Tapas has taken over the world and Cadiz claims to be its birthplace. That may or may not be true, but what can’t be disputed is that Cadiz has some great Tapas joints you’re sure to love!
Skeletons found in caves show that humans were in Andalusia over 25,000 years ago. Cadiz itself was first settled 3,000 years ago, first as a trading post and then as an important mining area.
After switching hands from Carthage to the Phoenicians, Rome conquered Cadiz and officially recognized its wealthy elite as Roman citizens in 49 BCE. The Roman city was expanded to include such structures as an impressive Roman theater. However, when Rome fell to the Visigoths in the 5th century CE, much of the city was destroyed.
The Umayyads conquered most of the Iberian Peninsula, including Cadiz in 711. Alfonso X defeated the Moors in 1262. Little remains of this period though some more modern buildings, like the Gran Teatro Falla have nods to Moorish architecture with tall arched windows.
During the so-called Age of Exploration, Columbus launched his 2nd and 4th trips to the New World from Cadiz. The city became rich from stolen goods and the African slave trade. As an important Atlantic port, Cadiz also was a prized target, especially by the British in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.
Despite recent construction and restoration of historic buildings, the population of Cadiz has fallen 10% in the last quarter century and has high unemployment leading many young people to relocate to other areas of Spain or the EU for job opportunities.
Little plates or snacks served to accompany a drink are called Tapas in Spain. These days, it seems every city around the world has at least one Tapas joint. But, this region of Spain called Andalucía, and Cadiz specifically, lays claim to the invention of Tapas.
Of course there’s no way to determine definitively where the idea of Tapa came from, but Cadiz makes a pretty good case.
Cadiz, being on the Atlantic Ocean, is a sandy and windy place. And a sandy glass of Sherry isn’t appetizing. So, bartenders began placing a slice of cured meat on top of the glass. This served a dual purpose. First, it kept the drink sand-free. Second, the salty meat made customers thirsty for more Sherry. A win-win!
This topping on the glass (Tapa in Spanish) became popular when King Alfonso XIII (1886-1941) was supposedly passing through Cadiz and was served his drink with a slice of Jamon (cured pork) on top of his glass. After that, King Alf ordered another glass “con la tapa,” or with “with the top.”