Arco de los Blanco (Arch of the Whites), Cadiz
The Arch of the Whites stands in C谩diz鈥檚 P贸pulo neighborhood as a doorway that has seen more than a few centuries go by. First built as a Roman gate near the old Village Castle, it has changed shape over time as new structures were added and later dismantled. Even so, the broad stone vault at its core has managed to survive intact.
The arch takes its name from the Blanco family, who in the 17th century built a chapel on top of it. The chapel is gone, but the family left their mark in the name. During the Middle Ages, the arch was the city鈥檚 main land entrance, recognizable by its pointed arches, and it led straight to the royal butcher shops. Archaeologists have since discovered that beneath those shops were annexes of C谩diz鈥檚 Roman theater鈥攁 reminder that here, history tends to stack itself one layer at a time.
The gateway has worn different names through the years. Once called Earth Gate because it faced the isthmus, it later became known as Santa Mar铆a Gate, after the suburb it opened onto. The entrance was defended by two towers of unequal size, with the southern tower linked to the nearby castle.
In the 16th century, the fa莽ade was taken down to make room for wider streets, but much of the arch remained. Today, it stands as both a monument and a passage, offering a glimpse into C谩diz鈥檚 Roman foundations, medieval defenses, and even a vanished chapel above.
The Arch of the Whites might not look dramatic at first glance, but it has served as butcher鈥檚 lane, fortress entry, and chapel base鈥攁n unassuming stone frame holding a surprisingly long r茅sum茅 in C谩diz鈥檚 story.
The arch takes its name from the Blanco family, who in the 17th century built a chapel on top of it. The chapel is gone, but the family left their mark in the name. During the Middle Ages, the arch was the city鈥檚 main land entrance, recognizable by its pointed arches, and it led straight to the royal butcher shops. Archaeologists have since discovered that beneath those shops were annexes of C谩diz鈥檚 Roman theater鈥攁 reminder that here, history tends to stack itself one layer at a time.
The gateway has worn different names through the years. Once called Earth Gate because it faced the isthmus, it later became known as Santa Mar铆a Gate, after the suburb it opened onto. The entrance was defended by two towers of unequal size, with the southern tower linked to the nearby castle.
In the 16th century, the fa莽ade was taken down to make room for wider streets, but much of the arch remained. Today, it stands as both a monument and a passage, offering a glimpse into C谩diz鈥檚 Roman foundations, medieval defenses, and even a vanished chapel above.
The Arch of the Whites might not look dramatic at first glance, but it has served as butcher鈥檚 lane, fortress entry, and chapel base鈥攁n unassuming stone frame holding a surprisingly long r茅sum茅 in C谩diz鈥檚 story.
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Arco de los Blanco (Arch of the Whites) on Map
Sight Name: Arco de los Blanco (Arch of the Whites)
Sight Location: Cadiz, Spain (See walking tours in Cadiz)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Cadiz, Spain (See walking tours in Cadiz)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Cadiz, Spain
Create Your Own Walk in Cadiz
Creating your own self-guided walk in Cadiz is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Cadiz Introduction Walking Tour
C谩diz isn鈥檛 just old鈥攊t鈥檚 mythologically old. Some say Hercules himself founded the city after his tenth labor, fresh from slaying a three-headed monster and stealing a herd of red cattle. Others鈥攍ess into mythology, more into maritime records鈥攕ay it was the Phoenicians who rolled up in black ships around 1100 BC and named it Gadir, meaning 鈥渨alled stronghold.鈥� Either way, it鈥檚... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Cadiz's Plazas Walking Tour
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Cadiz's Old Fortifications Walking Tour
鈥淐谩diz is a silver cup, surrounded by walls and kissed by the sea.鈥� The saying isn鈥檛 just poetry鈥攊t鈥檚 urban planning. For over 3,000 years, this port city has been circling itself with stone, preparing for whoever might come sailing over the horizon. And given C谩diz鈥檚 enviable position and wealth, plenty of enemies did.
After Columbus launched voyages two and four from here,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.3 Km or 2.7 Miles
After Columbus launched voyages two and four from here,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.3 Km or 2.7 Miles