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71-512: Portimão ( European Portuguese pronunciation: [puɾtiˈmɐ̃w] ) is a city and a municipality in the district of Faro , in the Algarve region of southern Portugal . The population in 2022 was 60,879, in an area of 182.06 km. It was formerly known as Vila Nova de Portimão . In 1924, it was incorporated as a cidade and became known merely as Portimão. Historically a fishing and shipbuilding centre, it has nonetheless developed into

142-403: A branch of the state-run University of Algarve awarding degrees in business management and tourism as well as technical specialization courses in accountancy and post-graduation in real estate appraisal & management, and also a private institution of higher education awarding degrees in fields ranging from law to data science ( Instituto Superior Manuel Teixeira Gomes ). Portimão

213-491: A child, he became obstinate and impulsive in later life. The young king grew up under the guidance and heavy influence of the Jesuits . Aleixo de Meneses, a military man of solid reputation and former tutor and guardian of Prince John, was appointed tutor to Sebastian. Other teachers included the priest Luís Gonçalves da Câmara and his assistant, the priest Amador Rebelo. His upbringing made Sebastian extremely devout. He carried

284-621: A circular chamber composed of schist stone and long corridor, remains. Comparable to western European and Irish monuments, the funeral crypt, with two lateral ritual niches, was protected by a tumulus : a similar site exists in Monte Canelas. The mouth of the Arade River proved an important natural shelter that soon became a small commercial port for the Phoenicians , Greeks and Carthaginians . The Carthaginians founded two settlements nearby in

355-475: A copy of Thomas Aquinas on a belt at his waist and was constantly accompanied by two clerics of the Theatine Order who were intent on preserving the king's innocence. As a child, Sebastian reportedly would react to visitors by running off into hiding with the monks until the visitors had gone. Sebastian died young and did not marry. However, he was involved in some proposed marriage alliances. In particular,

426-470: A fact that accelerated after the 1755 earthquake, causing the destruction within the city. The main church was destroyed, while many of the small chapels were damaged. The city walls were severely damaged, not just by the earthquake but also the resulting tsunami. The Fort of Santa Catarina also suffered damage, but was reconstructed in 1792 and 1794, by the Count of Val de Reys. Close to Portimão, Silves Castle

497-455: A foggy morning to save Portugal, or as O Desejado ( The Desired One ). These legends were vigorously promoted through the massive circulation of popular rhymes ( trovas ) written by António Gonçalves de Bandarra . Even as late as the 19th century, "Sebastianist" peasants in the town of Canudos in the Brazilian sertão believed that the king would return to help them in their rebellion against

568-509: A former sardine canning factory and features exhibits on the local fishing industry, archaeology , and ethnography . The museum also has a rooftop terrace with views of the city and the river and often hosts external exhibitions such as the Portuguese prison photo project. Located in the safest harbour and anchorage of the country, at the Arade river estuary, with over 25-hectares, Marina de Portimão

639-515: A solemn mass in the Convent of São Francisco. In the port of Portimão local products, such as figs, olives, oil, wine and fish were regularly exported, while other products from the African and Brazilian colonies, such as slaves and sugar, were introduced into the Portuguese territory. But, by the 17th and 18th century, the rhythm of growth slowed considerably. As commerce decreased the inhabitants emigrated,

710-586: A strong tourist centre oriented along its beaches and southern coast. The two largest population centers in the Algarve are Portimão and Faro . The area was settled during the prehistoric epoch: the Cynetes , influenced by the Celts and Tartessos lived in the Algarve for many centuries. In the area of Alcalar there are several remnants of Neolithic funerary sites of which only one, Alcalar monument number seven , comprising

781-682: A well-preserved period cistern , while along the Arade River there have been identified gold coins. In the 5th century, the Algarve was ruled by the Visigoths until the arrival of the Moors . It was during the Moorish occupation that the settlement changed to Burj Munt . The river and its ocean access to the ancient city of Shilb ( Silves ), then capital of the Arabian Algarve . Along with Silves and Alvor,

