El Puerto de Santa María
Encyclopedia
El Puerto de Santa María (Spanish: "The Port of Saint Mary", locally known as just El Puerto) is a municipality located on the banks of the Guadalete River
in the province of Cádiz, Spain
. , the city has a population of c. 88,000, 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 10 km north east of Cádiz across the bay of Cádiz
and is best known for having been the port from which Columbus sailed on his second voyage to the Americas.
of Homer
, after the Trojan War
a 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.
In 711, Arab (Moors
) from the North of Africa invaded southern Spain. They renamed the place Alcante or Alcanatif which means Port of Salt, due to the old salt industry of Phoenicia
ns 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. This is a distinguishing property and even though Madrid is the capital of Spain it has not earned this distinction.
In his Cantigas de Santa Maria
CSM 367, Alfonso sings that he was miraculously healed of swollen legs after visiting his church of Santa Maríado Porto.
Christopher Columbus
's second 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 War of Independence (Peninsular War
) under the reign of Jose Bonaparte
(1801–1812).
The town is seeped in history, museums and monuments. It is also within easy reach of the historical cities of Seville
and 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.
, 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.
El Puerto de Santa María is situated in the middle of the Parque natural Bahia de Cádiz. This include two square kilometres 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. The area boasts two other Natural parks, the Sierra de Grazalema and El Coto Donaña.
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
.
, Greece
Lagouira
, Western Sahara
Coral Gables, USA Texcoco
, Mexico Brighton
, United Kingdom Calp, Spain
Guadalete River
The Guadalete River is a small stream located in the Spanish province of Cádiz, arising in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park at an elevation of about 1000 m, and running for 172 km into the Bay of Cádiz at El Puerto de Santa Maria, south of the city of Cádiz...
in the province of Cádiz, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. , the city has a population of c. 88,000, 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 10 km north east of Cádiz across the bay of Cádiz
Bay of Cádiz
The Bay of Cádiz is a body of water adjacent to the southwestern coast of Spain. It touches the following municipalities in the province of Cádiz: Cádiz, San Fernando, Puerto Real, El Puerto de Santa Maria, and Rota...
and is best known for having been the port from which Columbus sailed on his second voyage to the Americas.
History
According to the legend told in the OdysseyOdyssey
The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of Western literature...
of Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
, after the Trojan War
Trojan War
In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, the king of Sparta. The war is among the most important events in Greek mythology and was narrated in many works of Greek literature, including the Iliad...
a Greek official named Menestheus
Menestheus
Menestheus , the son of Peteus, son of Orneus, son of Erechtheus, was a legendary King of Athens during the Trojan War. He was set up as king by the Dioscuri when Theseus travelled to the underworld, and at his return Menestheus exiled him from the city.Menestheus was one of the suitors of Helen of...
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.
In 711, Arab (Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
) from the North of Africa invaded southern Spain. They renamed the place Alcante or Alcanatif which means Port of Salt, due to the old salt industry of Phoenicia
Phoenicia
Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
ns and Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
.
In 1260, Alfonso X of Castile
Alfonso X of Castile
Alfonso X was a Castilian monarch who ruled as the King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1252 until his death...
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. This is a distinguishing property and even though Madrid is the capital of Spain it has not earned this distinction.
In his Cantigas de Santa Maria
Cantigas de Santa Maria
The Cantigas de Santa Maria are 420 poems with musical notation, written in Galician-Portuguese during the reign of Alfonso X El Sabio and often attributed to him....
CSM 367, Alfonso sings that he was miraculously healed of swollen legs after visiting his church of Santa Maríado Porto.
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
's second expedition to the Americas set sail from El Puerto de Santa María. His pilot, Juan de la Cosa
Juan de la Cosa
Juan de la Cosa was a Spanish cartographer, conquistador and explorer. He made the earliest extant European world map to incorporate the territories of the Americas that were discovered in the 15th century, sailed first 3 voyages with Christopher Columbus, and was the owner/captain of the Santa...
drew his world map
Mappa mundi
Mappa mundi is a general term used to describe medieval European maps of the world. These maps range in size and complexity from simple schematic maps an inch or less across to elaborate wall maps, the largest of which was 11 ft. in diameter...
