Vila Real de Santo António History
The origin of the town was as a small fishing port and probably dates back to Phoenician times. Due to the topographical flatness of the area the neighbouring hill of Castro Marim lent itself to a stronger fortified location. This frontier town with Spain was e specially designed and rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755 by the Marquês de Pombal, an important minister in the 18th Century who redesigned the centre of the City of Lisbon.

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 to the north of a new bridge in 1991 across the River Guadiana connecting Seville in Spain with the Algarve, the obvious diminishing of the popularity of this town will have further effect. Between this town and the Ocean is the popular beach resort area named Monte Gordo that offers the tourist kilometres of sea-washed beach lined with a pine forest. The population of approximately 14,000 inhabitants tends to gain their living either in the tourist industry, fishing, or trading across the river with their Spanish neighbours. It is a very pleasant and relaxing experience to cross the river by ferryboat to visit the Spanish town of Ayamonte, or take a tourist trip upstream to the charming small 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 within a castle. In the 17th century a stronger and more defensive stronghold was built on a hilltop to the north that also still remains. The castle acted as a well-known haven to escapees in the early days of the Spanish Inquisition. From the walls the view is to the south across the flat lands that are now a nature reserve for birds and plants and is known as the Reserva Natural do Sapal. Near to Vila Real de Santo António is the purely holiday destinations of Manta Rota, Monte Gordo and Praia Verde, all providing long sandy beaches. Inland, and up river is the interior small administrative town of Alcoutim with its ruins of a 14th Century castle and its local museum. This small town looks across the River Guadiana at the Spanish town of Sanlúcar. It was at this town that Dom Fernando I signed in 1371 a peace treaty with King Enrique 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 and 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 enjoys a natural lagoon between itself and the protecting sandbar.

Vila Real de Santo António Weather Forecast

Vila Real de Santo António Events
Feira de Vila R. de Sta. António - February
Festival do Teatro (Theatre) - April
Festival da Musica - May and June
Festival de Folcore - September
Beach Fair - 10th to 12th October
Municipal Holiday: 13th of May

Useful Vila Real de Santo António Telephone Numbers
Town Hall - 281 511 030
Fire Brigade - 281 512 777
Police - 281 430 66
Emergency Treatment - 281 511 374
Ambulance - 281 512 777
Tourist Office - 281 544 495

Algarve Towns
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