Rota holidays

Holidays to Rota centre around sandy beaches, and throw in a decent dose of history and culture.

Sand, sea and sights

Rota’s a small Andalucian town on Spain’s southern coast, around 40 minutes’ drive north of Cadiz. It’s best known for its US naval base. But with a crop of beaches, a historic centre and a quaint fishing harbour up its sleeve, it gives you plenty of other reasons to visit. Best of all, it’s small enough to explore on foot, so you can get up close and personal with its narrow lanes, wide seafront promenades and cobblestone squares.

An ancient town

Rota dates back to pre-Roman times, and the old town’s still got a medieval feel to it. One of the biggest landmarks around here is Luna Castle – a 13th-century structure with five towers and a pretty, central courtyard. You can peek inside on a guided tour, or just admire its architectural beauty from afar. Directly opposite is Nuestra Señora de la O Church – step inside, and you can admire its mish-mash of Gothic, Elizabethan and Baroque styles.

Blue Flag beaches

No less than 16 kilometres of sandy beaches unravel along Rota’s coastline, attracting everyone from sunbathers to windsurfers. Two stretches – Playa de la Costilla and Punta Candor – have been awarded Blue Flags, so they’re top picks for swimmers. And over on the east side of the town, you’ve got Playa del Rompidillo – a huge sweep of biscuit-tinted sand backed by a palm-lined prom.

Make for the markets

No trip to Rota would be complete without a nose around a market or two. The most famous one here is the fish market, which takes place by the harbour. It’s the most famous fish market on the Cadiz coast, and it’s a great spot to get your hands on the catch of the day. If seafood’s not your thing, put a stroll through Plaza de Abastos on your to-do list, instead. Here, you can pick up fresh produce grown in the nearby farmland.