Life

the battle of Trafalgar was fought here

The word "Caños" comes from the small falls of fresh water pouring from the cliffs. The history of Caños de Meca is linked to the history of Cape Trafalgar, as the battle of Trafalgar was fought here in 1805, when admiral Nelson attacked and destroyed the Spanish fleet.

In the past the only routes were by sea, and as the Phoenicians and the Romans could not navigate far from the coastline, Trafalgar was a necessary passage to go to Hispalis, Onuba and so on. Due to the rich fish resources, fish salting factories were set up, where they produced a popular fish sauce called Garum.

The Duke of Medina Sidonia recaptured the town from the Arabs, and during the 14th and 15th century it became an important tuna fishing centre. The watchtowers of Meca and Tajo were used to announce the arrival of Moorish corsairs and date from this period. The watchtowers were essential for security. There were three guards; one who looked at the horizon and another two who watched the sea. If they saw any sort of danger, they would send smoke signals to the nearby villages.

The system of towers all along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coast allowed the villages to communicate within hours. When the towers were attacked, the guards used to throw boiling water or oil through pipes especially made for that purpose.

During the 20th century, forts were built to keep enemies at bay. Some of these forts still remain, one on the Pirata beach and another in Los Apartamentos. After the civil war, the municipality of Barbate was founded, and the area was administratively dependent on this town.

Tourism rose in the 60's, roads were built, and in the late 70's the town became very popular thanks to its nightlife and nudism. This is still the case today.