The Jerez Horses! (Jerez Circuit)

Member Name: jayjolynn

Product:	Jerez Circuit
Date:	01/11/06 (232 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Terrific Horse Show

Disadvantages: None!

Jerez is situated 83 kms south of Seville and 30 kms North East of Cadiz in the plains south of the Rio Guadalquivir.

Each of the many different cultures that have settled here over the past few centuries have had an enormous influence upon the physical appearance of Jerez .

Archaeological remains from the Phoenician Xera, the strongly Roman Ceret, and the important Muslim Sherish,go side by side with the beauty of the later Christian buildings to offer a wide range of architectural styles and distinctive edifices which all combine to give Jerez a truly individual ambience of great beauty.
It was a pleasure walking about Jerez, though the weather was rather too hot that day!

When I visited, I went specially to see their famous horses, The Royal School of Equestrian Art, a magnificent display of Andalucian horses, and is situated in Jerez de la Frontera. The equestrian centre is built around the Recreo de las Cadenas Palace, itself an amazing 19th century baroque-style building designed by Charles Garnier, who also designed the Paris Opera House.

The shows are held in the 1600 seat arena. After a disco style burst with laser lights, the distinctive tones of flamenco guitar take over and some ten riders dressed in 18th century country costume make their entrance. Then the impressive equestrian ballet begins.

These dances are based on both classical, doma clasica, and country dressage, doma vaquera, as well as other specialised riding techniques. For example the horses gallop around the ring making sudden changes of rhythm and spin tightly pivotting on a circle around their hind legs, all apparently in time with the music. This is the canter pirouette. Keep taking photos here, and if you capture them at the right moment, you have wonderful pics to take home with you!

The most spectacular part is the execution of high leaps with legs kicking out, known as a capriole. At times the horses resemble dancers, especially with the technique called piaffe, where the horse trots on the spot and picks its legs up in diagonal pairs. It is really wonderful to watch and it puzzles you how they can be trained so highly to do this sort of thing so eloquently!

While the Andalucian horse is absolutely first class for various types of sport, such as show jumping and dressage, it is not the ideal horse for rodeo riding or horse racing. Their elegence and agility are second to none, and I had a lump in my throat watching these amazing animals! They dance like they are born with it in their genes! Magnificent show....a must see!

Jerez is home to a large gipsy settlement, generating over the years the richest and deepest wealth of gipsy song: from the 18th century with Tío Luis el de laJuliana Jerez is famous for being one of the most important cradles of flamenco. Whereas other towns have places where you can find great flamenco, in Jerez great flamenco finds you. You can't avoid it. There are at least a couple of first-class concerts every week as well as
shows put on by a dozen local peñas (clubs), and, if all else fails, bars where you can find impromptu jam sessions. In Jerez there are about 20 peñas flamencas. These peñas are important gathering places for flamenco afficionados. We saw many Flamenco dancers happy to give you a jam session in their local bars etc....

The economy of the largest city in Cádiz province is almost entirely dependent on the production and export – mainly to Britain – of sherry and brandy (Including Harvey's and all your well known brands). In recent years the famous brands have seen a fall in demand and profits, resulting in high unemployment in Jerez de la Frontèra. Not that this will be oobvious as you wander around Jerez's pretty, well-maintained streets, and it remains a very relaxed and pleasant place to while away a day or two. As well as sherry and brandy in abundance, the town has superb tapas bars, authentic flamenco venues and some outstanding buildings. A truly wonderful day out for anyone!

As we were only there for a day and a half, we tried to see as much as we could, but we felt we saw mostly what we went to see, so we came home very happy! We stayed at Hotel Palacio Garvey which was right in the middle of the old town, and was lovely!

Some fabulous pavement cafe's are there and you can eat relatively cheaply, and you must, while there, try out their local brandy! We had a fairly slap up meal on a street restaurant, and between 3 of us, it came to no more than 4o euros!

.....If you are in that region, Jerez is must to see, even for a day trip!

Summary: Lovely 2 day visit!