El Puerto de Santa María

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Coordinates: 36°36′5.29″N 6°14′17.33″W

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El Puerto de Santa María

Port Saint Mary

Municipality

Flag of El Puerto de Santa María

Flag

Coat of arms of El Puerto de Santa María

Coat of arms

Nickname: La ciudad de los 100 palacios (The city of the 100 palaces)

Motto: Puerto de Menesteo

MapWikimedia | © OpenStreetMap

Location of El Puerto de Santa María

Coordinates: 36°36′5.29″N 6°14′17.33″W

Country Spain

Autonomous Community Andalusia

Province Cádiz
Government

• Type Ayuntamiento

• Mayor Germán Beardo (PP)

Area

• Total 159.34 km2 (61.52 sq mi)

Elevation 0 m (0 ft)

Population (2018)[1]

• Total 88,364

• Density 550/km2 (1,400/sq mi)

Demonym Portuense

Time zone CET (GMT +1)

• Summer (DST) CEST (GMT +2)

Post code

11500

Area code +34956

Website Official website

El Puerto de Santa María (Spanish pronunciation: [el ˈpweɾto ðe ˈsanta maˈɾi.a], lit. "the Port of Saint
Mary"), locally known as El Puerto and historically in English as Port Saint Mary,[2][3] is a
municipality of Spain located on the banks of the Guadalete River in the province of Cádiz, Andalusia.
As of 2016, the city has a population of c. 88,184, of which some 50,000 live in the urban center, and
the remainder in the surrounding areas.

The town of El Puerto de Santa María is located 10 km (6 mi) northeast of Cádiz, across the bay of
Cádiz.

History

According to the legend told in the Odyssey of Homer, after the Trojan War-era Greek official named
Menestheus, who escaped with his troops through the Straits of Gibraltar and reached the
Guadalete River. They established themselves here and called that port 'Menestheus's port' or
'Menesthei Portus' (Greek: Μενεσθέως λιμήν), after the oracle of Menestheus (Greek: Μαντεῖον τοῦ
Μενεσθέως), to whom, also, the inhabitants of Gades offered sacrifices.[4][5]

In 711, Arab (Moors) from the North of Africa conquered southern Spain. They renamed the place
Alcante or Alcanatif which means Port of Salt, due to the old salt industry of Phoenicians and
Romans.
In 1260, Alfonso X of Castile conquered the city from the Moors and renamed it Santa María del
Puerto. He organized the land distribution and conceded a charter under the Crown of Castile.[n. 1]

Having received a royal charter the city was then allowed to use the title "El" prior to the name of
the city itself. From then on, El Puerto was one of the most importants towns of the Kingdom of
Seville throughout the late middle ages.[6]

The population should not have reached more than 2,000 people in 15th century.[7]

De la Cosa's map

Christopher Columbus's first expedition to the Americas set sail from El Puerto de Santa María. His
pilot, Juan de la Cosa drew his world map (the first including the coast of New World) in El Puerto in
1500.

Columbus visited El Puerto in 1480 and received encouragement for his travel plans. He also met
Juan de la Cosa who issued the first world map in 1500.

El Puerto was the residence of several wealthy cargadores, merchants who operated Spain's trade
with the Americas.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, it was the winter port of the royal galleys.

In the nineteenth century the city became the General Headquarters for the French Army during the
Peninsular War under the reign of Joseph Bonaparte (1801–1812).[8]

The town is steeped in history, museums and monuments. It is also within easy reach of the
historical cities of Seville and Cádiz.

Geography

San Marcos Castle

Iglesia Prioral

El Puerto de Santa María is located on the Atlantic coast of the Bay of Cádiz, near the municipalities
of Jerez de la Frontera, Rota, Puerto Real, and Cádiz. It is popular for its sherry and for its beaches,
which are the town's principal tourist attraction. Well known beaches include Vistahermosa,
Valdelagrana, and La Puntilla. Like many other southern cities, there are many smaller towns
encompassed by the municipality. There is also a major port, known as Puerto Sherry. A large
amount of land has been devoted to the Bay of Cádiz Nature Reserve.

Economy

Antigua Lonja

The most important economic activity is tourism, mainly because of the beaches, as well as the
bullfights held at the arena during the summer. The town also hosts large groups of motorcyclists
during the Jerez Motorcycle Grand Prix. There is commercial development in the center and
periphery, and a highly developed wine industry.

Culture

Listed are a few of the main fiestas in the area:

Spring Carnival: Cádiz is the home of Carnival with fancy dress and parades in the streets usually
ending on the Tuesday 47 days before Easter.

Semana Santa: Holy Week the week that leads up to Easter Sunday is a wonderful time to enjoy the
area with its street parades and long lines of penitents and big crowds. In El Puerto de Santa María,
there are daily parades from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.

Campeonato de España (Motorbikes Races): A weekend fiesta of music and dance in April World
Championships of Motorcycling.