Vila Nova de Milfontes: lovely beach town on the Alentejo coast

Do you like sun, sea and sand, but is the hustle and bustle in the Algarve too much for you? Then opt for a trip to the Alentejo coast. The Alentejo Litoral is the area on the southwest coast between the Algarve and Lisbon. There are some fantastic coastal villages where you will find everything you need for a great holiday. One of them is the cozy Vila Nova de Milfontes.

Fishing village

The former fishing village of Vila Nova de Milfontes is located on both the Atlantic Coast and the Mira River. It is also part of the nature reserve Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina. Nowadays, the slightly more than five thousand inhabitants earn their money mainly from tourism and everything that comes with it, but the fishermen are also still there.

River Mira

Vila Nova de Milfontes is characterized by the river that runs past the village to the sea. The river Mira rises in the Serra do Caldeirão at an altitude of 470 meters and flows from there to Vila Nova de Milfontes, where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Fun fact: it is one of the few rivers in Portugal that flows from south to north. The village center is located north of the Mira and overlooks the green south bank. Both riverbanks have beautiful sandy beaches.

Forte de São Clemente

A striking landmark on the river is the Forte de São Clemente. Between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, Vila Nova de Milfontes was regularly the victim of pirates. After a major attack in 1590, the royal family ordered the construction of the fortress to protect the population and their possessions from the attacks of the sea. It is also called the Castelo de Vila Nova de Milfontes.

Praça de Barbacã

The fortress is located next to Praça de Barbacã, where there is a work of art in honour of a special moment. On April 7th, 1924 the very first flight from Portugal to Macau (at the time still a Portuguese colony) took off from Vila Nova de Milfontes. A milestone in Portugal’s aviation history. On board were the pilots José Manuel Sarmento de Beires (1892-1974) and António Jacinto da Silva Brito Pais (1884-1934). They eventually flew 117 hours and 41 minutes over a distance of almost 17,000 kilometres. They needed two planes to arrive in Macau more than two months later.

Igreja Nossa Senhora da Graça

On the Largo da Igreja you find the Igreja Matriz (mother church) of the village. It was built in the fifteenth century, but has undergone many restorations since then. Therefore, what you see now is a mix of different styles. What predominates is the sober appearance, with straight lines and little frills. That fits in with the Portuguese style called Estilo Chão. It is a contrast with the traces of rococo that you also encounter, for example in the corrugated ridge of the façade. The church bears the name of the patron saint of the village, Nossa Senhora da Graça. A feast is celebrated annually on August 8 in her honour, with the procession on the river being the highlight of the festivities.

Beaches

In Vila Nova de Milfontes you can choose from several beautiful sandy beaches. Directly along the centre, in the bay of the river, there is the Praia da Franquia. The calm waters make it a good choice for a beach day with kids. If you follow the road a little further, you will come to the Praia do Farol, where you will reach the Atlantic Ocean. Yet this beach also has little wind and waves.

Praia das Furnas is located on the other bank of the river. You can get there by a nice walk of about 5.5 kilometers over the bridge or by crossing the ferry. Behind the Forte de São Clemente you will find the pier where the ferry boat Maresia do Mira departs. In addition to crossings to the other side of the river, this company also organizes fun excursions in which you can go out with a guide, for example.

A walk of less than 3 kilometres up north takes you to the Praia do Porto das Barcas. Next to it is the Portinho do Canal, the port where the fishermen have their boats and work. Further along the Atlantic coast there are many more beautiful beaches. Keep in mind that the coast is a lot rougher here. That means more wind and waves as well as rocks and stones on the beach. Nice, but be careful.

Do you want to do something with water sports? Then check out the possibilities of Aventura Activa. They offer organized activities, but also rent out equipment for you to go out on your own.

Food & Drink

Where to start? There are so many excellent options in Vila Nova de Milfontes for eating and drinking. So try what looks attractive to you. However, it is important to know that many establishments close for the winter season. A few random tips:

• Restaurant and tapas bar Ritual is cozy, tasty and a good option for vegetarians
• Restaurant Oasis is a nice place if you spend the day at the Praia das Furnas
• Restaurant Porto das Barcas is next to the fishing port and therefore a great place to eat fresh fish (and more)
• At beach club Quebramar you can have drinks with a view of the Praia da Franquia
• Ice creams, cakes and croissants are a must-try at Mabi in the city centre

Around Vila Nova de Milfontes

This village is a great starting point for hikers. Two of the coastal routes of the famous Rota Vicentina pass through Vila Nova de Milfontes, one as arrival point, the other as a departure point. But there are also several inland routes nearby, such as the trails around Cercal do Alentejo and São Luís.

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