Jerez

Pronounced ‘heh-res’, Jerez is an idyllic little Andalusian town in the province of Cádiz, famous for its sherry, fine horses, singers and flamenco dancers. It is nearly 3,000 years old, but is a very modern and progressive town, which mixed with nearby vineyards and deserted beaches makes it and an ideal place to get away from it all.

The cheerful and bustling town centre lies at the heart of the action and is where shopping and tapas go hand in hand. It is full of white washed houses, bustling restaurants and laid back cafés, where visitors can enjoy being surrounded by beautiful buildings and fascinating culture.

The church of Santa Maria is located in Jerez town and was finished in 1764. The main entrance of the church features an impressive Gothic-style doorway which dates back to the 13^th and 14^th centuries; the entire church took more than five centuries to build.

The famous clock museum, Museo de Reloj, is located in Calle Lealas. It features a fascinating collection of more than 300 clocks, most of which are in perfect working order. Some of the clocks date back to the 16^th century, while others date from the 17^th to the 19^th centuries. The museum also contains a beautiful collection of jewels dating back to the 17^th century and is surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Jerez is perfectly located for those who want to get out and about in the Andalusian countryside. It is easily explored by car, as are many of the surrounding towns. By following the wine route and heading south to Cádiz, six villages are passed through, all with spotless white houses, beautiful flowers and some wonderful street scenes. Twenty-one kilometres south is the coastal town of Cádiz, which boasts impressive colonial buildings, picturesque scenery and soft sand beaches.

There is a modern airport at Jerez, which is located 11kms northeast of the city centre. There are limited flights to some European cities, but if you cannot find a convenient flight, you can fly into Seville and hire a car for the drive to Jerez via the toll motorway.