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852-440: Is a race and test circuit officially recognised for the highest categories both for cars and motorcycles. MotoGP races, Superbike races, Le Mans Series races and F1 tests are scheduled. The Lisbon to Dakar Rally passed through here. The 2020 Portuguese Formula One Grand Prix took place over 66 laps of the 4.684-kilometer Autodromo Internacional do Algarve on Sunday, October 25, and was won by Lewis Hamilton . A month later

923-410: Is donated by Afonso V of Portugal to his financial inspector, D. Gonçalo Vaz de Castelo Branco, remaining in the family until the 17th century. The shipbuilding industry took on an important place in the city's development. These activities were registered in the royal documents that included authorization of Sebastian of Portugal (in 1536). The king visited in 1573, passing the night and assisting

994-523: Is framed by the historical forts of Santa Catarina and São João. The water in the marina is upto 7m deep, so the vessels can come and go at any time of the tide but the entrance has a sand bar that skippers should be aware of. Marina de Portimão is located within a condominium that includes its beach, restaurants, shops, bars and swimming-pool (not accessible to marina users) with views of the sea. Besides kindergartens, and primary and secondary education schools with classes from grade 1 to grade 12, Portimão has

1065-539: Is in the nearby district capital of Faro ). Administratively, the municipality is divided into three civil parishes ( freguesias ): The municipality is primarily serviced by the A22 motorway (the Via do Infante ), and the E.N.125 roadway that links it directly to the communities of Alvor (4 kilometres, 2.5 mi), Mexilhoeira Grande (9 kilometres, 5.6 mi) and Praia da Rocha (3 kilometres, 1.9 mi). The community, which

1136-434: Is known for its sporting events, mostly water sports , including surfing and kitesurfing ; motorsport ; beach soccer ; and the professional football team Portimonense S.C. Portimonense S.C. is the main local sports club, with competitive teams in such sports such as basketball , handball , futsal , esports and association football . It is best known for its professional association football team which plays at

1207-676: Is located on the western southern coast of the Algarve, bordering the municipalities of Lagos , Lagoa , Monchique and Silves . The geographical distribution of the altitude and relief of the municipality of Portimão generically follow the three types of territory present in the Barlavento : the coastal region, the Barrocal (a region between the coastal region and the mountains) and the mountains up north. Each one with their own geological, morphological and pedagogical characteristics. The badlands of Ponta João D’Arens host several species of birds and

1278-599: Is often referred to as the Desired (Portuguese: o Desejado ) or the Hidden ( o Encoberto ), as the Portuguese people longed for his return to end the decline of Portugal that began after his death. He is considered to be the Portuguese example of the King asleep in mountain legend as Portuguese tradition states his return, in a foggy dawn, in Portugal's greatest hour of need. Sebastian

1349-757: Is situated in a route of migrating birds , allowing for the seasonal observation of the variety of bird life. The subsoil of the district is inhabited by several endemic species unique to Faro, some still just being discovered. The most emblematic species of the underground fauna of the Algarve are the giant pseudo-scorpion of the Algarve caves ( Titanobochica magna ) and the largest terrestrial cave insect in Europe , Squamatinia algharbica . 37°00′54″N 7°56′06″W  /  37.01500°N 7.93500°W  / 37.01500; -7.93500 Sebastian of Portugal Sebastian ( Portuguese : Sebastião I [sɨβɐʃˈti.ɐ̃w] ; 20 January 1554 – 4 August 1578)

1420-595: Is still not known, but is thought to be in modern-day Faro or Castro Marim ) in 153 BC. Partly due to the conflict with the Portuguese (and partly due to the cultural influence of Mediterranean civilizations), unlike many pre-Roman peoples of Portugal, they were allies of the Romans for some time and not their opponents, differing from the attitude of most of the other peoples, such as the Lusitanians who were strong opponents of

1491-551: The Christmastide of 1577, Sebastian met with his uncle King Philip II of Spain at Guadalupe . Philip refused to be party to the crusade as he was negotiating a truce with the Ottoman Empire , though he promised a contingent of Spanish volunteers. Despite his lack of a son and heir, King Sebastian embarked on his crusade in 1578. The Portuguese army of 17,000 men, including a significant number of foreign mercenaries hired from

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1562-671: The Estádio Municipal de Portimão and has competed in the main professional leagues of the Portuguese football league system . In the summer, a beach soccer tournament called the Mundialito de Futebol de Praia ('Little World Cup') is held. Being located on the South coast of Portugal, Portimão is well known in the sailing world for being an ideal location for sailing on the Atlantic Ocean, boasting much calmer seas and weather conditions than

1633-610: The House of Valois until he had seen how the situation would develop. Later, he agreed — being persuaded by emissaries of the Pope — to marry Margaret in order to prevent her from marrying the Huguenot Henry of Navarre ; by that time, however, the French king and his mother were already intent on Margaret marrying Henry. Sebastian's proposal was rejected, and Margaret married Henry in 1572. Sebastian

1704-625: The Jerónimos Monastery in Belém , Lisbon , after he ascended to the Portuguese throne in 1580. The body could not be identified as Sebastian's, however, which left some people unconvinced of his death. Sebastian was succeeded as king by his great-uncle Henry , brother of his grandfather, King John III . Throughout the centuries, the personality and legacy of Sebastian caused a multitude of appreciations to be produced, negative or positive, though seldom indifferent. Timothy Coates wrote that: ...he

1775-610: The War of the League of the Indies , but the Portuguese were successful in repulsing the assault. Also in 1570, Sebastian ordered that the Brazilian Indians should not be used as slaves and ordered the release of those held in captivity. In 1572, the poet Luís de Camões presented his masterpiece Os Lusíadas and dedicated a poem to Sebastian that won him a royal pension. In 1573, he commissioned

1846-488: The "godless" Brazilian republic . Sebastian's life was dramatised in 1843 in the opera Dom Sébastien by the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti . Belgian playwright Paul Dresse also dramatised his life in the 1975 play Sébastien de Portugal ou le Capitaine de Dieu . The legend of Sebastian's disappearance and alleged return is the basis for the popular song " A Lenda d'El Rei D. Sebastião " ("The Legend of King Sebastian") by

1917-439: The 17th century is located on the highest point in the city, inside the former walls. The late-Gothic portal is inspired by the most important monument of the time, The Monastery of Batalha . It has undergone several renovations over the years. The Fort of Santa Catarina is a historic fort located on the cliffs overlooking Praia da Rocha . The fort was built in the 17th century to protect the city from pirate attacks. The fortress

1988-511: The 2020 MotoGP season finale also took place at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve on Sunday, 22 November. There is also an annual grand prix of rhythmic gymnastics , with an individual all-round competition, a team all-round competition, and finals by apparatus and by group at senior and junior levels. The Ocean Revival Project saw 4 Portuguese Navy Warships deliberately sunk to form the largest single artificial reef structure in

2059-479: The 20th century, visitors to the region began travelling to the beaches of Praia da Rocha or Praia da Santa Catarina. On 1 August 1910, the Praia da Rocha Casino was opened, symptom of the growing influx of tourists to the region, many aristocrats from the southern part of the country and Andalusia . The place became populated by houses and chalets built for, or rented to, the numerous tourists. The first hotel constructed,

2130-477: The Arabs. If there were ancestors of mine with names recorded in history as worthy warriors it's because they fought those Portuguese" and that "for a king to leave his greatness, his life of luxury, of glamour and to embark en masse with his people to fight here for their faith" had set a high example at a time when Morocco had just reunifed after a long period of violent internal conflict over petty disputes, though Benuna

2201-608: The Holy Roman Empire, the Netherlands, Spain, and the Italian States, and almost all of the country's nobility, sailed at the beginning of June from Lisbon. They visited Cádiz , where they expected to find Spanish volunteers who failed to appear, then crossed into Morocco. At Arzila , Sebastian joined his ally Abu Abdullah Mohammed II, who had around 6,000 Moorish soldiers and, against the advice of his commanders, marched into

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2272-553: The Hotel Viola, dated to the first part of the 20th century, and was expanded after 1932, when the space became too small to support the influx of travellers. In 1936, the Hotel Bela Vista was constructed as total tourists began to exceed a thousand people annually. It turned into a popular destination for sport fishing, and among popular nautical sports, jet skiing, sailing, windsurfing, diving and dolphin watching. The municipality

2343-684: The Portuguese band Quarteto 1111 (1968). Though defeated in battle, Sebastians reputation in Morocco remained a positive one for centuries, as a symbol of a high ideal of chivalry. While on an archeological journey through the Spanish Protectorate in Morocco in 1923, the renown Portuguese archeologist, heraldist , and geneologist Afonso de Dornellas was informed by the minister of finance El Hach Abd Selam Ben El Arbi Benuna that "there were Portuguese here of such breadth that for many leagues in distance they were spoken of with respect and admiration by

2414-601: The Queen dowager of France, Catherine de' Medici , nurtured a plan for a long time to marry her youngest daughter, Margaret of Valois , to Sebastian, a plan which was supported by Sebastian's maternal uncle, King Philip II of Spain , on occasion. Sebastian himself, however, put an end to that plan, declaring that he was unimpressed by the mild suppression of the Huguenot Protestants in France, and that he would not bind himself to

2485-520: The Ria de Alvor dunes allow the existence of a marshland and estuary , on which a great diversity of species depend, both fauna and flora, as well as the communities of fishermen and local shellfishers. Portimão is crossed by the Arade River . Portimão has a hot-summer mediterranean climate ( Köppen : Csa ) with hot dry summers and mild wet winters moderated by the Atlantic Ocean . The lowest temperature

2556-733: The Romans. Nevertheless, a while later, in the context of the Lusitanian Wars, in the year of 141BC, the Conidia revolted against the Roman Empire, along with the Turduli of Beturia (also called betures), but were quickly defeated by Quintus Fabius Maximus Servilianus , a Roman proconsul , and was definitively integrated into the Roman Empire. Despite being conquered by the so-called barbarian peoples ( Vandals , Alans , Suebi , and later Visigoths ) at

2627-558: The United Kingdom, Portugal and Ireland. Seasonal concentration (44%) usually occurred around the high-summer months (July, August and September). The Algarve in general is a major draw for tourists. In 2018, the region's income from tourism was over a billion euros; the number of visitors totaled 4.2 million. The region's tourism contributed €1.08 billion to the economy in that year. The Igreja Matriz de Portimão (Portimão’s Main Church) from

2698-585: The Western coastline. Portimão is the host venue for many prestigious sailing events including the annual Portimão, Portugal Match Cup event which is a part of the World Match Racing Tour . The event draws the world's best sailing teams to Portimão. The identical supplied (SM-40) boats are raced two at a time. Points accrued count towards the World Match Race Tour and a place in the final event of

2769-660: The administrative, judicial and military life in his kingdom. In 1568, Sebastian created scholarships to assist students who wished to study medicine or pharmacy at the University of Coimbra . That same year he rewarded indigenous Brazilians in Brazil who helped in the fight against the French. The chief of the Temiminós Tribe, Arariboia , was given lands near the Bay of Guanabara. In 1569, Sebastian ordered Duarte Nunes de Leão to compile all

2840-505: The city has ever experienced was −2 °C (28 °F) in January 1976. Along with other municipalities in the Algarve, Portimão is very sunny, averaging over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. The average sea temperature is around 16 °C (61 °F) in winter and 20 to 21 °C (68 to 70 °F) in the summer. Portimão receives approximately 300 to 350 mm of precipitation yearly. The wettest months are November, December, and January, while

2911-704: The construction of the Royal Basilica in Castro Verde as a tribute to the Battle of Ourique . In 1575 with the Carta de Lei de Almeirim , the king established a system of measures for solid and liquid products and also defined the role of public servants. The Celeiros Comuns (Communal Granaries) were inaugurated in 1576 on Sebastian's orders. These were lending institutions intended to help to poor farmers when farm production decreased, giving credit, lending seeds and commodities to

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2982-422: The continued Portuguese colonial expansion in Brazil , Angola , Mozambique , and Malacca , as well as the annexation of Macau in 1557. Sebastian was a bright and lively boy. Contemporaries described him as fearless due to his great physical strength. Tall, slim, and blond, he was brought up by his grandmother Catherine. She was a domineering woman who exercised firm control over her grandson. Obedient as

3053-491: The driest months are June, July, and August. The city has an average of 8 to 11 rainy days per month during the wet season. Portimão is the most important urbanized city in the Barlavento Algarvio (the western Algarve), supporting a sizeable population with harbour and a small airfield ( Portimão Airport ) of its own with schedules flights to some domestic destinations by Aero VIP (the larger Faro International Airport

3124-461: The duties of kingship, enacted much legislation and showed considerable compassion for the poor. After the defeat at Alcácer Quibir, many efforts were made to ransom imprisoned Portuguese soldiers in Morocco. Several soldiers returned to Portugal, which led many Portuguese to believe Sebastian had survived the battle and would return to claim his throne. This led to Sebastianism , the belief that Sebastian could return at any moment. Politically, there

3195-459: The interior. At the Battle of Alcácer Quibir (Battle of the Three Kings), the Portuguese army was routed by Abd Al-Malik at the head of more than 60,000 men. Sebastian was almost certainly killed in battle. He was last seen riding headlong into the enemy lines. Whether his body was ever found is uncertain, but Philip II of Spain claimed to have received his remains from Morocco and buried them in

3266-534: The laws and legal documents of the kingdom in a collection of Leis Extravagantes known as the Código Sebastiânico (Sebastian's code). During the great plague of Lisbon in 1569, Sebastian sent for doctors from Seville to help the Portuguese doctors fight the plague. He created two hospitals in Lisbon to take care of those afflicted with the disease. In his concern for the widows and orphans of those killed by

3337-458: The mid-6th century   BC, known by their Roman names Portus Magonis and Portus Hannibalis (" Hannibal 's Port"). The former was the nucleus of present-day Portimão. Obvious vestiges of the Roman occupation are situated near Figueira, at Quinta da Abicada , in the confluence of two rivers, where the remains of various rooms were unearthed. Also, in the area of Coca Maravilhas was discovered

3408-738: The modern area of the Beja District . This former territory of the Cysteines ran from the mouth of the Mira River all the way to the Guadiana River . It is possible that they were related to the Tartessos (people whose linguistic and ethnic affiliation is also not yet fully known or determined), but were not the same people. Before the definitive integration of the canons into the Roman Empire , during

3479-427: The needy. They were allowed to pay back their debts with farm products when they recovered from losses. The mathematician and cosmographer Pedro Nunes was appointed by Sebastian as a cosmography teacher for sea pilots. It was during Sebastian's reign that Nunes wrote his Petri Nonii Salaciensis Opera . In 1577, Sebastian's ordinance Da nova ordem do juízo, sobre o abreviar das demandas, e execução dellas decreased

3550-519: The period from about 200 BC to 141 BC, they were under strong Roman influence, but enjoyed a high degree of autonomy. In part due to the favorable relationship with the Romans, the colonies had some conflicts with the Lusitanians , who under the leadership of Caucenus , the Lusitanian leader before Viriathus , had conquered their territory for some time, including the capital, Conistorgis (whose location

3621-508: The plague, he created several Recolhimentos (shelters) known as the Recolhimento de Santa Marta (shelter of Santa Marta) and the Recolhimento dos Meninos (shelter of the children) and provided wet nurses to take care of the babies. Sebastian created laws for the military, the Lei das Armas , that would become a military organization model. Goa was attacked by a pan-Asian alliance in 1570 during

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3692-498: The same capacity for her brother Philip II of Spain . Joanna remained in Spain until her death in 1573, never to see her son again. Sebastian succeeded to the throne at the age of three, on the death of his paternal grandfather King John III. Since he was still a child, a regency was necessary. It was handled first by his paternal grandmother, Catherine of Austria , and then by his great-uncle, Cardinal Henry of Évora . This period saw

3763-422: The saw-milling/forestry industry (including cork), among others. In the last quarter of the 20th century, tourism became an accentuated economic factor in the regions growth, with the development of activities oriented towards the sea and development of seasonal infrastructures that permitted an influx of new money. By the beginning of the 21st century, 74% of the roughly 2,000 annual overnight stays originated from

3834-553: The sea. The transport across the Arade River was done across a boat that docked at the Largo de Barca . Until bridge and road was constructed, 400 years later, it was the only form of crossing the river. In 1453, King Afonso V of Portugal , under petition from several inhabitants in Portimão, authorized the founding of new settlement, which became the urbanized centre of Portimão (then named São Lourenço Barrosa ). In 1476, Vila Nova de Portimão

3905-459: The season, with the overall winner taking the title ISAF World Match Racing Tour Champion. Match racing is an ideal sport for spectators in Portimão. The Portimão coastline has also been host to the sport of powerboating. The Portuguese Grand Prix of the Sea run by Powerboat P1 as part of its international championship is also held in Portimão. In the hills near Portimão stands the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve . Finished in October 2008, it

3976-455: The small fishing centre in Portimão was reconquered in 1249 from the Arabs by Knights of the Order of Santiago and forcibly integrated into the fledgling Kingdom of Portugal , during the reign of Afonso III of Portugal . Due to the constant raids of pirates, the coastal area of Portimão was considered unsafe to live. Its geographic location created strong economic conditions to allow the region to prosper, eventually allowing Portimão to obtain

4047-411: The status of town in 1435. The inhabitants understood the necessity of constructing walls, in order to protect themselves from constant invasions. The construction of two forts, the Castle of São João (in Ferragudo) and the Fort of Santa Catarina (Portimão) , protected the centre from attacks from pirates and privateers during this period. In Portimão, a major part of the commerce was accomplished across

4118-411: The throne in an atmosphere of great emotion, he was widely acclaimed as the answer to his subjects’ prayers and a prince who would save his country’s independence. Two decades later, he achieved precisely the opposite, dying heroically but unnecessarily on the distant North African battlefield of Al-Ksar al-Kabir on 4 August 1578, leaving no heir to succeed him. [...] He was in many ways conscientious about

4189-647: The time for handling legal actions, regulated the action of lawyers, scribes and other court officials, and created fines for delays. After attaining his majority in 1568, Sebastian dreamed of a great crusade against the kingdom of Morocco , where over the preceding generation several Portuguese way stations on the route to India had been lost. A Moroccan succession struggle gave him the opportunity, when Abu Abdallah Mohammed II Saadi lost his throne in 1576 and fled to Portugal. After arriving, he asked for King Sebastian's assistance in defeating his Turkish-backed uncle and rival, Abu Marwan Abd al-Malik I Saadi . During

4260-428: The time of Barbarian migrations or invasions, Roman culture and Christianity remained there for a period of time. In the year 552, the current area of Algarve was regained by the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantine Empire (then governed by Emperor Justinian I ), and a government was appointed that lasted until the year 571, when King Liuvigild conquered it for the Visigothic Kingdom . The Cape St. Vincent

4331-447: The world. The following places are sister cities to Portimão: [REDACTED] Faro (district) The district is composed of 16 municipalities : All 16 municipalities are divided into 67 parishes or freguesias. In Pre-Roman Portugal , the area was inhabited by the Cynetes (or Conii), a people (formed by several tribes ) of linguistic and ethnic affiliation, possibly Celtic or Iberian , whose territory included