(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 War of Independence (Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
) under the reign of Jose Bonaparte
José Bonaparte
José Fernando Bonaparte, Ph.D. , is an Argentine paleontologist who discovered a plethora of South American dinosaurs and mentored a new generation of Argentine paleontologists like Rodolfo Coria...
(1801–1812).
The town is seeped in history, museums and monuments. It is also within easy reach of the historical cities of Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
and Cádiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
.
Geography
El Puerto de Santa María is located on the Atlantic coast of the Bay of CádizBay of Cádiz
The Bay of Cádiz is a body of water adjacent to the southwestern coast of Spain. It touches the following municipalities in the province of Cádiz: Cádiz, San Fernando, Puerto Real, El Puerto de Santa Maria, and Rota...
, near the municipalities of Jerez de la Frontera
Jerez de la Frontera
Jerez de la Frontera is a municipality in the province of Cádiz in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in southwestern Spain, situated midway between the sea and the mountains. , the city, the largest in the province, had 208,896 inhabitants; it is the fifth largest in Andalusia...
, Rota
Rota, Spain
-External references:*, official website * On-line since 1999! News, premiere information, pictures, weather, etc. Into Spanish, English... ****- External links :...
, Puerto Real
Puerto Real
Puerto Real is a seaport in southern Spain, in the province of Cádiz and the autonomous region of Andalusia. , it had a population 40,667....
, and Cádiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
. 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
The most important economic activity is tourismTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, 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
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
during the Jerez Motorcycle Grand Prix. There is commercial development in the center and periphery, and a highly developed wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
industry.
Culture
Listed are a few of the main fiestas in the area:- Spring Carnival: Cadiz 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 WeekHoly WeekHoly Week in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter...
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 Maríathere 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.
- Feria del Vino Fino (Spring's fair): El Puerto de Santa María's local week of fiesta, dancing sherry drinking and sevillana dancing this is usually in the middle of May. This is the principal festival is the Feria de Primavera (Spring Fair), held between the fifth and sixth week after Holy WeekHoly WeekHoly Week in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter...
. In recent years, it has coincided with May 1. - Romeria del RocioRomería de El RocíoThe Romería de El Rocío is a procession/pilgrimage on the second day of the Pentecost to the Hermitage of El Rocío in the countryside of Almonte, Province of Huelva, Andalusia, Spain, in honor of the Virgin of El Rocío...
: Festive pilgrimage of up to one million people to the village of Rocio in Almonte, Huelva usually around the third week of May. - Hogueras de San Juan: Midsummer bonfires and fireworks on the beaches in most areas of Cádiz on the 23 June.
- Dia de la Virgen del Carmen: The patron Saint of El Puerto de Santa María and all fishermen is the Virgen Del Carmen and on the 16 July her image (statue) is taken from the local Church and carried into the sea on board on a fishing boat and then paraded around the town. A general day of festivities.
Main sights
- Bullring of El Puerto, which dates back to 1880 with space for 15,000 spectators.
- Iglesia Mayor Prioral, known from 1486
- Castle of San Marcos, a fortified church built over the remains of a 10th century Islamic mosque. It was built by order of Alfonso X of CastileAlfonso X of CastileAlfonso X was a Castilian monarch who ruled as the King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1252 until his death...
from 1364, also using parts of an ancient Roman edifice nearby. - Monastery of the VictoryMonastery of the VictoryMonastery of the Victory is a former monastery located in El Puerto de Santa María, province of Cádiz, southern Spain. It was built in the 16th century by Dukes of Medinaceli. The buildings housed a prison between 1886 and 1981....
