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With some of Europe's best and cleanest sandy beaches, picturesque coves and year-round sunshine, the Algarve, justifiably, has become the most popular region in Portugal. But this region offers much more than lazing on a sun drenched beach, travelling around you can discover sheer cliffs battered by Atlantic waves at Cabo de Sao Vincente, sheltered valleys, vineyards and olive trees, wooded mountains and moorish towns. Silves Dominated by a 12th century Moorish castle, the streets of Silves were once packed with traders, bazaars overflowing with exotic goods, today it is a sleepy place ideal for a day trip. The town also boasts an imposing cathedral and an archeological museum amongst quiet cobbled streets.
Silves offers a diverse array of attractions encompassing the flat riverfront right up to the steep side street around the castle. Down on the riverfront, near the narrow 13th century bridge, is the market with some outdoor grill-cafes where you can sit and watch life go by.
Monchique Located 458km above sea level, the tree shaded town of Monchique is situated in the Serra de Monchique mountain range. This pretty market town offers a fresh mountain air and spectacular views of the coastal plain in the distance. Monchique has many natural springs which feed the fountain that adorns the main square.
Cafes, craft shops and gallaries ring the square and many visitors enjoy lunch in one of the many restaurants that line the Foia road that specialise in Piri-piri. A short drive south of Monchique, is Caldas de Monchique, a charming little spa town, which has been popular since Roman times. Today the tradition of the town continues with the recently totally renovated Monchique Spa, situated amongst its well tended gardens just below the square, on the edge of a ravine. Caldas remains an active and pretty town where the visitor can sample the spa water, the emerging bicarbonate water at 32ºC is rich in sodium and flourides. The Serra de Monchique muontain range forms a distinctive group of hills in the Western Algarve. Running from East to West, the hills act as a barrier to cold air from the land mass to the north, helping to maintain the balmy warmth of the winter. the woodlands are a mixture of cork oak, sweet chestnut and arbutus, with the addition of eucalyptus and mimosa. Cabo de Sao Vicente & Sagres Cabo de Sao Vicente is the most southwesterly point of the European mainland. it really looks and feels like the end of the earth. With its towering cliffs plunging 70m to the pounding surf and its stiff southwesterly breezes, this is a place which stirs the imagination.
Sagres is a modern little town, which while it may not be the prettiest in the Algarve, it offers the visitor a reminder of how varied the area can be. The local fishermen keep the restaurants well supplied with fresh fish and seafood. The beaches and coves in the vicinity are stunning and usually quiet and there are many cliff top walks. |
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