Porto Covo
Encyclopedia
Porto Covo is one of the two civil parishes (freguesia
s) in the municipality
of Sines
. It is located in the western coast of Portugal
, about 170 km (105.6 mi) south of Lisbon
and is well known for its beaches. The name "Porto Covo" probably means Port of the covos, where a covo is a kind of fishing net
for capturing lobsters and crabs.
Porto Covo has 48.73 square kilometre of area and about 1,400 inhabitants as of 2008 (Population density
: 22.9 hab/km2). It is located at the coast, about 13 km (8.1 mi) south of the port of Sines. Since 1990, it has become a popular destination for tourism due to its beaches (many of them being only small coves between rocks), natural beauty and fine dining. During the summer the population almost increases tenfold with people coming from all over the country to their vacation homes, rented apartments and campgrounds. Pessegueiro Island
, with its fort, geographically departs from the territory of the freguesia of Porto Covo.
Near the village there are two fortresses from the end of the 16th century, the time of King Filipe I of Portugal
: one on Pessegueiro Island, which is now in ruins, and the other on the coast, just in front of it. These were built to contribute to the defense and surveillance of the area, which was supposed to become an important maritime port.
The parish of Porto Covo was officially created on December 31, 1984, and includes Pessegueiro Island. The parish was popularized in a song by Rui Veloso
.
The village of Porto Covo is one of Earths most beautiful of all the Alentejo Coast.
If you are thinking about coming to visit this magnificent town, you can get all the information in the Portal Porto Covo
Freguesia
Freguesia is the Portuguese term for a secondary local administrative unit in Portugal and some of its former colonies, and a former secondary local administrative unit in Macau, roughly equivalent to an administrative parish. A freguesia is a subdivision of a concelho, the Portuguese synonym term...
s) in the municipality
Municipalities of Portugal
In Portugal, municipality or concelho is the most stable subdivision of Portugal since the foundation of the country.Portugal has an entirely separate system of cities and towns. Cities and towns are located in municipalities, but often do not have the same boundaries, even if built-up is continuous...
of Sines
Sines, Portugal
Sines is a coastal municipality in the district of Setúbal, in the Alentejo Litoral region of the Portuguese Alentejo. Its population in 2011 was over 14260 residents, with a total area of 203.3 km², concentrated on the municipal seat of Sines.-History:...
. It is located in the western coast of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, about 170 km (105.6 mi) south of Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
and is well known for its beaches. The name "Porto Covo" probably means Port of the covos, where a covo is a kind of fishing net
Fishing net
A fishing net or fishnet is a net that is used for fishing. Fishing nets are meshes usually formed by knotting a relatively thin thread. Modern nets are usually made of artificial polyamides like nylon, although nets of organic polyamides such as wool or silk thread were common until recently and...
for capturing lobsters and crabs.
Geography
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
: 22.9 hab/km2). It is located at the coast, about 13 km (8.1 mi) south of the port of Sines. Since 1990, it has become a popular destination for tourism due to its beaches (many of them being only small coves between rocks), natural beauty and fine dining. During the summer the population almost increases tenfold with people coming from all over the country to their vacation homes, rented apartments and campgrounds. Pessegueiro Island
Pessegueiro Island
Pessegueiro Island a small island located near Porto Covo in the Municipality of Sines, on the western coast of Portugal. The island and the adjacent coast are part of Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park....
, with its fort, geographically departs from the territory of the freguesia of Porto Covo.
History
In the beginning of the 18th century Porto Covo was a very small coastal village which lived from fishing and trading. However its little port was much affected by the climactic conditions and, with bad weather, it was not safe to enter or leave. Near the end of the century a rich bourgeois from the capital, Fernandes Bandeira, became interested in the place and promoted its agricultural and fishing activities, as well as the renovation of the village. His effort was recognized by the court and he was made the Baron of Porto Covo in 1804.Near the village there are two fortresses from the end of the 16th century, the time of King Filipe I of Portugal
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
: one on Pessegueiro Island, which is now in ruins, and the other on the coast, just in front of it. These were built to contribute to the defense and surveillance of the area, which was supposed to become an important maritime port.
The parish of Porto Covo was officially created on December 31, 1984, and includes Pessegueiro Island. The parish was popularized in a song by Rui Veloso
Rui Veloso
Rui Manuel Gaudêncio Veloso, commonly known as Rui Veloso, CavIH , is a Portuguese rock singer and musician. Regarded as the "father of Portuguese rock", this composer and interpreter had a great impact on the Portuguese music scene with the record Ar de Rock .Songs such as Chico Fininho and A...
.
The village of Porto Covo is one of Earths most beautiful of all the Alentejo Coast.
If you are thinking about coming to visit this magnificent town, you can get all the information in the Portal Porto Covo
Heritage
- Herdade do Pessegueiro
- Forte do Pessegueiro, including Forte da Ilha de Dentro, on Pessegueiro Island
- Praça Marquês de Pombal
- Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural ParkSouthwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural ParkSouthwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park is a natural park in the Alentejo Region of south-central Portugal.It is one of the 30 Natural Park areas which are officially under Portuguese protection in the country.-see also:...