December is a month full of festivities, also in Portugal we celebrate Christmas and New Year, why not combine some nice weather and your Holidays in the Algarve?
Algarve Housing rent fantastic villas in the Algarve, and have a few villas left for YOU to enjoy Christmas and New Year in the Algarve. With mild days and cool nights, and very often we get sunshine, and you can even enjoy some sunbathing at the beach. But I have to be honest, it can rain too, and therefor we supplygorgeous villas, with nice wood burning fires to enjoy with a nice glass of Portuguese wine!
Spending Christmas and the New Year in the Algarve is a great way to enjoy the festive season. More and more people choose to spend Christmas away from home. Some want to avoid the fuss, others are looking for a different Christmas experience. The Algarve is an ideal destination as it caters to both traditional and alternative tastes.
Great time to enjoy a few rounds of golf at one of the many golf courses, enjoy one of the many Christmas Fairs, Concerts, Exhibitions, party nights and Christmas shows. The Algarve is foodie paradise, no matter where your are, you never far away from some sort of eating establishment. From the simplest of ‘tascas’ to Michelin starred and everything in between; Indian, Chinese, British, Thai, French and Fusion. Most of our villas located inland where you can find some great restaurants serving hearty algarvian food like Wild boar, Lamb stew and goat kid stew – simmered for hours so that the meat falls of the bone, caldeirada and cataplana – traditional fish stews. Bom Apetit!
And one of the nice villas to book in December…Casa Lavender. A very nice, cozy villa, that has a nice woodburning stove to keep you warm in the cool evenings, and fantastic terrace, south facing to enjoy the sunny days! Have a look, and let me know if you need any more information.
More holiday villas of Algarve Housing you find on our website. Please contact me for more information,
Taking a holiday in the Algarve, Portugal during the winter season is a wonderful way to escape the cold and rainy weather and enjoy the warmth of this stunning area. The space and flexibility you can enjoy if you spend your holiday in one of the manyAlgarve villasthat are available for rent will make it that much more special.This part of Portugal is in the southern most region of the country and has a wonderfully mild climate all year round. The coastline also happens to be one of the most beautiful in Europe. Portugal is a wonderful, safe place for the whole family to stay, and at a price that will not break the bank.
With mile upon mile of uncrowded, sandy beaches, the Algarve has a superb year-round climate. Pretty coastal towns and villages boast old churches and bustling markets, pavement cafes serving excellent snacks, and fishing boats on the beach. The Algarve in Portugal boasts an average 320 days of sunshine a year, gentle breezes coming off the Atlantic, and a laid-back lifestyle that you thought had monchique algarve vanished.
We found this Youtube video, as images say more then words, I do not say anything more……watch!
While you are staying in the Algarve, you will be able to enjoy some of the fine attractions that the area has to offer. For the golf lover there are some world-class golf courses. There are clubs and bars if you are looking for some nightlife. You can also enjoy many outdoor activities like tennis, bicycling and horseback riding. In fact, there is a little something for everyone.The best way to enjoy a holiday in this special part of Portugal is to rent your own villa. Algarve Housing offer great value rental properties in the Algarve, each with a private pool. These villas are located all over the area, with easy access to un-spoilt coastal beaches and the small villages and mountain regions in the interior. But you are never far from major towns, where there’s plenty of shopping, fine dining and exuberant nightlife should you need to see crowds again.
But the greatest form of relaxation will be to simply mix with the locals at the tavern in a nearby village! Enjoy the real Algarve, and be sure to head inland from the coastal plain and take a drive up to the mountains through forests of eucalypts and umbrella pine trees to the unspoilt villages like Monchique. Here the locals brew ‘Medronho’, one of the tastiest beverages in the Algarve and Portugal, and a drop which you must try.
Staying in a rental villa rather than a hotel will give you a much more personal space and flexibility and allow you to have a completely unique experience. There are numerous holiday villas for rent in the Algarve region but Algarve Housing offers some spectacular properties, and those, tend to get booked quickly. So you need to move fast to ensure you get the ideal property for your holiday 2011!
Besides that, Algarve Housing has a lot to offer for winter let, special offers, so you can enjoy the beautiful holiday villas for very low prices in the low season…
«Gnosis» – La Fura Dels Baus (Catalunha, Spain)“Gnosis”: travels and knowledge provide the theme for this grand show by the company La Fura dels Baus, one of the most prestigious in the world that has been seen by audiences totaling 3 million people. With a 31-year history, the Spanish company works in a range of impressive styles.
