Algarve - Castro Marim - History
 
 
Castro Marim seems - according to recent studies - to have been an island in pre historic times, surrounded by shallow waters and close to the sea.

Castro Marim was, during millenniums, a safe harbour for the ships that went up the Guadiana to collect copper ore, mined in the north, in Alcoutim and Mértola.

The Romans build a road to Lisbon along the river Guadiana , passing Alcoutim, Mértola and Beja.

After being conquered in 1242 by Paio Peres Correia and his troops of the Order of Santiago , it was resettled and because of its closeness to Castile its defence system was reinforced. In 1319, D. Dinis (1261-1325) made Castro Marim the headquarters of the Order of Christ, formerly the Templar Order. Years later, however, the Order of Christ was transferred to Tomar and many left the town which entered a phase of decay. To counter this trend, D. Joćo I grants Castro Marim, in 1421, the privilege of being "a shelter for fugitives" - place of deportation - aiming to attract new inhabitants.

Away from the sea, with an economy centred on fish, production of salt, agriculture and construction of boats, Castro Marim and its region went through a long period of stagnation.

 
History of other cities : Albufeira, Alcoutim, Aljezur, Faro, Lagoa, Lagos, Monchique, Portimão, São Brás de Alportel, Silves, Tavira, Vila do Bispo, Vila Real de S. António, Azulejos.