Medina Sidonia stands on a hill about 300 metres above sea level in the heart of Cádiz province, between the coastal plains and the wooded sierras of the interior. Its whitewashed houses, narrow winding streets, wrought-iron balconies and traditional houses built around interior courtyards give the old town a distinctly Andalusian character. The principal landmarks are the fifteenth- and sixteenth-century church of Santa María la Coronada, with its impressive Gothic and Plateresque architecture, the remains of the castle and medieval walls, and the horseshoe-shaped Arco de la Pastora, a reminder of the town’s Islamic past. Roman remains, including ancient roads and underground sewers, reveal an even earlier history. The surrounding countryside supports cereals, olives and livestock, including the fighting-bull ranches for which the area is known. What distinguishes Medina Sidonia from many of the white villages of Cádiz is the depth of its history, with Phoenician, Roman, Islamic and Christian influences layered into a town whose elevated position also provides sweeping views across the province. Its traditional confectionery, particularly the honey-and-almond alfajor, adds another distinctive element to its identity.