Excellent Sardines and grilled fish are available everywhere, in the Algarve, but Portimao is famous for this. Lots of restaurants specialise in this delicacy: charcoal grilled , seasoned with coarse sea-salt, eaten from a slice of bread, and washed down with red wine (or beer). This is the way we eat Sardines! So not surprising that every year Portimao hosts the Sardine Festival! This year the festival starts on Friday 6th August till 15th August, from 6 till 12 pm.
Portimão’s Sardine Festival is one of the highlights of the summer with 10 nights of entertainment, tasty food, market stalls and music. From 8pm to 9.30pm every night there will be local and regional bands playing with the main show starting at 10pm.
Program
6th: Rui Veloso
7th: Deolinda
8th: Ana Moura
9th: Xutos e Pontapés
10th: Rua da Saudade + Fernando Tordo
11th: Quim Barreiros
12th: José Cid
13th: Netinho
14th: Pedro Abrunhosa
15th: Boss AC + Yuri da Cunha + Tito Paris + Ana Firmino
Event Location
Portimão River Front
Admission: 3,50€
Apart from Sardines there will be other Portuguese delights.
It is great fun and an excellent way to enjoy the summer nights when you are on holiday!
Algarve Housing rents holiday villas in the Algarve, contact us for more information or visit our website.
We have the nice weather, nice holiday villas to rent, the beaches etc… but What else can YOU do????
Algarve Housing rent villa’s in the Algarve, the most southern part of Europe. With 300 days of sunshine per year, gorgeous beaches and friendly local people an ideal holiday destination. Our holiday villa’s are of high standard, all with private pool and gardens, within 30 minutes to the beach.
We give you 10 top tips….
Boat trip Portimao
1. Take a boat trip
Take a pleasure boat trip from Portimão harbor and enjoy a full day of sunbathing on deck, swimming
from the boat and snorkeling in clear turquoise waters. You will be taken to the best beaches and shown hidden caves en route. Lunch is usually included and is often a delicious meal of fresh sardines, bread and wine.
2. Fishing Trips
Try your luck at big game fishing! Trips run daily from fishing town Portimão between June and September. This day out is ideal for beginners and experienced fishers alike.
3. Take the kids to Slide and Splash
You can’t visit the Algarve with teenagers and not take them here! Considered one of the best water parks in Europe, Slide and Splash offers a variety of rides for all ages as well as a relaxing Jacuzzi for adults. Take a picnic and watch out for sunburn. The water park is located near to Lagoa, Carvoeiro and Portimão in Central Algarve.
4. Visit a colorful Algarve Market
Regular markets are held throughout the Algarve and most towns and villages have their own. Ask in local shops to find the nearest market to you, or visit one of the larger tourist markets such as the one in Loulé, held every Saturday morning. You can expect to find a range of things for sale including bags, shoes, fake designer goods and souvenirs. Take care with personal security when visiting markets.
5. Explore Silves and Monchique
Spend a day exploring the best of the Algarve’s historical heritage. Start at the medieval castle at
Silves – the town once known as the Algarve’s Moorish capital. Then visit the cork museum at the Fábrica do Inglês, which offers a permanent exhibition demonstrating how cork is processed. Finish up taking a walk around Monchique, just a short drive away from Silves. Situated in the Monchique Mountains, this is the most beautiful part of the Algarve and is an ideal place to stop for a meal with an excellent selection of friendly restaurants.
6. Visit lively Vilamoura
Visiting Vilamoura offers an excellent day of shopping; eating and watching the world go by from a
pavement café on the Marina. This lively resort also offers a casino.
Zoo Marine Albufeira
7. Swim with dolphins at Zoo Marine
Enjoy dolphin shows at Zoo Marine, which is located near to Albufeira. It is also possible to swim with dolphins here, although you must pre-book for this. The center is also home to seals, sea lions, and a variety of tropical fish, small tiger sharks and exotic birds.
8. Take a family outing to Krazy World
Krazy World offers a top family day out with animals (llamas, deer, wallabies, camels) for petting,
crazy golf, swimming, pony rides and quad biking. New attractions are added regularly and in summer there are live animal shows. Located near to Algoz in Central Algarve.
9. Learn to play golf
The Algarve is an ideal golf destination due to its long sunny days throughout the year and large
selection of golf courses. If you’ve never tried it before why not indulge yourself with a few lessons? Or spend a day improving your game. Try Penina Golf Club near Portimão or Pestana Golf Academy at Carvoeiro Golf Club.
