 Vila Real de Santo António and the “Pombalina” way
Vila Real de Santo António is a rich land in history and traditions. Many years ago, the old town of Santo António of Arenialla, founded by fishermen to the margins of the Guadiana river, was destroyed by a big storm. And Marquis of Pombal ordered to rebuild a new Santo António starting from the old ruins. That’s the way the new Vila Real de Santo António was born. The city was pioneering in Algarve in the gas illumination.
One of the most visited points of Vila Real de Santo António is the “Pombalina” historical area. Today, the place is the main commercial area.
The Mother Church of “Nossa Senhora da Encarnação”, built in the séc. XVIII, is also one of the points of interest in the council, as well as the Marquis of Pombal square, the main square of the city, Obelisk, António Aleixo Cultural Centre, where we have the cultural animation of the municipal district, besides the House of the Customs and of the squares Lutegarda de Caíres and António Aleixo.
The Church of “Nossa Senhora da Assunção”, Fortress of Cacela and the Pombalino historical centre of Vila Real de Santo António are obligatory points to visit.
The “ribeirinha” area attracts visitors more and more. The Casa Parodi is the place of the Regional Conservatory of Vila Real de Santo António. The history of the council and of the area is kept in the Arquivo Municipal.
Monte Gordo’s freguesia is one of the most important of the council, with a great tourist concentration. Just about three kilometres from Vila Real de Santo António, Monte Gordo was pioneer in the tourist exploration in Algarve, with the construction of one of the first hotels of the area in the sixties. With an extensive and beautiful beach, a suave climate and several walking areas along the beach, Monte Gordo is one of the main tourist destinies of Algarve. And it is in that “freguesia” that we have one of the most important casinos of the Algarve.
The nature is one of the high points of the council, through the presence of the Formosa and Guadiana rivers, this last is the border line with Spain.
But for who prefers the scenery of the summer, Vila Real de Santo António has the beaches of Alagoa, Fábrica Mar, Lota, Manta Rota, Cabeço, Verde and the most famous of all, the Monte Gordo beach.
Vila Real de Santo António, Monte Gordo and Vila Nova de Cacela are the “freguesias” that complete the council.
Text: Igor Lopes
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