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 set off on our tour of El Puerto de Santa María of the 17th and 18th centuries. The merchants known as "Los cargadores a Indias" made this city a key export port. The tour includes visits to 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.

Participants will learn why El Puerto de Santa María is referred to as the "city of a hundred palaces" while strolling through the center, passing the old customs house and the Iglesia Mayor Prioral church, where we will explore the history of the Dukes of Medinaceli.

The tour will also share stories of notable merchants such as Carvajal-Medrano, the Marquise of Candia, and Admiral Valdivieso. Additionally, we will visit the Casa de los Leones, or House of Lions, to understand its significance.

The tour will conclude after 2 hours.