10. Go Shopping
The best shopping locations in the Algarve include the elegant Quinta Shopping at Quinta do Lago, the Marina at Vilamoura, Algarve Shopping Center at Guia and Forum Algarve at Faro. Open daily until mid night! Algarve shopping bargains include leather goods, which are locally made, pottery, decorated tiles, crystal, copper ware, embroidered tablecloths, filigree jewelery and cork products.
You will also find pottery sold from shops along the old main coastal road (N125)
Luxury villa to rent, with private pool and gardens
So visit our website, choose your ideal holiday villa in the Algarve and come and join us in the lovely Algarve.
Portugal’s coastline boasts some of Europe’s best beaches. There’s variety too, with a choice of superb surfing beaches facing the Atlantic full on, or sheltered family holiday beaches on the Algarve with full resort facilities close to hand.
Portugal’s Algarve beaches are renowned for their blue flag status and beauty. To the west Algarve the dramatic rock formations add character, whilst on the east Algarve coast beaches are influenced by estuaries and are flatter and more sheltered.
Algarve Beaches
A record number of beaches in the region will be flying the Blue Flag this summer.
Some 69 Blue Flag beaches have been named in the Algarve, 15 more than in 2009 and the highest ever in the Algarve.
Lagos, Portimão, Albufeira and Vilamoura marinas will also be flying the flag.
The Blue Flag is awarded to beaches that meet the exacting criteria regarding water quality, environmental management and education, safety, cleanliness and facilities. Many beaches along the Algarve are manned by life-guards during the summer season. You should always pay attention to the indications given by the life-guards and follow the indications of the color coded flags posted on the beaches.
Green: swimming permitted
Yellow: Swimming forbidden
Red: Swimming & entering water forbidden
Blue/White: Beach temporarily unattended
One of Algarve's safe beaches
Algarve Housing rent special villas in the Algarve. Would you like to enjoy one of the best beached of Europe, and stay in a nice villa, check our website and contact me for any further information.
Subscribe to our blog to keep updated about Special Offers, information about the Algarve and Things to do in the Algarve.
Luxury villa in the center of the Algarve, that sleeps 8 in the main villa and another two lucky guests in the annex. Located in the country side, with lush views towards the coast, only 15 minutes drive to Albufeira. With a private pool, with Jacuzzi, makes this your ideal holiday home in the Algarve. We drop the high season week price from 3300 euros to 2750 euros.
Please visit our website for more information and details:
http://algarvehousing.net/villasinalgarve/luxuryvillas/constantini/constantini.html
and contact me for availability: http://algarvehousing.net/villasinalgarve/customerservice/contactus.html
Low-cost airline Ryanair opened its new base at Faro airport on March 25! Faro will now have 31 new low cost routes across Europe, including Spain, France, Italy, Holland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Germany, which are expected to fly 1.7 million passengers per year to the Algarve.
To celebrate the opening of the base in Faro, Ryanair give a million flights in April and May for SEVEN EUROS.
So come and enjoy the sun, sand and sea in the Algarve, book a nice holiday villa in the Algarve and relax and unwind!
Relax and Unwind
We have a nice offer for you, we give 15% discount on the rent of Casa Vilarinha for May, June, October and September and even 50% for April! Casa Vilarinha is luxury 6 bedroom villa, all en-suite, furnished and decorated in Moroccan style. A large covered colonial terrace overlooking the lush private garden and pool makes this an ideal holiday villa for you and your family.
Casa Vilarinha, luxury villa with private pool in the Algarve
For more information, watch this video!
So what are you waiting for, low prices, high quality!
Algarve Housing has more villas to rent in the Algarve, have a look on our website, and contact me for more information.
Would you like to keep updated to our Specials offers, subscribe to our blog.
Now that Spring is here, Portugal is once again taking on its own special charm. The sun shines ever more brightly, there are flowers everywhere and the time is ripe for communing with Nature. Come and visit us and discover the pleasure of strolling around without any fixed timetable, enjoying new experiences and savouring some perfect moments. Take your inspiration from our suggestions and draw up your very own tour plans!
Come and stay with us to enjoy the nature of the Algarve. Check our website for great private villa’s in the Algarve!
We give you 4 suggestions of the many we have to explore the Natural Algarve:
Enjoy the nature of Rocha da Pena
1.
Rocha da Pena
Hidden paradise in the rich Barrocal countryside
Rocha da Pena is a protected nature conservation area which support ecosystems of great ecological interest.
