Sines

We stopped only briefly in Sines en route to Lisbon so really didn't get to know it at all well. The town has played an important maritime role throughout Portugal's history and, indeed, is the birthplace of Vasco de Gama, the famous explorer who was the first to navigate the Cape of Good Hope and establish a sea route to India, giving Portugal a virtual monopoly in Indian spices for decades.

Next to the 15th century Sines castle, there is a large, square-ish statue of de Gama overlooking the ocean and eponymous beach. Today, Sines is the site of an important oil refinery and several petrochemical industries. It is also a popular beach spot and the main fishing harbor of Alentejo region.

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