Alcoutim is part of the well known Algarve. Here it is made up of rolling hills and valleys with olive trees, carob, almond, fig and loads of orange groves. It feels very remote; it is!
There has been a settlement at Alcoutim since around 4000 BC. From about 2500 BC until the Roman Empire the deposits of copper and iron attracted people to the area in order to establish mines. The ore was smelted locally and then shipped down the River.
Alcoutim is situated where the river becomes tidal, so traders had to wait here until the tide was suitable to sail downstream. So Alcoutim became a town to support and also to defend the traders from the neighbouring (250 metres across the river) kingdom of Castile (now Spain).