| El Puerto de Santa María | |
| Other Name: | Port Saint Mary |
| Nickname: | La ciudad de los 100 palacios (The city of the 100 palaces) |
| Settlement Type: | Municipality |
| Motto: | Puerto de Menesteo |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Spain |
| Subdivision Type1: | Autonomous Community |
| Subdivision Name1: | Andalusia |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Cádiz |
| Government Type: | Ayuntamiento |
| Leader Party: | PP |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Germán Beardo |
| Area Total Km2: | 159.34 |
| Elevation M: | 0 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Demonym: | Portuense |
| Timezone1: | CET (GMT +1) |
| Timezone1 Dst: | CEST (GMT +2) |
| Postal Code Type: | Post code |
| Postal Code: | 11500 |
| Area Code: | +34956 |
El Puerto de Santa María (pronounced as /es/, "the Port of Saint Mary"), locally known as El Puerto and historically in English as Port Saint Mary,[1] [2] is a municipality of Spain located on the banks of the Guadalete River in the province of Cádiz, Andalusia., 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 10km (10miles) northeast of Cádiz, across the bay of Cádiz.
According to the legend told in the Odyssey of Homer, after the Trojan War-era, Greek official named Menestheus 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, Modern (1453-);: Μενεσθέως λιμήν|links=no), after the oracle of Menestheus (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Μαντεῖον τοῦ Μενεσθέως|links=no), to whom, also, the inhabitants of Gades offered sacrifices.[3] [4]
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.
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.
The population should not have reached more than 2,000 people in 15th century.[5]
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).[6]
The town is steeped in history, museums and monuments. It is also within easy reach of the historical cities of Seville and Cádiz.
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.
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.
Listed are a few of the main fiestas in the area:
El Puerto de Santa María is situated in the middle of the Parque natural Bahia de Cádiz. This include 2km2) of pine forest which form one part of the three ecosystems in the area. An endangered species of chameleon along with other reptiles and birds of immense variety can be found in the forest. Egyptian mongoose can also be spotted in the area. The area boasts two other natural parks, the Sierra de Grazalema and El Coto Donaña.
Bullfighting is still enjoyed during the Feria season during the month of August, and during the Feria de la Primavera (Spring Fair) in early May. This Feria is dedicated to sherry wine and 180,000 half bottles are drunk in 4 days. There are several bodegas (wineries) in the town centre, all of which can be visited by the public. The most famous bodegas in El Puerto are Osborne and Terry both of which export sherry and brandy worldwide. In the cellars of El Puerto, the dry, pale sherry known as Fino is produced using the traditional method called solera. This method produces Fino, the sweet Muscatel, Amontillado and the older Oloroso.
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain.
El Puerto de Santa María is twinned with:
La Güera, Western Sahara
Coral Gables, Florida, United States
Texcoco, Mexico
Calp, Spain