The city of Cadiz began the twentieth century with an economic crisis caused by loss of its former trade privileges with the West Indies and fruitless industrial activity.

Against this uncertain future emerged attempts to develop the tertiary sector, tourism. The spa Victoria was built and chalets, sports facilities, bars soon developed around it … an economic development center, Tourism Society, (1910) intended to market Cadiz as “the best beach in the south.” During this time a racecourse was built near the ‘Puntales’ harbour behind the tobacco warehouses (1880). Afterward this venue was turned into a bullfighting arena, linked by the tram network.

In the 30’s came the consolidation of Cadiz as a tourist destination following the building of the Hotel Atlantic, designed by the architect Churruca Catalan, who belonged to the group known as GATEPAC. This along with other interventions such as the redesign of the Victoria Sanchez spa and pool by rationalist Estévez (municipal architect of the time), who created a tourist destination with a modern dimension, following the idea of the resort town of rationalism. This led to isolated housing proliferates such as recreational villas, houses and small hotels.

In the postwar period, 1940-50, there was still an intention to develop land on the city’s outskirts for high-class residences of Cadiz, enhancing the image of the city (as the touristic area of Cadiz Province) . As an example, a garden city with a high level of restriction in the Delhi suburb was constructed.

The development plan created in the 50’s favored excessive development of tourism along the Atlantic coast of Cadiz. Construction continued until 1975,however, without observing the densities established by the plan, reaching as high as 20m3/m2. With such saturation, work began in 1967 on the Ramon de Carranza bridge with the intention of expanding to the north. The city’s economy focused on the booming shipbuilding industry and of course on tourism.

Such was the zeal that municipal authorities sought to challenge the declaration of the old town as an historic-artistic complex in 1978, and create a new tourist planning isthmus (Cádiz-3), with 8,300 hotel rooms, 3,000 apartments and 850 homes Cortaduras and Torregorda. Fortunately such claims were not carried out due to public opposition.

In the 80’s that urban plan became obsolete and new plans were proposed to link the various nuclei that make up the Bay of Cadiz in a more controlled and sustainable manner. However, the creation of tourist centres suche as South Bay, Puerto Sherry and Novo Sancti Petri were opposed to the plan for a sustainable development.

Cadiz today remains a major tourist attraction with traces of excessive growth. This translates into residual spaces, poor urban infrastructure and collapse of the urban fabric.

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