EL PUERTO DE SANTA MARIA

Known in ancient times as the Port of St Mary, El Puerto de Santa Maria has changed a lot since Homer wrote of it after the Trojan War. This pretty town of some 55,000 inhabitants sits on the coast between Cadiz and Rota.  It is a popular housing area for white collar workers and everything is ordered and neat.

El Puerto de Santa Maria  is well linked to the main cities of the region Cadiz, Jerez and Seville by train, the new road network and ferry which crosses the Bay of Cadiz at regular intervals throughout the day.  Due to its pretty river and abundance of fish restaurants it is frequented in summer by tourists who take the ferry over from Cadiz and sit outside the bars and restaurants along the river´s edge.  In winter the locals reclaim these spots and Sunday afternoons are lively with families out for a walk and a fish lunch.

The town is much quieter than Cadiz and the beach is good and kept to a high standard.  It is busier in summer but you can still get a space and a view of the turquoise sea.

The town offers good amenities, schools, hospital, shops and supermarkets and the old par t of the town is home to some beautiful old buildings and some stunning architecture.