Streets designed with a ruler and set square

Built from scratch in only two years, the Vila Real de Santo António is a perfect example of the tenacity of the Marquis of Pombal.  An orderly and open town, it followed the ideals of urban policies of King Joseph’s Minister: a wide plaza, with parallel and perpendicular streets – without cross streets, alleys or courtyards – and a long avenue overlooking the river.

The building of this important frontier point was intended to control commerce and develop the fishing industry, which saw the emergency of canneries.  The spirit of business still prevails, giving life to the city, namely through tourism and modern shipbuilding.

With geometric regularity, similar to the Baixa district in Lisbon, the construction of Vila Real de Santo António followed the standards set by the Enlightenment of the 18^th Century, characterised through planimetry (the measurement of plane areas), altimetry (measuring height above sea level) and volumetry (measuring the volume of solid, liquid or gas).

In the historical centre, the Marquis of Pombal Plaza stands out with its four turrets and central obelisk dedicated to King Joseph.  The Town Hall  and the Mother Church complete the scene.  Next to the river, the Customs building and old buildings of the Fishermen’s guilds divide the town into two symmetrical halves.