Between Benafim and Salir, with an area of more than 600 hectares and rising to a height of 479 metres, the craggy terrain of the Rocha da Pena site invites tourists to go for walks and is great for rock climbing.
Alvor Beach
2.
Alvor Estuary
Sites of Ecological Interest
Remarkable Observatories
Places where you can see different bird species nesting include the Alvor Estuary, Paul de Budens and Leixão da Gaivota. These are places where you can follow the incredible beauty of birds in flight.
The Alvor Estuary, nestled between Portimão and Lagos, is the most important wetland area in Western Algarve. A lagoon complex, it covers 1400 hectares of marsh and dunes, which makes the area an excellent place for bird watching.
Monchique Mountains
3.
Serras de Monchique Espinhaço de Cão and Caldeirão
Variations in landscape in a diversely charming Algarve
Acting as a gigantic amphitheatre, the Monchique, Espinhaço de Cão and Caldeirão hills form a protective barrier for the lowlands of the coastal region, providing shelter from the cold northern winds. The breeze from the Atlantic also contributes to the unique vegetation of the area.
Monchique is like a garden with breathtaking scenery and unique plant life within the Algarvian landscape. This north-western part of the region emerges with streams flowing down from escarpments, hills where the arbutus berry tree grows, and where oaks, pines and chestnut trees are to be found.
Ria Formosa Nature Park
4.
Ria Formosa
Natural paradise between land and sea
The Ria Formosa Nature Park is a unique lagoon system that is continually changing because of the movements of winds, currents, and tides.
A gift of nature, of approximately 18,000 hectares, it is an area of transition between land and sea skirting 60 km of the Eastern Algarve coastline, between the Ancão peninsula and the Manta Rota beach in the East.
As you can see, our idea is to invite you to appreciate the best of life, get yourself into a good mood and make sure that you go home completely rested and full of energy! We urge you to accept our invitation and let yourself be seduced by the Spring in Portugal.
As you can see, our idea is to invite you to appreciate the best of life, get yourself into a good mood and make sure that you go home completely rested and full of energy! We urge you to accept our invitation and let yourself be seduced by the Spring in Portugal.
Come and stay with us to enjoy the nature of the Algarve. Check our website for great private villa’s in the Algarve!
Subscribe to our blog, so you won’t miss any of our nice suggestions about the Algarve, our Special Offers, and things to do in the Algarve.
Contact me for any further information about our nice holiday villa’s!
Welcoming you to our country is always a great pleasure for us! So, take advantage of the Easter break and come and get to know Portugal! You’ll find excellent reasons here to pause for a while and unwind from all the routine and stress of daily life. And you’ll always enjoy the guarantee of our mild climate, ideal for replenishing your energy. There’s a wide and varied range of options to choose from, but our motto is always the same: relax and have fun!
We give you a few tips of people who live here, of things to do in the Algarve.
There is a very nice walk along the length of Alvor’s beach and then returning via the estuary. One walk, two totally different landscapes
Pictoresque Tavira
Would you like to have some exercise during your holiday? Rent a bicycle, catch the train (with your bikes) at Boliqueime station, get off Faro station and cycle back, following the Eco-via cycle route. This is the best section of the route. You can see flamingos feeding in the Ria Formosa nature reserve; Roman ruins; golfers hitting their balls into the lagoon at Sao Lourenco; have lunch at BJ’s Oceanside restaurant at Quarteira; and stop for a drink at Vilamoura Marina.
Eco-via cycle route
Or fancy more a lazy afternoon at Forum Algarve, a large shopping centre near Faro, or shopping Algarve, near Guia and/or watch a film in the cinema.
Visit one of the region’s many wineries, Portuguese wine is underrated and these small, family-owned businesses are incredibly interesting. Plus there’s the tasting, of course.
Eat in a PROPER Portuguese restaurant – good food and great value. North of the A22 motorway you will find many towns and villages, where you find local food for local prices!
Drive to Monchique, eat typical Monchique food in the restaurant ‘ A Charrete’, enjoy the views in Foia and go across to Aljezur to explore the west coast beaches or go north to the border of the alentejo. Fantastic wild flower displays in the spring!
A drive from Silves to Alcoutim through the EN124 to discover the interior Algarve, fantastic green scenery, windy roads; stop in little villages for a beer or a lunch, discover the Real Algarve.
Having prawns BBQ’d in garlic and lemon with chips and salad followed by mousse de chocolate at the Adega da Marina in Lagos, pure indulgence on a budget!
