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Portimão
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AlgarveRealty.com - Tel: +351 282 443 163 Fax: +351 282 442 349 Email: mike.sargent@mail.telepac.pt The Website for M H Sargent Soc. De Mediação Imobiliária Lda Rua 25 de Abril 7 - Silves 8300-184 Portugal Lic. N° 360-AMI © Richard Lovejoy 2002 |
Portimão is one of the largest towns on the Algarve with a population of more than thirty thousand. It has made its living from fishing since pre-Roman times and with its site on the estuary of the Rio Arade, remains today a sprawling port, a major sardine-canning centre and a base for the construction industries spawned by the tourist boom. Most visitors are just here for a days shopping, while holidaying in one of the
neighbouring beach resorts. Most of the older buildings in the town were destroyed in the earthquake of 1755, now high rise buildings dominate the skyline, some of the cobbled streets still remain although most have been transformed into a pedestrianised shopping area selling lace, shoes, jewellery ceramics and wicker goods. 
The town, is however, presently undergoing a considerable improvement and development programme which is limiting access to a number of roads and areas within. Nevertheless, a wide variety of shops and cafés still make it a pleasant place to visit. There is a huge market on the first Monday of each month, held on the Estrada Velha de Praia da Rocha just out of town, there is also a flea market on the morning of the first and third Sunday of each month at Avenida São João de Deus.