The Town’s name comes from the Palace of the Arches located at its entrance, where king D. Manuel I of Portugal watched Vasco da Gama's caravels leave for India.
It’s mainly composed by ancient villas and modern apartments near the beach. It also has lovely gardens, a square with an ancient bandstand, restaurants and crafts fairs during the weekends.
This town also has one of the biggest office parks in Europe, the Quinta da Fonte.