Rota (city)

Rota municipality
Basic data
Autonomous Community :	Andalusia
Province :	Cadiz
Comarca :	Costa Noroeste de Cádiz
Coordinates	36 ° 37 ′ N , 6 ° 21 ′ W Coordinates: 36 ° 37 ′ N , 6 ° 21 ′ W
Height :	14 msnm
Area :	84.01 km²
Residents :	29,109 (Jan. 1, 2019)
Population density :	346.49 inhabitants / km²
Postal code :	E-11520
Municipality number ( INE ):	11030
administration
Mayor :	José Javier Ruiz Arana (PSOE)
Website :	www.aytorota.es
Location of the municipality

Rota is a city of 29,109 inhabitants in the southwest of the Spanish region of Andalusia , in the province of Cádiz .

Geographical location

The city is located north of the Bay of Cadiz . The altitude ranges from sea level to a height of 14 m in the center.

The neighboring cities are Chipiona in the north, El Puerto de Santa María in the east and Jerez de la Frontera in the northwestern interior. In the south-east lies the provincial capital Cádiz , which is connected to the mainland by a headland, but can also be reached by ferry several times a day from Rota.

View from Rota over the bay to Cádiz, 12 km away

history

Different cultures and civilizations have left their mark on the place: "Astaroth" or "Asta Regia" called it the Phoenician inhabitants of Tartessos . In the Roman Empire it was known as "Oraculum Menestei" and later "Speculum Rotae". The Moors called the city "Rabeta Ruta". The Christians who conquered the city in 1217 eventually named it "Rota".

At the end of the 13th century, King Sancho IV , “El Bravo” (the brave), ceded the place to Alonso Pérez de Guzmán , “El Bueno” (the good guys), who had excelled in the defense of Tarifa . From 1303 to 1780 Rota belonged to the people of Ponce de León and then until 1823 to the Duke of Osuna .

economy

The mainstay of Rota's economy is tourism. Outside the main season, the city is a landing stage and transhipment point for many of the area's fishing boats. The Rota naval base of the US Navy is also an important employer in the region. It was opened on September 26, 1953 east of the village and has an area of 24.68 km². On the base there is a military airfield and port facilities with three piers.

Attractions

beaches

La Costilla beach

Los corrales : Originally built by the Phoenicians, stone enclosures on the beach west of the city, used to catch seafood

“ La Costilla ” was named the most beautiful beach in Spain because of the clean water and the well-tended beach.
Playa El Rompidillo is the name of the beach right by the old town, and extends along the long promenade to the port.
Playas Salvajes de Rota is a name for all the natural beaches of Rota, with their many dunes and pine trees, such as the beaches "Punta Candor" or "La Ballena".

Parks

Rota is also known for numerous parks. In the nature parks on the Atlantic coast, the chameleons are the main attraction for tourists. Because these scaled reptiles are cold-blooded , it is easier to observe the chameleons in the hot summer months.

Historic Buildings

El Castillo de Luna . The five-tower fortress was built in the 13th century as a Moorish ribat and was inhabited by the Counts of Rotas after the Reconquista. Today the seat of the local government.
Iglesia de la O , a church with a late Gothic nave, built in the 16th century. Inside, different styles can be recognized: Gothic, Isabelline, Plateresque and Baroque.
Arco de Regla or “Gateway to the Meat” is an old archway of the former fortification .
Iglesia de la Caridad , a baroque St. Mary's Church, which is located outside the historic city wall.