El Puerto de Santa María, Port city in Cádiz Province, Spain
El Puerto de Santa María is a coastal municipality in Cádiz Province that spreads along the bay where the Guadalete River flows into the Atlantic. Golden sand beaches alternate with pine groves along the shore, while the town center features narrow lanes and open squares.
In the 13th century, King Alfonso X of Castile retook the settlement from the Moors and renamed it from Alcanatif to Santa María del Puerto. From then on, the port grew into a key stop for Atlantic trade and exchanges with the New World colonies.
The fortress built on earlier mosque foundations shows through its walls and arches how Moorish and Gothic building styles came together. Walking through the rooms, visitors can trace the different periods in the stonework and layout choices.
The catamaran connects the town with Cádiz several times a day, shortening the trip across the bay considerably. From the landing pier, you can reach the center on foot in a few minutes, while the beaches to the west are a bit farther out.
In several bodegas, sherry still matures using traditional methods in oak barrels, some of which have stood in the same cellars for generations. A few of these wine cellars open their doors to visitors who can follow the fermentation process and the slow aging of the wine.
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