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Portimao traces its origins back to a small trading port of the Phoenicians,
Greeks and Carthaginians. Some historians have indicated that
the place was originally the famous Portus Hannibalis named
by the famous Roman general, Hannibal Barca. During the following
Moorish occupation they renamed the place “Burj Munt”. Located at the mouth of the River Arade it provides a natural harbour and has at times been known in its past as a home for smugglers and pirates. The river also provides the sea access to the up-river ancient city of Silves which was once the capital of the Algarve during the Moorish occupation.
At this time the place was named Porcimunt but later in 1504 it was recognized as a town and granted the name “Vila Nova de Portimão” and became part of the possessions of the Castelo Branco family until the 17th Century. Much later it was commonly renamed as Portimão and was extensively developed in the 19th century to become one of the most important centres on the Algarve of the fishing and canning industry until the early 1980s when the recession drove the remaining factories out of business.
The town with some 35,000 inhabitants is essentially commercially
orientated and was the main shopping town of the whole Algarve
during the 1970s and 1980s. The town's church that is the last
attractive building surviving in the town dates from 1476 but
it under went many alterations as from 1717 onwards. The town
council appears to have adopted a policy of demolishing architecturally
interesting buildings in favour of modernization. Happily, it
also has a very active cultural department and there are always
different forms of events happening throughout the year.
The
Municipal Museum is housed in an old sardine canning factory
and here regular exhibitions are held that cover art, history,
and general culture, all of a local and national content. A
boat Marina was recently opened adjoining Praia da Rocha and
this adds the fascinating sight of the many boats at anchor
and a further choice of bars and restaurants in which to pass
the evening. When approaching the town from the direction of
Faro there is a choice of two bridges to cross. The old one
runs along past the harbour but we would recommend take the
new bridge. It is so well balanced in design that it can be
seriously considered among the most pleasing bridges to the
eye built in Portugal in the 19th Century. On the river front
near the square with the cafés many different boat tours and deep sea-fishing outings can be booked.
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Further places of interest in the Algarve:
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