Portimão
Encyclopedia
Portimão is a Portuguese
town
(Portuguese: cidade) located in the District
of Faro
in the Region
of Algarve, the southern coast of Portugal. It was formerly known as Vila Nova de Portimão (ˈvilɐ ˈnɔvɐ ðɨ puɾtiˈmɐ̃w). In 1924, it was incorporated as a cidade and became known merely as Portimão. The town has 41,000 inhabitants and the Portimão Municipality
has 50,454 (as of 2009; INE
). The two most populous towns in the Algarve are Portimão and Faro
.
tournament called the Mundialito de Futebol de Praia
('Little World Cup') is held. The Lisbon to Dakar Rally
passes through, and there is also surfing
and kitesurfing
.
Portimão is the host venue for many prestigious sailing events including the annual Portimão, Portugal Match Cup event which is a part of the World Match Racing Tour
. The event draws the world's best sailing teams to Portimão in a gladiatorial battle of nerve and skill on the water. The identical supplied (SM-40) boats are raced two at a time in an on the water dogfight which tests the sailors and skippers to the limits of their physical abilities. Points accrued count towards the World Match Race Tour and a place in the final event of the season, with the overall winner taking the title ISAF
World Match Racing Tour Champion. Match racing is an ideal sport for spectators in Portimão. Racing in such close proximity to the sea shore provides excellent heart of the action views for the audience along the beaches and in the public areas.
. Finished in October 2008, it is a race and test circuit officially recognised for the highest categories both for cars and motorcycles. Superbike
races, Le Mans Series
races and F1 tests are scheduled.
, with an individual all-round competition, a team all-round competition, and finals by apparatus and by group at senior and junior levels.
, Madeira
.
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...
town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
(Portuguese: cidade) located in the District
Districts of Portugal
Portugal is divided into 18 districts in mainland Portugal, plus two autonomous regions .The Portuguese Constitution of 1976 specifies that Portugal have only, as first level divisions, the autonomous regions and the administrative regions...
of Faro
Faro (district)
Faro District is the southernmost district of Portugal, coincident with the Algarve. The administrative centre, or capital, is the city of Faro.-Municipalities:The district is composed of 16 municipalities:* Albufeira* Alcoutim* Aljezur* Castro Marim...
in the Region
Administrative divisions of Portugal
Administratively, Portugal is a unitary and decentralized State. Nonetheless, operationally, it is highly centralized system with administrative divisions organized into three tiers. The State is organized under the principles of subsidiarity, local government autonomy, and democratic...
of Algarve, the southern coast of Portugal. It was formerly known as Vila Nova de Portimão (ˈvilɐ ˈnɔvɐ ðɨ puɾtiˈmɐ̃w). In 1924, it was incorporated as a cidade and became known merely as Portimão. The town has 41,000 inhabitants and the Portimão Municipality
Portimão Municipality
Portimão is a municipality in the district of Faro, in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. Historically a fishing and ship-building centre, it has nonetheless developed into a strong tourist centre oriented along its beaches and southern coast.-History:...
has 50,454 (as of 2009; INE
Instituto Nacional de Estatística
The Instituto Nacional de Estatística is the National Statistical Institute of Portugal. Its headquarters are located in Lisbon. It also calls itself Statistics Portugal in English. The first census in Portugal was carried out in 1864...
). The two most populous towns in the Algarve are Portimão and Faro
Faro, Portugal
Faro is the southernmost city in Portugal. It is located in the Faro Municipality in southern Portugal. The city proper has 41,934 inhabitants and the entire municipality has 58,305. It is the seat of the Faro District and capital of the Algarve region...
.
Sports
Portimão is known for its sporting events. In the summer, a beach soccerBeach soccer
Beach soccer, also known as beach football or beasal, is a variant of association football played on a beach or some form of sand. The game emphasises skill, agility and shooting at goal....
tournament called the Mundialito de Futebol de Praia
Mundialito de Futebol de Praia
The BSWW Mundialito, sometimes simply known as Mundialito, is an annual international beach soccer tournament that takes place between few select countries, whom are invited to play at the tournament organized by Beach Soccer Worldwide...
('Little World Cup') is held. The Lisbon to Dakar Rally
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
passes through, and there is also surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
and kitesurfing
Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing or Kiteboarding is an adventure surface water sport that has been described as combining wakeboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, and gymnastics into one extreme sport. Kitesurfing harnesses the power of the wind to propel a rider across the water on a small surfboard or a...
.
Sailing
Being located on the South coast of Portugal, Portimão is well known in the sailing world for being an ideal location for sailing on the Atlantic Ocean, boasting much calmer seas and weather conditions than the Western coastline.Portimão is the host venue for many prestigious sailing events including the annual Portimão, Portugal Match Cup event which is a part of the World Match Racing Tour
World Match Racing Tour
The World Match Racing Tour is a professional sailing series, featuring 9 World Championship events across the globe, sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation with “Special Event” status...
. The event draws the world's best sailing teams to Portimão in a gladiatorial battle of nerve and skill on the water. The identical supplied (SM-40) boats are raced two at a time in an on the water dogfight which tests the sailors and skippers to the limits of their physical abilities. Points accrued count towards the World Match Race Tour and a place in the final event of the season, with the overall winner taking the title ISAF
International Sailing Federation
The International Sailing Federation is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing body for the sport of sailing....
World Match Racing Tour Champion. Match racing is an ideal sport for spectators in Portimão. Racing in such close proximity to the sea shore provides excellent heart of the action views for the audience along the beaches and in the public areas.
Powerboating
The Portimão coastline has also been host to the sport of powerboating. The Portuguese Grand Prix of the Sea run by Powerboat P1 as part of its international championship is also held in Portimão.Motorsport
In the hills near Portimão stands the Autódromo Internacional do AlgarveAutódromo Internacional do Algarve
The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve commonly referred to as Portimao Circuit is a race circuit located in Portimão, Portugal. With a total cost of €195 million , the project includes a karting track, technology park, five-star hotel, sports complex and apartments.Construction was finished in...
. Finished in October 2008, it is a race and test circuit officially recognised for the highest categories both for cars and motorcycles. Superbike
Superbike racing
Superbike racing is a category of motorcycle racing that employs modified production motorcycles. Superbike World Championship is the international superbike championship, and national superbike championships are held in many countries as well, including the United Kingdom, the United States,...
races, Le Mans Series
Le Mans Series
The Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
races and F1 tests are scheduled.
Rhythmic gymnastics
There is also an annual grand prix of rhythmic gymnasticsRhythmic gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which individuals or teams of competitors manipulate one or two pieces of apparatus: rope, clubs, hoop, ball, ribbon and Free . An individual athlete only manipulates 1 apparatus at a time...
, with an individual all-round competition, a team all-round competition, and finals by apparatus and by group at senior and junior levels.
Transport
Since 2008 a ferry company has operated a weekly service from Portimão to FunchalFunchal
Funchal is the largest city, the municipal seat and the capital of Portugal's Autonomous Region of Madeira. The city has a population of 112,015 and has been the capital of Madeira for more than five centuries.-Etymology:...
, Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
.