At the mouth of the Río Guadalete, 18km/11mi north of Cádiz, is El Puerto de Santa María, originally a Greek foundation and later a Roman port (Portus Menesthei). The town retained its importance into the 15th and 16th centuries, when Columbus, Juan de la Costa, one of his helmsmen, and Amerigo Vespucci lived there. Its main source of income is now fishing.
The palm-shaded Avenida Aramburu de Mora in El Puerto de Santa María leads to the Castillo San Marcos, built by the Moors in the 13th century, which later became the seat of the Dukes of Medinaceli.
Beyond the commercial port of El Puerto de Santa María a marina was recently constructed, with 1800 moorings, making it the second largest in Spain. It is equipped in the most modern style and has numerous quays.
The church of Nuestra Señora de los Milagros in El Puerto de Santa María has preserved its 13th Century facade and has a very beautiful Plateresque doorway. It takes its name from its 13th Century figure of the Virgin, patroness of El Puerto de Santa María.
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