For those desiring to head out onto the open seas and catch large game fish, Portimao, located within the Algarve region of Portugal, is an ideal destination. Although sport fishing is the most popular tourist attraction in the area, Portimao is a city rich in history and culture, offering visitors a plethora of activities to engage in, and historical sites to see.
Portimao’s population is around 40,000 residents, and the town offers all the modern conveniences typical of a tourist destination, while retaining its unique old world charm. The primary sources of economic sustenance for locals here lies in the tourist, fishing, and agricultural industries. Less than thirty years ago, this city was the premier shopping destination in all of the Algarve region, and today is still considered to be an excellent location for shopping enthusiast to locate great bargains and discover interesting artwork and crafts by local artists.
People taking up residence here, dates back to the Neolithic period, and evidence of this lies in a local excavation site that boasts remains of the town that existed a few hundred years prior to the time of Christ. Local resting areas for the deceased also afford visitors’ evidence of the regions prehistoric nature. Unfortunately, previous town councils attempted to modernize the area, and ultimately destroyed several historic sites in the process, yet a local conservation council stepped up effort to preserve the area’s historical sites.
One of the loveliest antiquated structures in Portimao is, The Church of the Immaculate Conception, which dates from the 15th century, and has been restored periodically over the years to maintain and preserve its original gothic beauty. Currently serving as Portimao’s City Hall, is a massive structure of baroque and neoclassical architecture that once acted as a palace in the 18th century.
The lure, no pun intended, of Portimao, lies in its spectacular deep-sea sport fishing opportunities. There are several charter boats available to take anglers out to the deep seas, allowing them an opportunity to snare some of the most highly sought after fish in the world, including marlin, bill-fish, tuna and other game fish. The highly prized, and most famous fighting fish, the swordfish, is present in these waters, and it is considered to be a once a lifetime experience to hook, and of course, to reel one in.
Golfing is a popular pastime in Portimao, and the city features several courses, including the Penina Championship Golf Course, which according to golf enthusiasts, is one of the most challenging courses in the world, due to the difficult terrain and the presence of multiple water hazards. The local beaches in the area feature soft sand beaches, which are interestingly connected via tunnels that run beneath the seaside cliffs of Portimao. The waters here tend to be calm and are considered to prime spots for swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, parasailing, windsurfing, and other water enthusiast activities.
