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- Destinations
- Europe
- Portugal
- Vila Real de Santo Antonio
Vila Real de Santo Antonio
The unusual resort town of Vila Real de Santo Antonio, 53 miles
(85km) east of Faro, is neatly designed on a geometric grid system,
radiating out from the central square, the Praca Marques de Pombal,
with its dramatic paved radial mosaic floor and central obelisk,
edged with orange trees. The town is on the west bank of the River
Guardiana, facing Ayamonte, Spain, which is on the east bank.
Back in the 17th century, the original town was inundated by the
sea and was rebuilt by the Marques de Pombal, who had rebuilt
Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake. The reconstruction was completed
in just five months, leaving a tidy town with streets lined by
elegant 18th century townhouses and a long esplanade along the
riverbank where strollers on holiday can enjoy an impressive view
across to neighbouring Spain. The Manuel Cabanas Museum in town is
a popular attraction, as is Castro Marim, which boasts the fort of
São Sebastião, and two ancient castles on its massive hilltop just
1.86 miles (3km) from town. A car ferry connects to Spain.
Information & Facts
Language
Portuguese is the official language, but English is
widely spoken and understood.
Money
Portugal is a member of the European Union and its official
currency is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. There
are numerous banks, bureaux de change and ATMs available in main
cities and tourist destinations. Foreign currency can be exchanged
at banks, bureaux de change and automatic currency exchange
machines. Banking hours are generally 8.30am to 3pm Monday to
Friday. Major credit cards are widely accepted, as are travellers
cheques.
Time
Local time is GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to
Saturday before last Sunday in October).