Algarve Housing rent fantastic villas in the Algarve, all with private pool and garden. Visit our website and contact me for more information. We have some nice villas still available for your Easter break!
Visit the Algarve, and relax and have fun!
Did you enjoy the information? We will publish more about the things to see and things to do in the Algarve, last minute super deals on our holiday villas in the Algarve, so why not subscribe to our Blog.
Algarve Housing rent holiday villas in the Algarve, the most southern part of Portugal. Apart from sun, sea and sand, we like to share a few other things to do in the Algarve. Top Tips of people who live here!
What else to do?
Drive to the top of Foia, the highest point of the Algarve, just above Monchique and enjoy the most gorgeous views of the coast with the river Arade, and Portimao. After that, allow yourself to get lost in the narrow, winding roads on your way back and experience the real Algarve!
Sit with a book and a light picnic under the canopy at Caldas de Monchique and enjoy the tranquillity and the sound of the stream.
Take a boat trip by traditional fishing boat, from Tavira to Santa Luzia or Faro Marina to Isle Deserta.
Traditional Algarvian Fishing Boats
Visit the most south westerly point of Europe, Cape St. Vincent; it is breathtaking to sit so high above the Atlantic and watch the waves come rolling in.
Stroll through historic, Moorish town Silves, the original capital of the Algarve, in the back streets the past mingles with the present in perfect harmony. Have a nice coffee on the terrace of Café Ingles, while listening to the Brazilian tunes of the live band…
Take a walk along the coastline from Ferragudo all the way to Praia do Carvalho. It works like a therapy, it will revitalise your soul and you will also feel fitter as a result!
Venture down into the awesome depths of the salt mine under Loule.
Look down on the old tiled rooftops of Tavira from the castle garden, or from the nearby camera obscura.
A round of golf on one of the Algarve’s stunning championship golf courses the Algarve boasts.
Famous Golf Courses
Visit to the Vale de lobo Royal Spa for a day of pampering and relaxation.
Dolphin Trip off the coast of Lagos or Portimao. You will see so many dolphins, you will never forget it!
Buying local honey form roadside sellers. Not only the honey is delicious, it helps local producers too!
This were a few tips, soon will follow more.
Please contact me for more information and visit our website for nice places to stay in the Algarve.
Subscribe to our blog for more things to do in the Algarve, Special Offers, and information about the Algarve.
Spring in the Algarve is something you cannot miss! Fabulous displays of wildflowers that colonise every available piece of Algarve ground no matter how small. In Portugal you do not need to travel far to see wildflowers. In the Algarve in springtime, the flowers are everywhere- on roadside verges, in abandoned and fallow farmland, in the forests and beside the sea.
We all know the Algarve from the beautiful cliffs and coves and beautiful white sandy beaches, but within a short drive of the coast there is a very different Algarve to be experienced. In the spring you see millions upon millions daisies, poppies and many other colourful flowers…like the Wild Roses (Cistus) in the mountains.
One of our unique villas with private pool
Algarve Housing has a variety of nice holiday villas for rent away from the coast, in rural, private areas, still only a short drive to the coast, with private pool and garden.
If you don’t want to miss the beautiful spring in the Algarve, please have a look at our website for nice self catering villas and contact me for availability, prices and more information.
We will publish more about the things to see and things to do in the Algarve, last minute super deals on our holiday villas in the Algarve, so why not subscribe to our Blog.
Algarve Housing rents villas in the Algarve, and we like to tell you about the Jewel of the Algarve, Lagos. We rent two villas,one Town House and onecountry side farm house called Quinta Alfarobeira. More details later.
Lagos Marina
Lagos is a unique little jewel in the Algarve. It has chosen to develop its tourism with taste and class. It offers a balance of the charm and history of the Portuguese culture with a blend of creature comforts and facilities to please the desires of the most discerning tourist. The warmth of Lagos and her people make it difficult to resist falling in love with this seaside town. I can only say that Lagos has a special something that you feel when you spend time here.
Lagos is a city along the Atlantic Ocean, in the Algarve, south of Portugal. Lagos is an ancient maritime town with more than 2,000 years of history. Moorish and Renaissance, from its fortress to its plethora of magnificent churches. While Lagos’ history is rich, it is the area’s fine beaches and beach bars, such as Bahia Beach Bar and Retiro do Marujo, which attract many of today’s visitors.