(early 16th century), built by the Dukes of Medinaceli - Hermitage of Santa Clara (16th-18th century)
- Convent of the Holy Spirit (15th century)
- Church of San Francisco (next to San Luis Gonzaga building)
- Church of San Joaquín
- Convent of Santo Domingo
- Hospital of San Juan de Dios
- Convent of Esclavas del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús
- Convent of La Concepción
- Chapel of Aurora
- Monastery of San Miguel
- Hospital of Divina Providencia (Hospitalito)
- Palace of Aranibar
- Palace of Almirante Valdivieso
- Antiguo Matadero
- Palace of Imblusqueta
- Palace of Marqués de Villarreal y Purullena
- Casa Vizarrón (Casa de las cadenas)
- Casa de los Rivas
- Antiguo Pósito
- Casa de los Diezmos
- Fountain of Galeras
- Casa de la Placilla
- Casa de Roque Aguado
- Fountain of prison
- San Luis Gonzaga building
- Antigua Aduana
- Antigua Lonja ("Ancient Loggia"), located in the port and dating to the 18th century.
- Museo Arqueológico MunicipalMuseo Arqueológico Municipal de El Puerto de Santa MaríaThe Museo Arqueológico Municipal de El Puerto de Santa María is a museum located in El Puerto de Santa María, in the province of Cádiz, southern Spain...
- Several towers
El Puerto de Santa María is situated in the middle of the Parque natural Bahia de Cádiz. This include two square kilometres 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. The area boasts two other Natural parks, the Sierra de Grazalema and El Coto Donaña.
Events
BullfightingBullfighting
Bullfighting is a traditional spectacle of Spain, Portugal, southern France and some Latin American countries , in which one or more bulls are baited in a bullring for sport and entertainment...
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
Sherry
Sherry is a fortified wine made from white grapes that are grown near the town of Jerez , Spain. In Spanish, it is called vino de Jerez....
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
Fino
Fino is the driest and palest of the traditional varieties of sherry. They are drunk comparatively young, and unlike the sweeter varieties should be drunk soon after the bottle is opened as exposure to air can cause them to lose their flavour within hours.-Flor:The defining component of Fino...
is produced using the traditional method called solera
Solera
Solera is a process for aging liquids such as wine, beer, vinegar, and brandy, by fractional blending in such a way that the finished product is a mixture of ages, with the average age gradually increasing as the process continues over many years. A solera is literally the set of barrels or other...
. This method produces Fino, the sweet Muscatel, Amontillado
Amontillado
Amontillado is a variety of sherry, characterized by being darker than fino but lighter than oloroso. It is named for the Montilla region of Spain, where the style originated in the 18th century, although the name 'amontillado' is sometimes used commercially as a simple measure of colour to label...
and the older Oloroso
Oloroso
Oloroso is a variety of sherry produced by oxidative aging. It is normally darker than amontillado and has a higher glycerine content, which makes it smoother and less dry. Oloroso is usually dark and nutty....
.
Sister cities
ErmoupoliErmoupoli
Ermoupoli , also known by the formal older name Ermoupolis or Hermoupolis , is a town and former municipality on the island of Syros, in the Cyclades, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Syros-Ermoupoli, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
Lagouira
Lagouira
La Güera or La Gouera is a town on the Atlantic coast at the southern tip of Western Sahara, on the western side of the Ras Nouadhibou peninsula...
, Western Sahara
Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to . It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly...
Coral Gables, USA Texcoco
Texcoco, Mexico State
Texcoco is a city and municipality located in the northeast portion of Mexico State, 25 km northeast of Mexico City. In the pre-Hispanic era, this was a major Aztec city on the shores of Lake Texcoco. After the Conquest, the city was initially the second most important after Mexico City,...
, Mexico Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, United Kingdom Calp, Spain
Famous people
- Pedro Muñoz SecaPedro Muñoz SecaPedro Muñoz Seca was a Spanish comic playwright. He was one of the most successful playwrights of his era...
, playwright - Rafael AlbertiRafael AlbertiRafael Alberti Merello was a Spanish poet, a member of the Generation of '27....
, poet of the Spanish Generation of 1927 - Federico Rubio, surgeon
- Tomás el Nitri, flamenco singer
- Juan ModestoJuan ModestoJuan Modesto Guilloto León was a Republican army officer during the Spanish Civil War.-Early life:He originally worked at a sawmill before joining the Spanish Army...
