Those who will be heading here will notice how easy it is to get around the town thanks to it having been built on a grid system, which is something that not many other Algarve settlements can boast. With the help of our small Vila Real de Santo Antonio guide you should get a better idea of what it is that the town can offer you and whether or not you should seriously consider vacationing here.

The town’s grid system was designed by the Marques de Pombal who was rather keen on testing this new type of town planning after all the original settlements in the area were eroded by the beginning of the 17^th century. The Royal charter founding the town was signed on the 30^th of December 1773 and by August 6^th of next year, the Town Hall, Customs House and the barracks were already completed.

Towards the end of the 19^th century, the town was a major player in the canning industry, especially for sardines and tuna, and the port was constantly busy with the ships that sailed the river. As a sign of this very industrial focus of the town, Vila Real de Santo Antonio was the first town in the Algarve to be lit with gas, back in 1886. Nowadays the town thrives on a combination of fishing, agriculture and of course, tourism.

The main road of the town and of the region pretty much, runs straight from Monte Gordo to Vila Real and the Avenida da Republica runs along the front of the town, parallel with the Guadiana River. The river-front is very well developed featuring well laid out trees and water features as well as a marina which is great for watching boats.

The town’s grid system was designed to feature a large town square and the Praca marques de Pombal is truly a sight to see, being surrounded by orange trees and populated with low buildings, shops, cafes and outdoor restaurants. Behind the square you will find the Centro Cultural Antonio Aleixo – this used to be the old market, but the space is now used for temporary exhibits and various events. Nearby there’s a museum dedicated to Manuel Cabanas a local painter and wood engraver.

What it all comes down to is that Vila Real de Santo Antonio is a very relaxed and quiet town, an ideal holiday destination for those looking for a relaxing and peaceful type of vacation. Just like Monte Gordo the town is very flat, and this makes it idea for walking and cycling around it, however getting here can be arranged with the help of some Vila Real de Santo Antonio transfer from Faro Airport if you’re planning to spend your entire holiday around these parts. Otherwise you may want to consider some Vila Real de Santo Antonio car hire services.

The town features an absolutely lovely open sandy beach which is a couple of kilometers long, actually stretching close to Tavira.

Vila Real de Santo Antonio is part of a larger region, the Baixo Guadiana region, a place characterized by wonderful environment where the sun, sea, river, mountains and friendly inhabitants create a wonderful atmosphere to live and thrive in.

Related to this very laid-back approach to life, you can enjoy a boat trip along the Guadiana to Alcoutim for a special way of seeing the surroundings because it passes through some beautiful countryside and you’ll get to see the change in geography from very flat plains to rolling hills and lush vegetation.

Obviously this has been just a very short description of only some of the characteristics of Vila Real de Santo Antonio and its surroundings, rest assured that simple words and images can’t really do it any justice, once you’re there you’ll know that you’ll never be bored while on your trip here so you might as well focus on taking in as much of the place as possible.

Get a quick idea of what you should expect from your holiday trip to the Algarve, the region’s main characteristics, features and attractions, it’s so much more than simply sunny weather and white beaches.

Travelling to the Algarve

Things to see and do in the Algarve

Algarve

The Algarve is a world renowned travel destination being one of the top European destinations for those individuals who are looking for the warmth of summer all year long. This region of southern Portugal is popular due to many features, one of them being the great weather of course, but this is compounded by the over two hundred kilometers of clean beaches, clear water and not to mention a very diverse culture and heritage.

The region is also very diverse when it comes to the attractions that it offers its visitors, whether you are looking for a calm and tranquil holiday resort on the ocean coast or you are more interested in the idea of partying and the nightlife, you can find either of those option in the Algarve, as well as everything in between and more.

Those individuals who are into outdoor-type activities will be glad to know that the region has other geographical features besides white sandy beaches, it has coves, capes, cliffs, mountains and valleys, and many, many hiking trails, so whether you prefer to trek on foot, via bike, or with the aid of some type of motorized vehicle the Algarve will not disappoint.

Now if you thought those were enough reasons for most people to start seriously considering the Algarve as their next travel destination here is another reason that will absolutely clinch the deal for some of those yet to decide. The Algarve is the premiere golfing destination in Europe and arguably in the world, featuring over thirty world class golf courses, all of them within an easy one or two hour drive from any of the main resorts, no golf enthusiast will want to miss this opportunity.

These are only a short description of what the Algarve has to offer in regards to tourism potential, they only scratch the surface as it were and we haven’t talked at all about the diverse culture of the region, its interesting history, or the various places that you can visit while on your trip there. Not to mention the great and varied local culinary options that are available in any city, resort or village that you might find yourself visiting during meal time.

Algarve Beach

As mentioned earlier the region is a very popular tourist destination, in fact its population tends to triple during the peak of the holiday season, receiving up to seven million foreign tourists during this period and up to three million Portugal residents, so it is indeed a popular and depending on your choice of resort it could be rather crowded during this period. Of course some people enjoy it but even in this case you will want to book your accommodations earlier in the year so as to make sure that they will be available and not as expensive as they would be during the peak time.

The same advices would also apply if you are planning to use some Algarve car hire services while on your trip there, booking in advance will pretty much assure that you’ll have the type of car that you need available for you during your stay.

Link List related to Algarve

Algarve2u

Articles about travel destinations focusing on the Algarve region.

Algarve Car Hire

Low rates and quality services for Algarve car rental services.

Portugal Car Hire

Cheap and quality Portugal car hire.

The Unknown Algarve