Vila Nova de Milfontes

For centuries the mouth of the river Mira was used by sailors as a shelter against storms. It was already known by the Celts, Phoenicians, Greek, Carthaginians and, of course, Romans and Arabs.

In the 13th century, it was already sufficiently important to be recognized by king Afonso III. However, it was abandoned in the second half of the 15th century after an attack by Algerian pirates.

It was King Manuel who decided to repopulate the important fortress on the coast. The new town was named Vila Nova de Mil Fontes ("New Town of a Thousand Springs") in 1512, and awarded many priviledges to attract settlers. In the administrative reorganization of 1855, it lost the title of town, and only retrieved it in 1988.

Two of the most important moments of the history of Milfontes are recalled at the square named Largo Brito Pais. The fortress (now an hotel) was built during the reign of John IV, to defend the river from attacks. The monument to aviators recalls that it was from the neighnouring fields that Brito Pais, Sarmento de Beires and Manuel Gouveia took off, in 1924, on their dangerous flight to Macau.