Vila Real de Santo António
History
The origin of the town was as a small fishing port and dates back to Phoenician
times when the "Conii" tribe populated the area. Due to the topographical
flatness of the area the neighbouring hill of Castro Marim lent itself to a
stronger location to fortify. This frontier town with Spain was especially
designed and rebuilt after the terrible earthquake of 1755 by the Marquês de
Pombal, an very influential Royal Minister in the 18th Century who redesigned
the centre of the City of Lisbon due to the same earthquake.
Vila Real de Santo António Description
Today, these townhouses around the main square are showing serious degradation
with the passing of time. With the construction just to the north of the town of
a new bridge in 1991 across the River Guadiana provides rapid connecting with
Seville and the rest of Spain. The obvious diminishing of the popularity of this
town will have further effect if steps are not shortly taken. Between the town
and the Ocean is a popular beach resort area named Monte Gordo that offers the
tourist kilometres of sea washed beach lined with a pine forest and safe
bathing.
The population of approximately 14,000 inhabitants tend to gain their living
either working in the tourist industry, fishing, or, trading across the river
with their Spanish neighbours. Attached to the Town Hall is a small but
interesting museum which is mainly focused on the designs for tins for packaging
in the fishing industry. It is a very pleasant and relaxing experience to cross
the river by the original ferryboats and visit the Spanish town of Ayamonte.
Visitors can take a boat trip upriver to the charming small unspoilt Portuguese
town of Alcoutim.
Vila Real de Santo António Nearby Locations
North of Vila Real de Santo António is Castro Marim that due to its location has
played a considerable part in the history of Portugal. This later town was
originally chosen as the founding headquarters in 1319 of the 14th Century
movement of the Order of Christ. Although the buildings are now in ruins from
the effects of the 1755 earthquake it still has the unusual feature of having a
castle built within a castle. In the 17th Century a stronger and more defensive
stronghold was built on a hilltop just to the north that also still remains. The
castle acted as a well-known haven to escapees in the early days from the
Spanish Religious Inquisition until the Portuguese also introduced their own
Religious Inquisition. From the walls of the castles the view is to the south
across the flat lands that are now a nature reserve for birds and plants and
this area is known as the Reserva Natural do Sapal.
Near to Vila Real de Santo António are the holiday destinations of Manta Rota,
Monte Gordo and Praia Verde, all purpose built to provide accommodation for
visitors to the long sandy beaches.
Inland, and up river is the interior small unspoilt administrative town of
Alcoutim with its ruins of two castles that date back to the Moor occupation of
the Algarve, and of which one that is even older dating back at least 1000
years. The King Dinis rebuilt the main castle in 14th Century but it was
liberated from Moor occupation in 1238. This small town looks across the River
Guadiana at the Spanish town of Sanlúcar and has a local museum. It was at this
town that Dom Fernando I signed in 1371 an important Peace treaty with Don
Henrique II de Castile. Even further up river is the town of Mértola with its
13th Century castle ruins. The Phoenicians founded this historic town as an
inland port, later successfully used by both the Romans and Moors. Perched on a
high spur overlooking the River Guadiana this town has many vestiges of the past
and a museum housing one of Portugal's best collections of Islamic art.
Back on the coast the small beachside village of Cacela-a-Velha dates back to
Phoenician times and has an 18th Century Fort that overlooks a small natural
lagoon between itself and the protecting sandbar.
Vila Real de Santo António Map (Click Here)
Vila Real de Santo António Golf
Benamor ·
Castro Marim ·
Monte Rei ·
Quinta de Cima ·
Quinta da Ria ·
Quinta do Vale ·
Colina Verde (9 Holes)
Faro Airport Transfer to Vila Real de Santo António
Faro Taxi to Vila Real de Santo António
Vila Real de Santo António Weather
Vila Real de Santo António Information
800 296 296 - Support to Tourists
112 - SOS
281 511 030 - Town Hall
281 512 777 - Fire Brigade
281 430 660 - Police
281 511 374 - Emergency Treatment
281 512 777 - Ambulance
281 546 179 - Tourist Office (Alcoutim)
281 531 232 - Tourist Office (Castro Marim)
281 544 495 - Tourist Office (Monte Gordo)
281 531 800 - Tourist Office (Ponte Guadiana)
281 542 100 - Tourist Office (V. R. de Sto. António)
Vila Real de Santo António Events
Feira de Vila R. de Sto. António |
February |
Festival do Teatro (Theatre) |
April |
Festival de Musica |
May and June |
Rota do Atum (Tuna Fish) |
July |
Festival de Folklore |
September |
Festa de Alcoutim |
September |
Feira de São Bartolomeu
(Castro Marim) |
September |
Days Medievalist (Castro Marim) |
September |
Festival de N. Senhora das Dores
(Monte Gordo) |
September |
Beach Fair |
10th to 12th Oct. |
Flea Market |
13th every month |
Flea Market - (Monte Gordo) |
27th every month |
Vila Real de Santo António Beaches
Praia da Alagoa
Praia do Cabeço
Praia da Cacela
Praia da Manta Rota
Praia do Retur
Praia da Rocha
Praia de Monte Gordo
Praia Verde
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