Portimão is a city with little historical traces. Although there is records of the presence of Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Moors, their presence was brief because Portimão is in the mouth of the Arade river, river that up north reachs the town of Silves, the real point of interest for these civilizations.

Portimão was no man's land until the twentieth century, when it had a growth never seen before in these lands.
Currently, with ~ 45,000 inhabitants, no doubt Portimão is the economic capital of the Algarve.

With a strong presence of the manufacturing sector, has the second largest fishing port in the Algarve together with an enviable fishing fleet, a commercial dock unique in the region for large cruise ships as the base of the Ferries to the island of Madeira and Azores, a marina, an enviable tourist industry and is home to the most modern racecourse in Europe. In fact, the lack of a commercial airport, is the only signage infrastructure missing in the county that can not be filled by existing airfield.

Portimão is home to major events, both sporting and cultural that allow and ensure that the city is always in vogue.