Local Towns and Places of Interest
Albufeira
ALBUFEIRA is the Algarve's most popular tourist town. It is a fun, family orientated resort, enjoyed by all age groups who like a bustling holiday atmosphere by the seaside. It is a whitewashed blend of the old and the new. The Romans called it Baltrum. The Moors re-named it Al-Buhera. Not much of the old Moorish castle has survived the ravages of earthquakes and wars, but a certain Moorish atmosphere still lingers in the narrow streets that lead down to the main square, Largo Eng. Duarte Pacheo. Old townhouses merge haphazardly with modern blocks of apartments in a tiered jumble overlooking two beautiful beaches. One is reached through a short tunnel by the tourist information office. Sunbathers share the other with fishermen mending their nets and their boats. Cafes, bars and restaurants abound in the old section of town.
Vilamoura and Quarteria
VILAMOURA is a huge, spacious resort built on the site much more modestly occupied by the Romans 2000 years ago, traces of who's lifestyle can be seen at the Cerro da Vila archaeological site. Its main attraction nowadays are three 18 hole golf courses. Other sporting activities catered for on land and sea include tennis, riding, clay pigeon shooting, archery and game fishing. European record marlin catches have been recorded offshore. The focal point of the resort is a large marina which attracts a lot of strolling sightseers, as well as yachtsmen. The seaside town of QUARTERIA, adjacent to Vilamoura has an exceptionally long promenade and sandy beach protected by breakwaters. Formerly a fishing village , Quarteria's modern holiday apartment blocks are densely populated and very popular during the summer with package tourists from abroad.
Silves
SILVES, once a city of glittering minaret and bustling bazaars. was the Moorish capital of the Algarve. It's imposing red sandstone castle was the scene of horrific medieval battles between Islamic Moors and Christians. Crusaders on their way to the Holy Land played an important role in the re-conquest of the Algarve in the 13th Century. A few of those who fell in battle are entombed in the cathedral next to the castle. Both the castle and the cathedral are open to the public. Nearby is a small archaeological museum. The tumultuous city of yesteryear is today a quiet market town in the midst of the Algarve's main citrus growing area. Cork is possessed locally. The town hosts two annual festivals, one celebrating oranges, the other beer. On the third Monday each month there is a particularly lively open air market.
Faro
FARO is the capital of the Algarve. As the largest, busiest and one of the oldest of the regions towns, it is concerned with the serious business of provincial administration, trade and commerce. It is best known amongst the visitors from abroad for its international airport, who spend a little time exploring the town centre located only a few kilometres from its international terminal. Praca Dom Francisco Gomes next to the harbour is the best starting point for a walk through town. It was occupied from Roman, through Moorish times, but the feel now is of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The modest cathedral, the Se, on the site of a Moorish mosque, was destroyed during the Lisbon earthquake.
Monchique
MONCHIQUEis a small market town in a scenic range of rounded hills of the same name. Its steep, cobbled streets and its Parish Church, featuring a Manueline doorway, are overlooked by a derelict Franciscan convent, Nassa Senhora do Desterro. The shops are full of local produce, including baskets, rough woollen sweaters, soft leather slippers and gloves, honey and meddronho firewater. The slopes around about are terraced for farming or forested for cork, oak, pine and eucalyptus. Six kilometres south and 300M below Monchique is the spa village of CALDAS DE MONCHIQUE nestling in a wooded ravine. Eight kilometres up from Monchique, the rocky summit of Foia is the Algarve's highest point at just under 900m. The winding road to Foia is lined by restaurants famous for their barbequed chicken piri-piri.
Alte
ALTE is probably the most picturesque and therefore the most visited of all the villages in the central Algarve countryside. To get the feel of village life, stroll up and down its backstreets. Of special interest is the parish church. The doorway of the church of Nossa Senhora da Funcao is a fine example of Manueline architecture. Inside there are rare 16th century tiles. To the east there are fine views from the hilltop villages of SALIR and QUERENCA. To the west an outstanding landmark on the N124 as it runs through the centre of Sao Bartolomeu de Messines, is a Baroque-style church, originally built in the 16th century and rebuilt in the 18th. The interior columns are fashioned after twisted ropes.
Loule
LOULE is the busiest of the central towns, an important seat of local government. It has a 13th century parish church and number of reminders of the Roman and Moorish occupation. There is an information office in Largo Bernardo Lopes and the parish church and you will see craftsmen working with leather and copper and wood. Carnival is celebrated here each year in February, like no-where else in the Algarve. Each Saturday morning a bustling and colourful country fair comes to town.