After the Reconquest the area was populated with people from neighbour towns and from the zone of Castilla.

The origins of the city as we know it today are relatively recent but there appeared traces of what could have been the entrance to the old city. Once this entrance (Puerta de la Villa) is crossed we´ll find a structure reminiscent of Arabic tastes since the streets, narrow, sloped and labyrinthic, retain still some mystery. Houses are painted in white with one or two flats and small windows and doors.

Conil´s cuisine stands out because of its fishes and marine cooking as in the whole region but, in this case, we can point out as proper for this municipality the "chocos alomaos" (cuttlefish), stuffed squids, cookings of octopus and chickpeas, tuna with onions... In the middle June the Tuna Week takes place: this is one of the best moments to enjoy the tasteful wishes of fresh tuna caught with trapnets.

Conil´s cultivations (awarded with local and municipal prestige) offer high quality products thanks to its favourable location and climate. We can specially recommend flavoured carrots, hot gazpacho or rice with thistle . The tradition in Easter is to cook rolls and biscuits and also pestiños and oil flatcakes during Christmas.

Monuments

Conil´s beautifully preserved architecture reflects the fishing and crafting activities of its people. Its streets still show arches and patios with Islamic tastes and it's layout favours its people with lots of rooftops from where the sea can be clearly seen.

Santa Catalina´s Parish Church

Old convent of Minimos frails and also Victoria convent which now is know as Santa Catalina´s Parish Church . The old building is dated from the 16th century and was built under the protection of Medina Sidonia Dukes, lords of the village. Inside it the cult to the ancient image of Nuestra Señora de las Virtudes takes place.

There's a 17th Century crucified Christ in it that, according to its position and anatomy, is alike to those made by Martinez Montañes.

Iglesia de la Misericordia.

Iglesia de la Misericordia (or Hospicio) is a large edification built on the second half of the 18th Century (1779) by Don Sebastián Sánchez Franco (Count of the Five Towers , born in the villa of Conil) to give housing for thirty homeless families. Two parts are distinguishable: a chapel-church with oval layout in the centre and the housings themselves to the sides and surrounded by a patio.

Iglesia de Santa Catalina.

Built on the 16th Century over the ruins of another building, was remade in the late 19th Century with a blend of architecture styles. It's just in front of the plaza and gardens that bear the same name.

Ghostly Saint Chapel

Built in the 17th Century by the González Manuel family in a fishing district, contains the image of Nuestra Señora del Carmen. It was restored in 1969.

Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno Church.

This building is dated on the 16th century and was crafted by Misericordia´s Brotherhood. In 1715, Don Miguel Calderón de la Barca (a rich man inhabiting a estate in Conil) paid the crafting of a chapel for Guadalupe´s Virgin inside. In this church, San Sebastian, protector of the ville, is worshipped. We can also consider the images for Santa Lucía (seemingly by Alonso Cano) and Torre de Guzmán of interest.

Guzman´s Tower.

Guzman´s Tower is not only one of the little historic remains of the ville but also gave name to the city and was the main image in the coat of arms for Conil de la Frontera. Don Alonso Pérez de Guzmán (Guzmán el Bueno) had it built in Gothic style at the first half of the 14th Century.

The Watch Towers.

During the middle ages it was usual for "La Frontera" to hold wars and combats so we can expect to find a large number of Watch Towers that, back then, were built as a defines, communications and trapnet guarding devices. These towers were along the whole Conil´s coast like Castilnovo´s Tower, Guzman´s, la Atalaya, Roche´s and el Puerco´s.

Festivities:

  • Saint Sebastián Procession: January 18th.
    A festivity with strong popular support. The Saint is transported in procession from Conil to El Colorado pinewood where neighbours and newcomers pass a festivity day.
  • Carnival: From 19th to 29th February.
    Easter: From April 4th to April 11th.
  • May's crosses: May 3rd.
  • Spring Festivity in El Colorado: From June 3rd to June 6th.
    It takes place in El Colorado, located in the Road from Cádiz to Málaga, in the 17th kilometre. This is a natural reserve surrounded by kernel pinewoods with abundance of grove. Horses and gastronomy have an important role in this festivity as well as the fruit and vegetable products of the place that are exposed to the public. During the festivity one afternoon is dedicated to children and another one to our third age. The fair ends with a procession around the premises.
  • Saint John's bonfires: July 23rd.
  • Carmen Virgin festivity (Virgin patron to sailors): July 16th. Sailor procession.
  • Fair in honour to Our Virgin of Virtues: From 8th to 12th of September.
    This fair includes handcraft and gastronomy exhibition in the Torre de Guzmán's square and a procession of "gigantes and cabezudos" (giant carnival figures with a very big head). Finally, the festivity ends with marvellous fireworks.

Useful Adresses.

City Hall
Plaza de la Constitución, 1
11140 Conil de la Frontera
(Cádiz)
Telephone: 956 44 03 06.
e-mail: alcaldia@conil.org
web: www.conil.org

General Information:
Plaza de la Constitución nº 1
Telephone: 956 44 03 06

Turism Office:
El Punto road
Telephone: 956 44 05 01