The Duques de Medinaceli Hotel is right in the heart of the charming town of Puerto de Santa María. This 18th-century, colonial-style, palatial home of the Terry family, was converted into a delightful and exclusive five-star hotel in 2002.

The hotel has a spacious hall, outside swimming pool and sauna, and the well-known Reina Isabel restaurant / coffee shop besides a vast botanical garden covering 5,000 m2 with centuries-old walnut, monkey-puzzle, palm trees and cacti. There is also a chapel, a library and a large marquee for meetings and special events.

CLUB GOURMAND

Besides its exceptional location and architectural beauty, the Duques de Medinaceli Hotel is known for the Reina Isabel restaurant with its menu offering both international and Mediterranean cuisine of the highest standards in both flavours and essence. Even the most demanding palates will be delighted by dishes that produce nothing less than moments of pure awakening of the senses. The Reina Isabel restaurant is in the former dining hall of the old palatial residence and has magnificent views of the botanical garden.

GOLF CLUB

Enthusiasts of this fascinating sport have direct access to the courses of El Puerto Golf Club and Vista Hermosa Golf Club with guaranteed tee times.

The Duques de Medinaceli Hotel has 30 exquisitely decorated rooms. Besides all the facilities offered by a five-star establishment, Internet connection is available.

FROM MADRID: 606 km
FROM CADIZ: 21 km

Puerto de Santa María, the seaside town par excellence of the great Bay of Cadiz, is surrounded by towns such as Rota, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cadiz, Jerez de la Frontera and Puerto Real. In this area, remains from the Early Palaeolithic Period are to be found in the El Aculadero site. There is another Mesolithic site at Las Arenas.

The Puerto de Santa María Natural Park is the backdrop for the town’s most emblematic buildings and the vessels plying along its coast. Yachting harbours, golf courses, luxury residential zones lie along these Atlantic shores all with exquisite views and more than 300 days of sunshine each year.

The Real Club Náutico (Royal Yacht Club) of Puerto de Santa María is located in Puerto Sherry. This is one of Europe’s most prestigious yacht clubs since it offers the most advanced technology and all kinds of services for yachtsmen. Puerto Sherry has residential and shopping areas, along with hotels and companies providing nautical services. The port zone and fresh fish have, for decades, been the identifying features of this town.

Visiting Puerto de Santa María means eating fish, sipping fine dry sherry, enjoying the climate, as well as stopping to see such fascinating historic places as Castillo de la Ciudad, the Bullring, which can hold 12,000 people, or the San Marcos castle. This castle was constructed in the 13th century over the remains of an old mosque, at a time when the Cadiz coastline was continually being attacked by pirates.

Another attraction of Puerto de Santa María is the Palacio de Medinaceli, residence of the first Count of Puerto de Santa María, the Duke of Medinaceli. The palace is also known for being the place where Christopher Columbus was lodged before embarking on his voyage of the discovery of America.

The Museum of the Rafael Alberti Foundation is yet another place of great interest to tourists. This monographic museum has materials covering the entire life and work of the famous poet Rafael Alberti, who was born in Puerto de Santa María. There are several rooms for the permanent exhibition along with a library with more than 5,000 volumes.

The Municipal Archaeological Museum is in calle Pagador. Here, the town’s ethnographic, archaeological, and artistic heritage is conserved, restored and exhibited to the public. The Museum has several rooms organised into Fine Art, Ethnology and Archaeology sections.

Strolling around the top part of this delightful town, one also finds in the Plaza de España the Mayor Prioral Church, which dates from the 15th century. With three naves, the church has ribbed vaults, a pentagonal apse and lateral chapels, and is home to a beautiful image of Our Lady of Miracles, patron saint of Puerto de Santa María.

Puerto de Santa María is famous for its beaches that spread along 22 km of the coast. Consisting of three zones, east, urban and west, they are renowned for their fine golden sand and crystalline water.