Lagos Beach
The beaches around Lagos are some of the most beautiful of the Algarve, like Praia de Dona Ana, which can be reached after a 25 minutes walk from the centre of the town, Praia do Camilo, a bit further on, and Meia Praia, whose sands stretch for 4 km (2.5 miles) east of Lagos. However, it is the promontory named Ponta da Piedade and sheltering the bay of Lagos which is most admired by visitors, with its caves, rocks and wonderfully transparent waters. North of Lagos, Barragem de Bravura is a water reservoir offering fine views
Apart from its animated lifestyle, the one learns that this was a fishing village and that its importance grew under the Arabs, which built several fortifications. It turned into an important naval centre in the age of the Discoveries, in the 15th century; became the capital of the Algarve from 1576 to 1756 and was greatly damaged by the earthquake of 1755; thus its beautiful 18th and 19th century buildings. A fine new marina welcomes boats sailing in from the Atlantic.
Lagos Golf
Famous golf courses, looking over the Atlantic Ocean are all a short drive a way.
Algarve Housing rent a beautiful restored luxury town house in the centre of Lagos, called Casa Urbano, that sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms, and has a beautiful Roman style private pool.
Quinta Alfarobeira, just outside Lagos, is a rustic farm style villa, that sleeps 4, with private pool in a beautiful garden. Please click on photo gallery (slide show) below to see the pictures and contact me for more details.
Would you like to keep updated about Places in the Algarve, Special Offers and Things to do in the Algarve, subscribe to our blog.
Warm Regards,
Michele
Would you like to keep updated about Places in the Algarve, Special Offers and Things to do in the Algarve, subscribe to our blog.
Algarve Housing rents villas in the Algarve, and also near Olhoa, time to tell you more about this un-spoilt, un known place in the East of the Algarve.
Pronounced “oll-yow”, Olhão is the Algarve’s largest fishing port. A rare gem, its centre is crumbling, charming, faded, and stuffed full of appealingly batty characters. The occasional tourist wanders about, wondering quite why they’re here. Olhão is a top place for a relaxing. The jewel in its crown isn’t actually in town, but a lovely ferry ride away….
Culatra, board walk to the Beach
Ria Formosa is an estuarine national park, with Olhão at its mouth and the wild Atlantic beyond. Around 80% of Portugal’s clams are fished here, around its four low islands. Farol and Armona are where Lisbon folk maintain their holiday homes; Deserta is a sandy empty place for the Robinson Crusoe in you; Culatra is where the fishermen live, and they are delighted for you to be as active as you wish, as long as that includes watching the waves, counting your toes, playing dominoes, drinking cold drinks, and eating delicious fish….. and enjoying the white sandy, long stretched beaches….
Church in Olhao
Olhoa
There are two market buildings side by side along the water front, which are a ‘must visit’ for the huge variety of extremely fresh fish and sea food straight from the port and the vast array of locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables. Olhão is well known for it’s fish market, in particular and if you haven’t got anywhere to cook some yourself, then try one of the numerous local cafes along the roadside nearby – you won’t be disappointed!
Terraces between the Markets, Olhao
The market halls are surrounded by pavement cafes and it’s a great place to sit and enjoy the view of the boats moored along the water front in the marina and the sand spit beach of the islands Armona and Culatra. Walk along the water front and through the gardens, sit outside a jazz cafe watching the boats, people cycling around and local people going about their day.
Walk into the historic heart of Olhão and the easiest road to follow is directly across from the gap between the market halls. Here, many of the buildings are the elegant merchant’s homes with wrought iron balconies, carved stonework and tile decorations and are such a contrast to the busy port area of Olhão. At the centre of the town at the end of Avenida da República, in the Praça da Restauração, is the church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário, built in 1698 with contributions from the fishermen when it was the first stone building in Olhão. It’s a very graceful building with a baroque facade and somehow quite a surprise!
In the surrounding narrow, cobbled streets are a wide variety of inviting shops and pavement cafes that tempt you to linger! Well, after the sightseeing you need a break! This historic area of the town is really rather picturesque and gives a totally different view of Olhão from the port and the fishermen’s quarter.
Olhão itself doesn’t have a beach as it is on the Ria Formosa lagoon system but the ferries for the Islands (Culatra, Armona, and Farol) run from the quayside near the gardens at the eastern end of the market halls. There are regular services throughout the year, although fewer in number during the winter.
Olhao is a place not to be missed, something different and worth a visit. Algarve Housing rent a very nice country side villa close to Olhoa, Quinta Rustica
Please contact me for more information, and if you would like to subscribe to our blog you will be always updated on information about the Algarve, Special Offers of our villas and new special villas we take on,
