 Portimão is one of the largest towns on the Algarve with a
population of more than thirty thousand. It has made its living from
fishing since pre-Roman times and with its site on the estuary of the Rio
Arade, remains today a sprawling port, a major sardine-canning centre and
a base for the construction industries spawned by the tourist boom. Most
visitors are just here for a days shopping, while holidaying in one of the
neighbouring beach resorts. Most of the older buildings in the town were
destroyed in the earthquake of 1755, now high rise buildings dominate the
skyline, some of the cobbled streets still remain although most have been
transformed into a pedestrianised shopping area selling lace, shoes,
jewellery ceramics and wicker goods.
The town, is however, presently undergoing a considerable
improvement and development programme which is limiting access to a number
of roads and areas within. Nevertheless, a wide variety of shops  and cafés still make it a pleasant place to
visit. There is a huge market on the first Monday of each month, held on
the Estrada Velha de Praia da Rocha just out of town, there is also a flea
market on the morning of the first and third Sunday of each month at
Avenida São João de Deus.
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