This was flattened in the great earthquake of 1755. Undaunted, the Marquis of Pombal, prime-minister of King José (1714-1777) ordered the rebuilding of the town using the reconstruction plans of recently restored Lisbon (which had likewise been destroyed in 1755).
Thaks to the flatness of the land, the prefabrication of building materials shipped from Lisbon and the rigid adherence to a carefully planned architectural layout, the new Vila Real de Danto Antonio was built in only 5 months! The result is the ordered and harmonious town we find today – the architectural embodiment of the Enlightenment of the 18th century.
A lively and attractive place to stay and within easy reach of the beautiful Monte Gordo beach, Vila Real de Santo António thrives on tourism – much of it coming from Spain.