Rota, Cádiz

Infobox City | official_name = Rota, Spain | nickname =

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| map_caption = Location of Rota
subdivision_type = Municipality | subdivision_name = Cádiz | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Lorenzo Sánchez Alonso | political_party = Roteños Unidos
area_magnitude = 1 E9 | area_total_km2 = 84| area_land_km2 = 84| area_water_km2 = 0.00 | population_as_of = 2005 | population_note =
population_total = 26792| population_density_km2 = 319.0 | timezone = CET | utc_offset = +1 | timezone_DST = CEST | utc_offset_DST = +2 | latitude = 36º28' N | longitude = -6º12' W | website = http://www.aytorota.es/ | footnotes = |

Rota is a town of approximately 27,000 people in the Andalusia region of Spain, located in Cádiz province, across the Bay of Cádiz from the city of that name. Rota is bordered by the towns of Chipiona, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, and El Puerto de Santa María. It is located on the Atlantic coast, approximately halfway between Portugal and Gibraltar.

History

Archaeological evidence suggests that there was a Bronze Age settlement on the present site of Rota. The current town was founded by the Phoenicians at approximately the same time as Cádiz. Rota is assumed to be the same city known as "Astaroth" of the Tartesian empire. It later passed to the Romans, who knew the town as "Speculum Rotae".

Following the arrival of the Moors in Spain, the city became known as "Rabita Rutta" ("watchtower of Rota"), from which it derives its present name. From 1248 onwards, the Moors were gradually expelled from Spain, and the city became Christian. In 1297, Sancho IV awarded the town to Alonso Pérez de Guzmán in honour of his defence of Tarifa. Later, Pérez de Guzmán gave it to his daughter, Isabel, as a wedding present when she married Fermin Ponce de León, Maestre of Alcantara and First Lord of Marchena. Construction of the "Castillo de la Luna" (Castle of the Moon) had begun in 1295, two years prior to the bequest to Pérez de Guzmán, as part of Sancho IV's effort to develop strong coastal defenses, especially near the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. During the Middle Ages, the town was an important port for trading with North Africa. In 1780 the 11th Duke of Arcos died without issue, and the city was rendered to the Duke of Osuna.

Economy

Rota is primarily a resort town, offering eight hotels (including the four-star Hotel Duque de Najera) and nearly two thousand beds. It is a summer destination for tourists from all over Europe. During the off-season, its main commercial activity centres on the fishing industry.

Rota is also the location of a joint Spanish Naval base and U.S. Naval base, opened in 1955 (which also hosts U.S. Marine and Air Force units). It is also the usual first port of call for U.S. naval vessels before entering the Mediterranean Sea.

According to an article in Diario ABC, eighty percent of Rota's economy depends, directly or indirectly, on the US Naval base. Much of this economic impact involves on-base jobs for Spanish civilians and providing off-base housing and other accommodations for US military personnel.

The surrounding area is used for agriculture; the predominant crop is cotton.

Culinary

The most traditional dish is the "arranque" made with chopped bread, tomatoes, green peppers, garlic, salt and olive oil. The local wine, known as "tintilla", is made with dark, ripe grapes. It can be found in the numerous "bodegas" spread over the old town, most notably "El Gato" which produces its own wine.

Sports

Rota has two football teams: Rota CF and UD La Roteña

ee also

*Costa de la Luz
*Monasterio de La Rábida (La Rabida Monastery)‎
*Naval Station Rota, Spain

Demographics

Demography 7col|400px
1999|2000|2001|2002|2003|2004|2005
25,198|25,560|25,919|26,257|26,431|26,691|26,792Source: [http://www.ine.es INE (Spain)]

External references

* [http://www.aytorota.es/ Rota municipal government] , official website es icon
* [http://rota.com.es ROTAcom° Web Oficial - Rota, Andalusia (Spain)] On-line since 1999! News, premiere information, pictures, weather, etc. Into Spanish, English... (http://rota.com.es) es icon en icon
* [http://www.turismorota.com/ Rota Board of Tourism]
* [http://fotosantiguasrota.iespana.es/presentacion Rota Spain old photos]
* [http://www.rota.navy.mil/navsta/ U.S. Naval Station Rota, Spain website]
* [http://navymedicine.med.navy.mil/rota U.S. Naval Hospital Rota, Spain website]