Jerez City Private Walking Tour

Jerez de la Frontera is a city to be enjoyed with all five senses. Between the murmur of its tabancos, the brilliance of the albero (wooden alleys), and the unmistakable aroma of its wine cellars, lies a history that blends Andalusian roots, Baroque nobility, and wine culture projected to the world under its own name: Jerez, sherry, xérès. Today, its food and wine scene is also experiencing a stellar moment: Jerez has been chosen as the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy 2026, a recognition that heralds a year of celebrations, activities, and additional reasons to come and savor the city.

The city's origins date back to ancient times and were consolidated during the Andalusian period—then known as Sherish—a period from which key elements survive within its fortified walls. With the Christian conquest by Alfonso X in the 13th century, Jerez was incorporated into the Crown of Castile, and over time, its economy increasingly revolved around the vineyard and wine trade.

The private tour begins at the Alcázar, one of the few surviving examples of Almohad architecture on the Iberian Peninsula. Its origins date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, when it served as the residence of the Wali and a key defensive element of the medina. The impressive complex includes the mosque—the only one that survives among those that once stood in the city—with its ablutions courtyard and mihrab, the Arab baths with domes pierced by starry skylights, the powerful Octagonal Tower, and, from both Christian and modern periods, the Keep and the Baroque Palace of Villavicencio. Strolling through its courtyards allows you to understand the transition from an Islamic city to a Castilian town, while also enjoying a perfect panoramic view from which to base the rest of your itinerary.

A few minutes' walk away, the Cloisters of Santo Domingo await us, a 13th-century Gothic gem that was part of the former Dominican convent. After the confiscations of church property in the 19th century, the cloisters were converted into civil use and are now a first-class cultural space: their sober, luminous architecture provides a serene counterpoint to the bustle of the city center. On the private tour, the guide helps you read the capitals, tracery, and proportions, and understand how the city's contemporary life has been woven into this monastic landscape, amid exhibitions, concerts, and public events.

The urban stroll between the Alcázar and the Cloisters is an experience in itself. The streets weave between secluded plazas and facades with wrought-iron balconies, and the murmur of a venencia in the background reminds us that here, wine is measured as much by its quality as its culture.

The Cathedral—formerly a Collegiate Church, elevated to the status of a cathedral in 1980—is one of the most unique temples in Andalusia due to its harmonious blend of Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical styles. Its construction, which began in 1695 and was completed in 1778, brought together master builders and architects such as Diego Moreno Meléndez, Rodrigo del Pozo, and Torcuato Cayón, and left its unmistakable signature with impressive exterior flying buttresses that embrace the entire volume of the church. The guided tour allows you to explore the naves and chapels, admire altarpieces and collections, and understand why this building is not only a religious symbol but also an artistic expression of a city that has always been in dialogue with its time.

Our itinerary now delves into the historic center, where Jerez is accessible, walkable, and inviting. The Plaza del Arenal, the former tournament arena, marks one of the key points; Very close by, Plateros and Alfalfa from Jerez —just as the locals experience it— trace a thread of bars, confectioneries and historic shops.