What did Ferragudo look like 500 years ago?

The town of Ferragudo is first indicated on a map of Portugal and the Algarve from 1560. 40 years after its foundation there was apparently already a visible settlement that justified an entry on the map. The map was particularly detailed for that time, showing not only places on the coast, but also rivers and places inland. It is not clear where exactly the buildings were and how large Ferragudo was. The first map proving more about that comes from 1617, almost a hundred years after Ferragudo was founded. This map with description comes from the book ‘Descripção do Reino do Algarve’ that was written 400 years ago by the secretary of the Spanish King Filipe IV. He commissioned the Italian engineer Alexandre Massai to inspect the defence of the Algarve coast and propose improvements. A little background of the situation at that time helps to understand this map of the mouth of the Arade river.

At that time, the King of Spain was also king of Portugal and the Algarve. In 1580, there was no direct heir to the throne for King Sebastião, who died young and childless. A battle broke out for the succession that was eventually won by the Spanish king Filipe II. He thought he had the most rights because both his mother and his already deceased wife were part of the Portuguese royal family. Spain and Portugal were world powers where spices, silver and gold came in with shiploads. And if you are successful, you have enemies. Emerging naval powers England and Holland attacked Spain and Portugal wherever and whenever they could, and there were still vengeful Moors from northern Africa who continued to attack, rob and destroy the Algarve coast.

For an improved defence the Italian Alexandre Massai had to come up with a solution. At the mouth of the Arade River, he and his team of specialists looked for the best place for a fortress. On the side of Vila Nova de Portimão or on the side of Ferragudo? To make a well-considered choice, Massai has the area mapped out in detail.

When we zoom in we see at (V) The place Ferragudo that is said to have been founded by Bishop Dom Fernando, at (S) a salt water mill and at (X) a sheltered anchorage where you can board and abandon ship.

It is clearly recognizable that the first settlement with a wall and three towers stands on the site of the current church and the pastoral centre. So on the hill of the village and not on the site of the castle. The saltwater mill is located where the bridge is now in the centre of the main square. Now it also becomes clear why there is a millstone there as a memorial, as it was probably found there. The sheltered anchorage is a cove at today´s Praia da Angrinha where fishing boats used to anchor.