The place on which El Puerto is built is identified as a probable location for the ''
, 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 , recognising it as ('
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. (c. 1567) 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. ==Economy==