Cádiz is a city located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula in Spain. It serves as the capital of the province of Cádiz within the autonomous community of Andalusia. The city is situated off the Atlantic Ocean and is separated from its neighbor, San Fernando, by a narrow isthmus.
Founded by the Phoenicians as a trading post, Cádiz is recognized as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe. During the 18th century, the port in the Bay of Cádiz became the primary harbor for mainland Spain during the Spanish Empire, maintaining a virtual monopoly on trade with the Americas until 1778. The city is also home to the University of Cádiz.