Print

Jerez prepares for 'city within a city'

Jaimie Kanwar

The Southern Spanish city of Jerez has unveiled an unusual investment project...

Jerez is certainly known for its fortified wine; however, few also realize it's the cradle and spiritual home of the gypsy-Andalucian art of flamenco. To capitalize on this, the Council of Jerez, in liaison with the Institute of Culture, has announced it is to build its most ambitious project yet - 'La Ciudad del Flamenco'.

La Ciudad del Flamenco will quite literally be a city within a city. A walled garden with individual buildings hosting the National Flamenco Auditorium, School of Superior Studies in Flamenco, Flamenco Arts Research, Documentation Centre and Flamenco Museum.

It will support and promote flamenco throughout the world and join Jerez's already abundant flamenco offering from the Andaluz Flamenco Centre housed in an old 'palacio' with its library of 8,500 historic recordings and salons for exhibitions and concerts to the pure and authentic 'peñas' – Jerez's popular flamenco clubs.

Chris Mercer, Director of Jerez property specialists Mercers, commented: “Although undoubtedly a classy city steeped in history and the scent of viticulture in the air, Jerez does have certain pockets within the ancient Andalucian walled medina that are not in the best state of repair.

”La Ciudad de Flamenco will be sited in Plaza Belén and serve the purpose of regenerating the San Mateo district which is equidistant between the two most important flamenco quarters in Jerez – Santiago and San Miguel. This cultural landmark will act as a magnet for tourists and also nudge up property prices in the immediate vicinity.”