Rota

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Here is the location of Rota (Cadiz) Spain, for visitors to the Rota Crony Web Site!

(This latest image is courtesy of John Mark Ezell, Thank you for the assistance John.)

The city of Rota is in the province of Cadiz, which is located within the autonomous region of Andalucia, the southern such region in Spain. Rota is within easy driving range of Sevilla, Gibraltar, Malaga, and Granada.

Rota has become a popular tourist center with its beautiful beaches and proximity to the sherry wine centers of Jerez and Sanlúcar as well as the historically important towns of Cadiz and Puerto de Santa Maria, Medina Sedonia, etc.

The information below on the origins of the name or our Town was submitted by: Robert B. Tormaschy and is very appreciated -

ROTA SPAIN. Rota was founded by the Phoenicians about the same time as they founded Cádiz. They called it: ASTAROTH. And they were of the TARTESIAN empire.

When the Romans came, they called it: SPECULUM ROTAE.

When the Moors came they named it: RABITA RUTTA and it is from there that Rota got it's president day name of Rota.

History-

The city of Rota, because its coastal situation, has been a passage for various cultures and civilization such as Tartesics. Romans, Arabs and finally the Christians conquest, who gave Sancho IV "The Brave" gave the city to Mr. Alonso Perez of Guzman "The Good" who gave it later to his daughter Isabel as a wedding present when she married Mr. Fermin Ponce de Le6n, Maestre of Alcantara and First Lord of Marchena. In 1780 the XIth Duke of Arcos died without succession and the city was taken by the Duke of Osuna. In 1823 this lordship was abolished.

Beaches-

Rota, surrounded with more than 16 km. of golden fine sandy beaches, offers delightful places for rest, leisure and sports, with beaches with spread out front of the city such as "La Costilla" and "El Rompidillo ", with beautiful boardwalks and wide virgin beaches such as "El Chorrillo", "Punta Candor" surrounded by pine tree woods and "La Ballena" close to the Costa Ballena tourist complex.

Parks-

Rota has many natural spaces such as "Parque Atlántico" facing the sea, "Parque del Mayeto" in honor of the Rota farmer "Manuel Liaño", "Felix Rodriguez de la Fuente" , "La Almadraba" natural park and "Celestino Mulis" Botanical Gardens.

Cuisine-

Rota takes all the ingredients of its dishes from the fields and the sea. Among its specialties are "Urta a la Roteña", a typical dish made with fish and products of the land, the "Urta Soup", the "Arranque Roteña", the "Berza", the "Tortillas de Camarones", the "ortiguillas", the "Pescado Frito", the butifarras and the "Tintilla'" a locally appreciated sweet wine.

Fiestas-

Rota offers a wide program of festivities such a Carnival (February), Holy Week (April), Spring Fair (May), Urta Festival (August), the Patron Saint Festivities (October).

Monuments-

Parish Church "Nuestra Señora de la O" -     In the XVIth century, Rodrigo Ponce de León, Lord of Rota. Duke of Arcos and First Marquis of Cadiz decides to build a temple in honor of "Nuestra Senora de la Expectación", with a notable decoration, conjunction and highly impressive different styles: Gothic, Isabelline, Plateresque and Baroque.

Luna Castle-    This castle was built on an ancient Moslem "Ribat" from the Xlllth century. The ground floor is a rectangle with five towers. In summer cultural activities are held in its interior.

Merced Tower-    This tower is all that remains of the ancient Merced Convent, which was built in 1600 and destroyed by a hurricane in 1722. Later was rebuilt with the same form and decoration: the second floor is covered with a blue and white glazed tiles.

All of the above information, i.e.. History, Beaches, Parks, Cuisine, Fiestas, and Monuments has been copied from a tourist booklet provided by the Rota Tourists Office and their email address is turismo@aytorota.es

Here are a few photos of our town. Click on a thumbnail to enlarge photo and use your browser's back arrow to return to this page.