Discovering Ferragudo

DISCOVERING FERRAGUDO

Ferragudo Village

Only a short stroll from Vila Castelo is this picturesque village, offering excellent restaurants (local and international cuisine), cafes, mini markets, an ATM machine, a post-office, a pharmacy, among others.
Some summer evenings, the square is bustling with live music and dancing. various village and beach bars have live music too. Ask reception for entertainment tips.
The fishing area is found by following the stream down towards the estuary and is well worth the visit, here you can buy a variety of fresh fish from the local market at a reasonable price.
There are supermarkets and one with a butcher, located just off the main square with an excellent variety of meat.
A baker is located just off the main square, where you will find delicious and typical Portuguese cakes and bread.
There are shopping facilities within the village, however for a bigger shop, go to Lidl (just outside the village, 5 minutes by car), Intermarche (Road to Carvoeiro/Lagoa, 10 minute-drive) or in Portimão the Continente or Aqua shopping centers.
Just off the square near the baker, is a paper shop with all types of magazines and where you can find daily English/Dutch/German newspapers. 

DISCOVERING FERRAGUDO

A short resume of Ferragudo history

Overlooking the Arade River and the sea, Ferragudo has the appearance of a white brushstroke of life. This sea and river gateway has welcomed people from time immemorial and still today maintains the spirit of this remote factor, visibly marked by a race that went and still goes out to sea!
The enigmatic name of the village dates from the 14th century, according to tradition originates from the existence of iron machinery “Ferro agudo” – literally “Sharp-pointed iron”, said to have been situated at Angrinha beach, to haul fish and other merchandise from the vessels. The same name can also be found in other parts of the country from Ferragudo estate in Castro Verde to Ferragudo hill near Vila do Bispo, the place name has also been a surname since around 1406 as in the name Johane Anes Ferro Agudo, the surname is also found in the 11th century Spain.
The parish is centered in the village with the same name, one of the most picturesque and unique in the Algarve, where past and present live side by side.

DISCOVERING FERRAGUDO

A short resume of Ferragudo history

The pier is a living ethnographic symbol of a village where fishing by artisans is still practised sustaining families as in past centuries. They were fishermen who in the 14th century used the place to spend the hard and toilsome winters and eventually made it a more permanent abode, by building houses and hovels making the village we know today, with narrow cobbled streets, some with steps, the taverns, veranda’s, small image of guardian saints in tiles above door jambs, the flower beds in the extremely narrow alleys.
Ponta do Altar is the symbol of the prehistoric times. Phoenicians and Carthaginians had been captivated by the beauty of this river estuary. The Romans could not resist it either; they were fisherman and developed the salted fish industry. Archaeological findings have been revealed fish salting premises next to the ARADE fortifications “The Forte” of São João do Arade (Opposite Vila Castelo) was built on 1643, the old watch towers, the bastions of defence against enemies, pirates and corsairs, who attempted to penetrate up the river. Sold on a public auction, today the privately owned São João do Arade Castle, was officially incorporated into the records of the Portuguese Institute of Cultural Heritage in 1975, has been provided with generous improvements, including ample gardens which are walled between the Angrinha and the Praia Grande Beaches.
The church built by the old Silves municipality based on the broken promise of King João III, never to be disunited from the Silves borough limits. The church more definite signs of Ferragudo inhabitants of the past can be found represented by the pictures of the promises made by those who were due to set sail. They left the protection in the hands of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, and even today a religious festival or profane celebrations by the beach is held.
Ferragudo had autonomy granted on the 9th of December 1749.

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