Albufeira

Once a small fishing village, is now a major resort. The town, which is perched on the cliff-top, has managed to retain much of its character despite the widespread surrounding development. Albufeira is no doubt the Algarve's most thriving resort, with its labyrinthine street layout, bars, discos and restaurants in abundance. Among the sightseeing focal point is the traditional pulling-in of the fishing boats at the beach.

Aljezur

Archaeological sites confirm man's presence since the Bronze Age. The Romans also left traces of their culture. Moorish rule lasted for six centuries and ended with the Christian reconquest of Aljezur. The earthquake of 1755 caused a great deal of damage to the town. In Aljezur you can visit the Castle built during the period of Arab rule, The Pillory (where criminals were exposed to public scorn) and the Main Church built in the end of the 18th century. The Costa Vicentina Natural Park extends from Odeceixe to Burgau (approximately 80 km of coastline). It offers the opportunity to see almost a hundred plants and more than twenty species that inhabit the creeks and wetland areas. The sea has carved tall cliffs from the schist hills along the coast where birds nest and wild flowers grow. Here and there in bays that face the sun and the ocean, are long beaches of dark sand like Odeceixe, Carriagem, Amoreira, Canal and Amado. Alcoutim   Menhirs and dolmens confirm man’s presence since the Neolithic. Alcoutim's origins are presumably linked to the fact that it is located at the place where the Guadiana River becomes tidal. Conquered in 1240, the town of Alcoutim was not repopulated until that King Dinis, who granted it a charter in 1304, granted it to the Military Order of Sant'Iago (St. James). Alcoutim’s steep and narrow streets retain much of the calm atmosphere typical of an Algarve hill town. A few minutes walk is enough to discover simple single-storey houses hundreds of years old and the tall white walls of the Misericórdia Church. The ancient techniques of popular crafts are still preserved in the villa of Alcoutim. Locals continue to weave rag blankets, covers and linen cloths on wooden looms. Castro Marim   Is an early fortress town located upstream from Vila Real de Santo António. Apart from its military history, it is famous for its marshlands. The natural reserve here is controlled by the National Park Service whose aim is to protect the region's rare botanical species, bird life and shellfish. Faro   Provincial capital of the Algarve since 1756, Faro is often passed by tourists arriving at its airport. It is a pleasant, relaxed town, rich in historical sights and with an excellent pedestrian shopping precinct. The center has a cobbled, shaded municipal garden, with an open air cafe and an old fashioned bandstand, a small boat harbor and the charming old city walls. The town's three museums (archaeological, ethnographic and maritime) are within easy reach. Among Faro's many churches, the Igreja do Carmo (Carmelite Church) is considered the most beautiful, while the most unusual is probably the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones), a 19th Century vault in which skulls and bones of parishioners were used instead of conventional building materials.   Loulé   Is the largest and busiest of the inland towns and has rements of the 12th Century fortification walls. Part of the parish church dates back to Moorish occupation. Today Loulé is known for its handicrafts, where in the backstreets in the heart of the town craftsmen may be seen in tiny workshops fashioning copper and brassware, leather goods, wrought ironwork and wickerwork. Loulé's Carnival is also a major tourist entertaining event. There's also a good open air market every Saturday mornings. Vilamoura is one of the biggest privately planned tourist enterprises in Europe. The 4,000 acre site includes holiday villas and apartments with four golf courses, a watersports center, an airfield and a large yachting marina that can accommodate 600 boats. The remains of a Roman villa, on the road to Praia da Falésia is open to the public. Quarteira, is one of the oldest fishing towns. Excellent daily fish market and plays host to a large open air weekly gypsy market.

Lagos

A spacious town with a maze of intimate streets, has a rich historical past. Lagos was the capital town of Algarve between 1576 and 1756 and was one of the center of the Discoveries. From the port many of the maritime expeditions set out in search of new worlds. Prince Henry the Navigator lived, worked and died here. Many of the town's historic buildings were lost in the 1755 earthquake, but one survivor - the altar of the Chapel of St. Anthony, a Baroque masterpiece in carve wood decorated in the late Baroque gilt with the lower walls covered in the 18th Century tiles. "Point of Pity", a truly striking sea cliff ensemble just beyond the Lagos coastline, is a place not-to-be missed.

 

Monchique

Monchique mountains are located approximately 20 kilometers inland from Portimão. In the highest point of the Algarve you will find a spa dating from Roman times and a beautiful scenery at Fóia, from where you can see (if the day is clear) a big part of the coastal area from the Algarve. You will also enjoy the natural beauty of pinetrees, eucalyptus, corktrees and many other.

 

Olhão

This proud fishing port is a maze of white limewashed flat topped houses. Its' architecture is more similar to North Africa than to Portugal. The old district, the large market standing on the waterfront are sightseeing places.

 

Portimão

The biggest town in the Algarve offering a vast variety of shops, an interesting pedestrian street, market place and harbor in which you can find the famous restaurants of grilled sardines and where you can also assist the fishing boats arrival with sardines. Alvor has a rich historical past that goes back to the time of the Carthaginians. It is a small village situated on the eastern side of a broad, sandy estuary which was almost completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1755. The 16th century parish church is the most interesting building from this village. Praia da Rocha, together with Albufeira, is one of the biggest tourist resorts of the Algarve, with an extensive sandy beach and impressive rock formations

 

Silves

The former capital town of Algarve has a very rich historical past. The vestiges of human presence go back to the Bronze Age. For 500 years was occupied by the Moors until 1189 when King Sancho I expelled them. A not-to-be-missed town with many monuments, such as the romanesque-gothic Cathedral and Moorish castle and sightseeing places like Cruz de Portugal.

 

São Brás de Alportel

The rounded forms of hills covered with cistus bushes, oaks and arbutus-berry trees. Landscapes like watercolours, white houses scattered among verdant fields and orchards. Reflections in the slowly-moving surface of a river. The play of light and shade on an old whitewashed wall. In such simple things lies the beauty of São Brás de Alportel and its municipality, each an invitation to come, relax and enjoy.

Tavira

Lying at the mouth of the river Gilão, is one of the most beautiful and unspoiled towns in the Algarve. A spacious town of imposing buildings and no less than 32 churches. The river flows through the center of the town, crossed by an arched Roman bridge. The town's national monument, the Church of Santa Maria, was built on the ruins of a castle and mosque soon after Tavira was re-conquered from the Moors in 1242.

 

Vila do Bispo

The mythical atmosphere surrounding Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente (Cape St. Vicent), places dedicated to the gods for thousands of years. The unspoilt coastline, with its dramatic horizons of cliffs and sea. The many menhirs that bear witness to prehistoric rites. Memories of the epic of the Discoveries and the enigmatic figure of Prince Henry the Navigator.