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 Vila Real de Santo António Accommodation
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Vila Real de Santo António Golf
Castro Marim Golf Course
Monte Rei Golf Course
Quinta do Vale Golf Course
Vila Real de Santo António Maps
Town Map
· Castro Marim Map
Vila Real de Santo António Vehicle Hire
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Vila Real de Santo António Wines
Algarve Wines
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. (Visit - Portugal History)
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 Weather (detailed)
Detailed Altura weather conditions
Vila Real de Santo António Photographs
Rural Houses -
Castro Marim -
Monte Gordo -
Main Square -
Mértola Castle
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Vila Real de Santo António Events |
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| Feira de Vila R. de Sta. António |
February |
| Festival do Teatro (Theatre) |
April |
| Municipal Holiday |
13th of May |
| Festival da Musica |
May and June |
| Festas do Coração Imaculado de Maria (Altura) |
Last weekend in May |
| Rota do Atum (Tuna Fish) |
July |
| Festival de Folklore |
September |
| Festa de Alcoutim (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 October |
| Flea Market |
13th of every month |
| Flea Market - (Monte Gordo) |
27th of every month
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Algarve Towns
Albufeira
· Almancil
· Alvor
· Armação de Pera
· Carvoeiro
· Faro
· Lagoa
· Lagos
· Loulé
· Monchique
· Olhão
· Portimão
· Quarteira
· Quinta do Lago
· Sagres
· Silves
· Tavira
· Vale do Lobo
· Vila Real de Santo António
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V. R. de Stº António Telephone Nº
8900