Calle Compañía may look like a quiet street, but it holds more than four centuries of Cádiz history. Its name comes from the Society of Jesus—the Jesuits—who settled here at the end of the sixteenth century and founded a large college and church that would become one of the city’s most important temples. The complex was destroyed in 1596 during the sacking of Cádiz by Anglo-Dutch troops, but the Jesuits soon rebuilt their church, completed around 1647 in a mannerist style inspired by the Gesù in Rome. In 1767, the Jesuits were expelled from Spain and their college disappeared, though the street kept their name, which was officially restored after the Transition. Today, Calle Compañía is a lively spot in the historic centre, lined with varied façades and small shops, and it’s a great place to soak up the warm, vibrant spirit of old Cádiz.