The little frontier town of Vila Real de Santo António (altitude: sea level) lies on the right bank of the Guadiana which is navigable as far as Mértola. There are regular ferries to Ayamonte, the Spanish port on the other side, although these have been used less since a expressway bridge was built across the river a few miles to the north.
However, river excursions from Vila Real de Santo António are most enjoyable. The many visitors to the town come for the day to take advantage of the bargains in the shops. Until the 1960s there were a number of fish canning factories here, especially for tuna and sardines, but now there are only two.
Townscape
The town was founded in 1774 by the Marquês de Pombal on the site of Santo António da Avenilha which had been destroyed by a tidal wave at the beginning of the 17th C. He had it laid out like a chessboard, and settled it with fisherfolk from Aveiro.
The town center is the Praça do Marquês de Pombal, paved with a black and white mosaic radiating from the obelisk (1775) that is a monument to José I, and lined with inviting street cafes.
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