, Republican general - Valentín Galarza MoranteValentín Galarza MoranteColonel Valentín Galarza Morante was a Spanish officer and right wing politician. He was associated with the monarchist tendency within the Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional-Sindicalista and was critical of the Falange.-Conspiracies:An early supporter of José...
, minister of Francisco FrancoFrancisco FrancoFrancisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975... - El NegroEl NegroEl Negro is the nickname of:*Fernando Chamorro, Nicaraguan rebel*Horacio Hernandez, Cuban drummer*Roberto Fontanarrosa, Argentine cartoonist...
, flamenco singer - Pedro Pérez FernándezPedro Pérez FernándezPedro Pérez Fernández was a Spanish dramatist. Born in Seville, he was one of the authors of comic theatre called the astracanada.He had a special and fruitful collaboration with Pedro Muñoz Seca ....
, playwright - Martín de Garay, minister of finances
- Miguel del Pino, matadorMatadorA torero or toureiro is a bullfighter and the main performer in bullfighting, practised in Spain, Colombia, Portugal, Mexico, France and various other countries influenced by Spanish culture. In Spanish, the word torero describes any of the performers who actively participate in the bullfight...
bullfighter - Juan Antonio de Vizarrón y EguiarretaJuan Antonio de Vizarrón y EguiarretaJuan Antonio de Vizarrón y Eguiarreta was archbishop of Mexico from March 21, 1731 to January 25, 1747 and Spanish viceroy of New Spain from March 17, 1734 to August 17, 1740....
, viceroy and archbishop - Torcuato Benjumeda, architect
- Ramón Gaztelu, lawyer and philanthropist
- José Luis Galloso, bullfighter
- Hipólito Sancho de Sopranis, historian
- Manolo Prieto, painter
- Josh RouseJosh RouseJosh Rouse is an American folk/roots pop singer-songwriter.-Biography:Born in the small town of Paxton, Nebraska, he moved to various places in the Midwest during his childhood due to his father's military career...
, Singer Songwriter - Juan Lara, painter
- Francisco Javier de Burgos y SarragoitiFrancisco Javier de Burgos y SarragoitiFrancisco Javier de Burgos y Sarragoiti was a Spanish journalist and author of comic theatre....
, journalist - Luis de Coig y Sansón, mariner
- Javier RuibalJavier RuibalJavier Ruibal is a Spanish musician and songwriter.-Biography:...
, folk singer - Juan Carlos Arniz Sanz, writer
- Juan Manuel de Cañas, governor of Costa Rica
- Juan Carlos Jaén, scientist
- José Cordero de Torres, clockmaker
- Rafael Taboada Mantilla, musician
- Joaquín Sánchez RodríguezJoaquín Sánchez RodríguezJoaquín Sánchez Rodríguez , simply Joaquín, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Málaga CF.A right winger, he is well known for his flashy style of play, lightning quick pace, acceleration, excellent dribbling ability and pinpoint crossing.During his career, Joaquín was solely associated with...
, football player - José Manuel PintoJosé Manuel PintoJosé Manuel Pinto Colorado is a Spanish footballer who plays for FC Barcelona as a goalkeeper.-Betis / Celta:Born in El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Andalusia, Pinto, a product of Real Betis' youth system, moved up to the first team and made his La Liga debut for the club during the 1997–98...
, football player - Ricardo Summers Ysern, painter and illustrator
- Francisco Javier de Uriarte y Borja, Captain General of the Spanish Navy.
- Francisco Andrés Gallardo, Journalist. Grupo Joly. Expert on International TV.
See also
- History of SherryHistory of SherryThe history of Sherry is closely linked with that of Spanish wine production, particularly the political fortunes of the Cádiz region, where it originated with the early Phoenician settlement of the Iberian peninsular...
- List of Bienes de Interés Cultural in El Puerto de Santa María
External links
- Official webpage
- Cultural Information of the Monuments and Museums of El Puerto de Santa María
- Journal of history of El Puerto
- 360º Panoramic walk of El Puerto de Santa Maria