Merchants History Tour

Explore El Puerto de Santa María, the city where Christopher Columbus' first expedition to the Americas set sail from and discover the houses where the merchants lived.

Merchants History Tour

At the indicated time, we'll meet in the Plaza de Alfonso X El Sabio square and begin our tour of El Puerto de Santa María from the 17th and 18th centuries. This city became one of the most important ports of export due to "Los cargadores a Indias," the merchants of the Americas.

During the tour, we will visit the Castle of San Marcos, built on the site of an old Arab mosque, and the Palacio de Anaríbar, the residence of one of the merchants. We will learn why El Puerto de Santa María is called the "city of a hundred palaces" while strolling through the center. The tour includes a stop at the old customs house and the Iglesia Mayor Prioral church, where we will learn about the Dukes of Medinaceli.

We will also hear stories of notable merchants including Carvajal-Medrano, the Marquise of Candia, and Admiral Valdivieso. The tour will take us to the Casa de los Leones, also known as the House of Lions, to understand its significance.

The tour will conclude after 2 hours.