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Vila Real de Santo António
GENERAL INFO
 Located at the mouth of the Guadiana river, this strategic zone is believed to have been used by the Phoenicians and Carthaginians many years before the birth of Christ.
But the modern Vila Real de Santo António was designed and built in the 18th century by Portugal´s powerful prime-minister, the marquis of Pombal, with the aim of creating a model fishing port. The pombaline style is visible in the town´s urban arrangement, particularly in the main square which bears the name of its founder.
Today, the town is a tourist and commercial centre, the more so because it is situated just across the border from Spain, with only the river separating it from the province of Andalusia.
Until recently, ferries took passengers and vehicles from Vila Real to the Spanish town of Ayamonte, but now most traffic is done by road across a bridge built a few years ago, and there are no border controls.
In the region, Cancela Velha is a small village of fishermen´s houses perched on a cliff overlooking the sea, peaceful and still unspoilt by tourism.
In contrast, Monte Gordo is a popular holiday resort crowded in Easter and Summer by tourists that fill its restaurants, pubs and small casino.
It has a beach of amazing extension in a bay of warm water which also encompasses the beaches of Manta Rota, Alagoas e Praia Verde, all with vast stretches of sand.
Isabel Joyce
City maps
Monte Gordo, Vila Real de Santo António
 
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Where to sleep (Vila Real de Santo António)
 21 lodging properties (pousadas, hotels, boarding houses, motels, aparthotels, bed & breakfast, self-catering apartments and resorts)
Many of the properties offer online booking, discounted internet prices, special prices for corporate travelers, military personel and senior tourists, and other promotions. | | What to do (Vila Real de Santo António)
1 treasures | Getting there (Vila Real de Santo António)
5 detailed maps | Where to eat (Vila Real de Santo António)
3 restaurants | Picture gallery (Vila Real de Santo António)
5 pictures: wallpapers and postcards
| | Travel news (Vila Real de Santo António)
11 stories to help you plan your trip | | External websites (Vila Real de Santo António)
2 links for other pages | |
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|  Apartamentos Turísticos Real Lota
Manta Rota, Vila Real de Santo António
Class: $$$$ (100 to 150 euros)
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|  Marisqueira O Barqueiro
São Martinho, Funchal |
| Ideas |
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| 10th 13th algarve antónio apartments arab atmosphere beach bikers cacela christian dancing davidson equipped event festival girl gordo harley hotel iberian international jewish market meeting monte moorish motor music nights oriental owners portugal restaurants rooms santo shows small souk spain spanish square sunday swimming town traditional velha vila village visitors |
| Treasures |
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 Fountain at the Giraldo Square
Évora
Built in 1571, this emblematic work in white marble, classified as a national mo... 
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