Monte Gordo (Vila Real de Santo António)

Monte Gordo
Civil parish

Coat of arms
Monte Gordo
Coordinates: 37°10′48″N 7°27′11″W / 37.180°N 7.453°W / 37.180; -7.453Coordinates: 37°10′48″N 7°27′11″W / 37.180°N 7.453°W / 37.180; -7.453
Country Portugal
Region Algarve
Subregion Algarve
Intermunic. comm. Algarve
District Faro
Municipality Vila Real de Santo António
Area
 • Total 4.22 km2 (1.63 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 3,308
 • Density 780/km2 (2,000/sq mi)

Monte Gordo is a town and a freguesia (parish) of the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António, in the southeastern corner of Algarve, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 3,308,[1] in an area of 4.22 km².[2] Formerly a fishermen's town, Monte Gordo's economy is nowadays oriented to tourism due to its long white sand beaches, trails in the surrounding pine woods, sand dunes, and the daily availability of fresh seafood gathered by the local artisan fishermen.

Prior to the Carnation Revolution in 1974, Monte Gordo was a favorite destination for the Portuguese and Spanish aristocracies[3] as well as famous people (e.g. Ingrid Bergam).[4] Its Casino[5] was built in 1934 and Hotel Vasco da Gama was the first grand hotel in Algarve (built in 1960). With democracy, Monte Gordo became a favorite summer destination for the Portuguese middle class.

Monte Gordo beach is known for its relatively calm and warm seawater. The average air temperature ranges from a low of 11°C in January to a high of 26°C in August, while the average sea temperature ranges from a low of 16°C in February to a high of 22°C between July and September, making this the maritime beach with the warmest sea in mainland Portugal.[6] Another particularity of this beach is the fact that during the low tide one is able to walk 10 to 30 meters into the sea, making it one of the safest in Portugal for children. These conditions make it ideal for beach goers to collect clams lightly buried in the sand (locals call "conquilhas" to the local variety of clams). Monte Gordo beach holds the Blue Flag quality certificate for more than 2 decades.[7]

Though most tourists are Portuguese during the summer, in the winter Monte Gordo is mostly visited by foreigners from Northern Europe looking for warm weather, tasty seafood, and a safe and peaceful vacation destination. Given the nearby VRSA Sports Complex[8], accredited by IAAF[9] and home of the Portuguese Olympic Committee, Monte Gordo is also a favorite destination for international athletes and teams during the winter.

Not surprisingly, the local commerce has adapted to demand and now there are also several Dutch and Irish bars as well as restaurants (most of then owned by expatriates from those countries) along side the traditional Portuguese venues.

Monte Gordo is a small town but it has most services and amenities one may need, from pharmacies to banks, kids playgrounds, tennis courts, as well as several hotels and apartment rentals. Several high quality golf courses are located nearby.

The main festivity in Monte Gordo is the Nossa Senhora das Dores Procession, a catholic celebration held on the second Sunday of September. Its new year and carnival festivities are also well-known.

Monte Gordo Algarve Portugal Beach

References

  1. ↑ Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. ↑ Direção-Geral do Território Archived 2014-09-29 at Archive.is
  3. ↑ Santos, Norberto Pinto dos (2008-01-01). Lazer. Da libertação do tempo à conquista das práticas (in Portuguese). Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra / Coimbra University Press. ISBN 9789898074560.
  4. ↑ "Ingrid Bergman Monte Gordo 1963". Seasun Vacation Rentals. 2017-07-19. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  5. ↑ "Casino Monte Gordo". Solverde Casinos & Hotels. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  6. ↑ "Weather and temperature averages for Monte Gordo, Portugal". www.holiday-weather.com. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  7. ↑ "Front page". Blue Flag. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  8. ↑ VRSA, Complexo Desportivo de. "Complexo Desportivo de VRSA". www.sportscentre-vrsa.com. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  9. ↑ "IAAF: IAAF - International Association of Athletics Federations". iaaf.org. Retrieved 2018-05-02.


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