El Puerto de Santa María

El Puerto de Santa María, port city, Cádiz provincia (province), in the Andalusia comunidad autónoma (autonomous community), southern Spain, at the mouth of Guadalete River on the Bay of Cádiz, southwest of Jerez de la Frontera. The Roman Portus Menesthei, it was once the site of naval arsenals and shipyards and was an oceanic captaincy general. It was from El Puerto de Santa María that the explorer Alonso de Ojeda sailed to the West Indies. Its chief economic activity is the production and blending of sherry wines, which are exported. Tourism is growing in importance, and hotels and recreational centres have been built along the coast. The city has a bullring. Pop. (2007 est.) mun., 85,117.