The city's old Plaza Mayor, also known as La Corredera, was located outside the city walls, as was common in medieval cities, and near one of the gates, in this case the original Puerta del Mar (Sea Gate), now the Arco de la Pópulo (Arch of the People). The irregular layout of this square is due to its historical location, coinciding with one of the mouths of the ancient sea that flowed through what is now the island of Cádiz.By the 16th century, it was already being used as a center of urban activity, open to the port and presided over by the town hall. Its traditional commercial function increased thanks to the development of trade with the Americas. In fact, many exotic products brought to the city by fleets from the Indies were offered for sale here. At the end of the 18th century, the construction of permanent plazas was ordered, giving the entire area the feel of a public market, a style that remained until the inauguration of the Central Market.