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Vila
Real de Santo António is the most easterly of all
the
Algarve
towns being just one kilometre, as the
crow flies, from the Spanish border.
Prior to
the opening of the Guadiana International road bridge,
four kilometres north,
Vila
Real de Santo António was an
important border crossing between the two Iberian
countries.
Vila
Real de Santo António,
situated adjacent to the
Rio Guadiana,
was completely reconstructed in the late 18th
century following the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 and
resulting tsunami.
The
town's grid pattern design was the brain child of the
then prime minister and it is after him the main tree
lined square is named, the Praca Marques de Pombal.
And it
is also thanks to Pombal and his innovative ideas the
town was built with such speed, taking only a matter of
months. |
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Primarily
Vila
Real de Santo António was a fishing
port though when the tuna and sardine industry declined
in the late 20th century, the holiday market soon filled
the economic gap. And today though there is still a
harbour and port, the sleepy town relies mainly on
tourism as it's main source of industry. |
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Fact
File
In 1886
Vila Real de Santo Antonio became the first town
on the Algarve to benefit from gas lighting
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Historic Door Ways |
Kite
Surfing at V.R.S. António |
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Vila
Real de Santo António makes an
excellent base to explore the Eastern
Algarve
with many great locations only a short
car journey away. For bird watchers and nature lovers
the Reserva Natural do Sapal, home to over 150 different
species, is close at hand and is one of 30 protected
areas of Portugal. Alternatively
the
Natural Parque de Ria Formosa
is a short train journey along the coast to
Olhão, where
you can visit the lagoon's islands. There
are many buildings of interest in the town itself,
including the former customs house and the renovated
vegetable market, now the Centro Cultural Antonio
Aleixo. The town, thanks to much of it's centre being
pedestrianised, is easy to get around, even the wide
sandy beach, is only a short walk from the centre. And for those who want
to go further afield, taking a day trip to Spain is easy
enough to do either by car, bus or boat. Ferries to
Ayamonte in Spain leave the port on a regular basis
allowing you to sample tapas at lunch and be back on
Portuguese soil by dinner.
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Location Map of Vila Real de Santo Antonio,
Algarve, Portugal
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View Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Algarve, Portugal in a larger map |
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