Puerto de Santa María, El
Cádiz · Andalucía
El Puerto de Santa María (Spanish pronunciation: [el ˈpweɾto ðe ˈsanta maˈɾi.a]), locally known as El Puerto and historically in English as Port Saint Mary, 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.
Sections the premium town hall can edit · Fixed sections of the guide
Origins
There's no information in this section yet. The village's profile can complete it from the panel.
History
The place on which El Puerto is built is identified as a probable location for the Portus Gaditanus, a major shipping point for the exports of goods from the Baetica under Roman rule. Likewise, the Portus Gaditanus is in turn identified by some authors with the ancient Portus Menesthei. Both identifications are however not free of controversy. Whatever the case, the Portus Gaditanus was promoted by Lucius Cornelius Balbus Minor on a pre-existing pier in the hinterland of Gades at some point after the latter became a municipium civium Romanorum in the second half of the 1st century BCE in the wake of the suppression of the old regime of Punic suffetes.
From the 10th to the 12th centuries, under Islamic rule, the place hosted a small rural community (alquería) known as al-Qanatir, presumably in reference to some kind of old bridge over the Guadalete. The alqueria (which came to be renamed as Santa María del Puerto) should have been occupied by Castile towards 1255–57 in the context of the preparations for Alfonso X's 1260 African crusade in Salé. The partitioning of the territory ensued from 1264 to 1268, and the place was populated by Christian settlers, primarily Basques, Cantabrians, and Castilians, as well as some Catalans. El Puerto soon passed to control of the newly-created Order of Saint Mary of Spain. On 16 December 1281, Alfonso X granted El Puerto a chartae populationis, recognising it as realengo ('royal demesne') and styling its name as Grand Puerto de Santa María.
Throughout the late middle ages, El Puerto was one of the most importants towns of the Kingdom of Seville.
The population should not have reached more than 2,000 people in 15th century.
Christopher Columbus visited El Puerto in 1480 and received encouragement for his travel plans. He also met Juan de la Cosa, who would become his pilot during his first expedition to the Americas, which set sail from El Puerto de Santa María in 1492. Juan de la Cosa drew his world map (the first including the coast of New World) in El Puerto 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).
The town is steeped in history, museums and monuments. It is also within easy reach of the historical cities of Seville and Cádiz.
Monuments
There's no information in this section yet. The village's profile can complete it from the panel.
What to visit
There's no information in this section yet. The village's profile can complete it from the panel.
Gallery
Festivals
September 2026
Festivals this month
- 4 · September Fiesta de la Vendimia 📆 Add to my calendar
- 8 · September Virgen de los Milagros 📆 Add to my calendar
Rest of the year
- January: Cabalgata de Reyes (5)
- May: Fiesta de los Patios (10) · Feria de Primavera y Fiestas del Vino Fino (25) · Feria del vino fino
- July: Verbena Popular Ronda del Tejar. (16) · Fiesta del Carmen y el Mar (16)
- December: Fin de Año (31)
What's on
Street market
Find the day and place of the local street market:
Gastronomy
There's no information in this section yet. The village's profile can complete it from the panel.
Trails and hiking
There's no information in this section yet. The village's profile can complete it from the panel.
Services
Do you have a business in Puerto de Santa María, El? Advertise it for free and go premium whenever you like. List my business for free
Famous people
•José Manuel Pinto, futbolista y productor musical español
•Rafael Alberti, poeta español (1902–1999)
•Joaquín Sánchez Rodríguez, exfutbolista español
•Juan Guilloto León, militar español
•Miguel García Granados, político y General guatemalteco; presidente de Guatemala de 1871 a 1873
•Abraham Paz, futbolista español
•Nono Delgado, futbolista español
•Pedro Muñoz Seca, escritor español (1879-1936)
Town hall
Alcaldía: Germán Beardo Caro
Web oficial: http://www.elpuertodesantamaria.es
Town hall of Puerto de Santa María, El
Alcaldía: Germán Beardo Caro Web oficial: http://www.elpuertodesantamaria.es
Here goes your town hall's profile or your website address. Are you from the town hall? Go premium to complete your profile and edit your village's content. hola@ciudadesypueblos.es
How to get there
- 🚗 11 km from Cádiz (about 8 min by car)
- 🚗 19 km from Jerez de la Frontera (about 13 min by car)
- 🚗 113 km from Sevilla (about 80 min by car)
🧭 Travelling around the villages of Spain: a practical guide — Opening hours, transport, money and customs, before you set off.
- ✈️ 28 km from Jerez de la Frontera airport (about 20 min by car)
- ✈️ 120 km from Sevilla airport (about 85 min by car)
Practical info
🅿️ Where to park
- Where to park · 0.3 km away
- Where to park · 0.4 km away
- Where to park · 0.5 km away
🏧 Nearest cash machine
- Banco Santander · 0.8 km away
- Nearest cash machine · 0.8 km away
- Caixabank · 0.8 km away
⛽ Nearest petrol station
- Repsol · 0.3 km away
- Repsol · 0.3 km away
- Estación de Servicio Arancia · 0.8 km away
ℹ️ Tourist office
- Tourist office · 1.2 km away
- Tourist office · 1.2 km away
- Eucalipto Arcoiris · 1.5 km away
🔭 Viewpoints
- Viewpoints · 3 km away
- Viewpoints · 3.5 km away
- El Mirado · 4 km away
🏖️ Where to swim
- La Puntilla · 1.8 km away
- Dunas de San Antón · 2.2 km away
- Piscina Valdemar · 2.9 km away
Buses
Check the route, times and public transport connections to Puerto de Santa María, El:
Pharmacy and health
Find the nearest pharmacy and health centre, with the address and how to get there:
Wall and news
Log in with your profile to post. Posting on the walls is free.
This wall is still quiet.
Obituaries
There are no obituaries published right now in Puerto de Santa María, El.
In loving memory
There are no memorials in Puerto de Santa María, El yet.
Videos
Discover Puerto de Santa María, El on video: