Knight Frank Property For Sale in Portimão

A town 8kms west of Lagoa, one of the largest towns in the Algarve with a population of 30,000. Sits on the estuary of Rio Ardade. It has made its living from fishing since before roman times and remains a sprawling port today, a major sardine canning centre and a base for many construction industries spawned by the tourist boom. Not the most attractive town in the Algarve but it is a centre for shopping and its marina make it a focus for sailors.

Neighboring Ferragudo is the focus of 2nd home ownership in the area. This sleepy village has not been affected by high rise development and is popular with ex-pats, a number of attractive coves in the area are great for children, eg. Praia Grande, Praia Pintadinho and Praia da Caneiros, Praia da Rocha is the focus for tourists in Portimao, 5 minutes south of Portimao it was one of the 1st Algarve tourist developments. The beach is one of the most beautiful in the Algarve, a wide expanse of sand framed by jagged sea cliff and strange rock formations stretching. Sadly the beach is backed by characterless high rise apartment blocks, hotels and a casino and the array of bars and nightclubs mean it is a focus for the lower end of the tourist market.

History of the area

Known as Portus Magnusin Roman times, Portimao became a major departure point for Portuguese explorers. Bartolomeu Dias set off from here in 1487 to become the 1st European to round the southern tip of Africa. Forts were built at either side of the Rio Ardade in the 16th and 17th century to protect the town from pirate but in 1755 most of the town was destroyed by the Great Earthquake.

Culture

Modern Portimao is fairly undistinguished and pedestrianised shopping streets and high rise dominate. The most historic building is the Church of our Lady da Concaiçao, northwest of the river front, re-built, with an original 14th century structure, with the walls covered in 17th centre decorative azulejos. The encircling streets are filled with shops catering for day-trippers selling laces, shoes, jewellery, ceramics and whicker goods. The best part of town is the river front, with bustling streets and cafes beneath shady trees right by the fishing harbor.

Unique points

Caters for tourists and you can take a seat in the leafy square of Praça Visconde de Bivar in Portimao for anything from a beer to an ice cream, pizza or a plate of the local snails.

Types of property available

Mainly apartments in Portimao and Praia da Rocha. Ferragudo is the centre for villas, town-house and some luxury apartments. The nearby Petana golf resort caters for 2nd home owners with apartments and villas.

Market comment

Portimao is not an area we deal in as it is mainly Portuguese. Praia da Rocha has large number apartments available which are cheaper than the more exclusive resorts, and for those wanting to be close to the beach and with a vibrant night life, these apartments do appeal to the lower end of the market.

Ferragudo is the more exclusive 2nd home market, prices here are high, villas with sea views cost in excess of 1 million and there are a number of new developments of town-houses and apartments which are aimed at the top end market.

Access

There is a train station and motorway connection at Portimao taking you to Faro airport in approx 45 minutes.

Property for sale in Portimão | Houses for sale in Portimão