Medina-Sidonia is an undiscovered white pearl in the lesser-known part of Andalusia. Quietly located inland of Cádiz, some 25 kilometres from the beautiful Costa de la Luz with its kilometres of beaches. The town sits on a hill at an altitude of 300 metres with 360 degrees panoramic views. On clear days, the Atlantic Ocean and even Africa can be seen.

Stroll through the ancient streets of Medina and smell the sweet aroma of handmade alfajores, refined with honey, nuts and spices - a well-known delicacy at the local bakery that has been made here for centuries according to traditional recipe based on Arabic and Roman influences.

Medina-Sidonia has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry and in winter you have moderate temperatures and some rainfall. The average annual temperature for Medina Sidonia is 22 degrees Celsius. For more details and the best period to visit Medina Sidonia click here.

Jerez de la Frontera, famous for its Sherry, is also half an hour's drive away. A sherry tour is definitely recommended, but the city itself is also really worth a visit. It is a maze of streets, beautiful buildings and cosy squares with terraces.  The imposing Cathedral is not only striking for its dome but also for its buttresses. Both Baroque and Gothic building elements adorn the facade.  The Moorish fortress the Alcázar de Jerez is also a must-see, providing a journey through the history of the city, both during its Islamic and Christian periods.

Don't miss the Calle Pescaderia Vieja, a colourful little street with bars and restaurants, or the buzzing Mercado Central de Abastos. Jerez is also famous for its horses. Fundación Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre is Andalusia's royal riding school. Here, horses are trained following the example of the Vienna Riding School. 

Jerez is often called the cradle of flamenco, referring to the important role the city enjoyed in the origins of flamenco. The Centro Andaluz de Flamenco offers an interesting overview of flamenco with film material, archives, photos and paintings. Finish your visit in one of the bodega's with a passionate flamenco show!

The surfing mecca of Tarifa is also only an hour's drive away. Tarifa has a cosy old centre with a warren of narrow streets and white-painted houses and little shops where you can stroll around for hours. Or just relax on one of its most beautiful sandy beaches. In addition, you can book a boat trip here (April-October) to see dolphins, whales and orcas (July/August) or take the one-hour ferry to Tangier, Morocco.

A day trip to Tarifa can be combined well with a visit to the archaeological site Baelo Claudia, declared a National Historic Monument. In the 3rd century AD, Baelo Claudia was hit by an earthquake, but a small village managed to survive until the early 7th century, when it was finally abandoned. In 1917, the first excavations began in the area of Bolonia, where researchers discovered the remains of a prosperous city built according to classical Roman tradition. With the Baelo Claudia Archaeological Site, the province of Cadiz retains one of the finest known examples of a Roman city. 

There are several golf courses in the Medina-Sidonia area.

1. The IBEROSTAR Novo Sancti Petri Golf Club is 36Km away. The golf course has two 18-hole courses, both designed by Spanish legend Severiano Ballesteros.

2. Barceló Montecastillo Golf Club is 43 KM away, an 18-hole course with over 160 hectares of native flora and fauna. It is considered one of the Top 10 golf courses in Spain and was designed by Jack Nicklaus.

3. Benalup Golf & Country Club is 21Km away. Belgian golf course architect Paul Rolin designed this 18-hole course 2001. The course lies on gently rolling terrain, with many trees and artificial lakes.

4. Villanueva Golf is 33KM away, this course is not too difficult and therefore very enjoyable for beginner golfers.