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4402-444: Was King of Portugal from 11 June 1557 to 4 August 1578 and the penultimate Portuguese monarch of the House of Aviz . He was the son of João Manuel, Prince of Portugal , and his wife, Joanna of Austria . He was the grandson of King John III of Portugal and Catherine of Austria, Queen of Portugal . He disappeared (presumably killed in action) in the battle of Alcácer Quibir , against the Saadi Sultanate of Morocco . Sebastian I

4473-432: Was a belief that Philip was not the rightful heir to the throne. Subsequently, imposter pretenders appeared in Portugal and Castile who fraudulently claimed to be the king. During the time of the Iberian Union , between 1580 and 1640, four different pretenders claimed to be the returned King Sebastian, including Gabriel de Espinosa . The last of these pretenders, who was in fact an Italian, was hanged in 1619, while another

4544-454: Was also destroyed in the 1775 earthquake, its Gothic portico with vegetative motifs was later rebuilt. This impressive structure offers a glimpse into the past and a vivid reminder of the region’s historical importance. Twenty years after the earthquake, the Marquess of Pombal, wanted to make Portimão a bishopric, and in this evolution, he elevated the town to the status of city. Queen Maria I of Portugal vetoed these intentions. The civil statute

4615-442: Was also offered his cousin Elisabeth of Austria , the daughter of Emperor Maximilian II (Maximilian was Charles V's nephew.). Sebastian himself made a proposal in 1577 to his first cousin Isabella Clara Eugenia , daughter of his maternal uncle Philip II of Spain. During Sebastian's short personal reign, he strengthened ties with the Holy Roman Empire , England and France through diplomatic efforts. He also restructured much of

4686-448: Was an immature and headstrong youth. His insistence on continuing the reconquista (the Christian reconquest of Iberia from its Islamic rulers) into Morocco led not only to his death but ultimately to the end of the House of Aviz. Anthony R. Disney, one of the foremost recent scholars of Portuguese history in English commented on the other hand that: Sebastião was one of the most extraordinary monarchs that Portugal ever produced. Ascending

4757-553: Was born shortly after eight in the morning of 20 January 1554 (the feast of Saint Sebastian ), and he was given the saint's name in commemoration. The name Sebastian was highly unusual for members of any European royal family at the time. Sebastian was born heir apparent to the throne of Portugal, since his birth occurred two weeks after the death of his father. Soon after his birth, his mother Joanna of Spain left her infant son to serve as regent of Spain for her father, Emperor Charles V . After his abdication in 1556, she served in

4828-405: Was built on the site where a small chapel dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria already existed. Inside the fortifications, the original Gothic portal of this chapel has been preserved. Today, the fort is a popular tourist attraction that offers views of the beach and the sea. The fort also houses a small museum with exhibits on the history of the fort and the city. Portimão Museum is housed in

4899-482: Was founded on the right margin of the Arade River, and oriented towards the sea, is inserted in a region whose geography and physical characteristics justify a seafaring economy. Its maritime economy allowed the development of industries oriented towards salination of fish, the open-water fishing industry, conservation and canning, the construction of ships and transport. Further, the Arade basin permitted rural commerce associated with cultivation of carob , fig, almonds and

4970-509: Was obtained by the Spanish from Venice, tried, found guilty and hanged in 1603. In the long term, many myths and legends about Sebastian appeared, the principal one being that he was a great Portuguese patriot, the " sleeping king " who would return to help Portugal in its darkest hour (similar to the Britons' King Arthur , the German Frederick Barbarossa or the Byzantine Constantine XI Palaeologus ). He came to be known by symbolic names: O Encoberto ( The Shrouded One ) who would return on

5041-403: Was only issued in 1924, by the Marquess' illustrious son Manuel Teixeira Gomes, as Republican president. In the 19th century, a fishing conserving industry reinvigorated the old city. Now renamed Portimão, the city turned into one of the more important fishing and packing centres in the Algarve, until the 20th century, when the 1980s recession finally caused these businesses to fold. At the end of

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