Thoughts of taking a holiday in the Algarve are quite often centred on those Algarve villas located close to the sea with entertainments for the kids and loud music, dancing, bars and restaurants for the adults. But there is another side to the Algarve, an altogether gentler, more sedate side that is just as appealing albeit for different reasons. Truly Algarve specialise in Algarve villas in Monchique, Silves and Loule and the beautiful inland areas of Portugal’s Algarve.
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Algarve villas in Monchique
Monchique is a market town in the Serra de Monchique, which is a wooded mountainous region separating the Algarve from Alentejo. Nestled between the two highest peaks in the Algarve, it is located to the northwest of the region and is one of the area’s most beautiful towns. It has remained largely unaffected by tourism with many of the townsfolk still working in farming or in wood and cork production, as their fathers and forefathers did before them.
A 17th Century Franciscan monastery overlooks the town, offering a panoramic view over the peaceful countryside . On a clear day if you make your way to the highest point, Foia which is 902 metres above sea level, you’ll be rewarded with truly breathtaking views. You can see over to Cape St. Vincent in the west, Faro in the east and the Serra da Arrabida, near Lisbon in the north. Take a coat with you though because it can get quite chilly at that altitude.
The narrow cobbled streets of Monchique are lined by whitewashed houses which criss-cross their way up the hillside but, whilst they may resemble those found on the coast, with their white walls and bands of colour around the windows and doors that is where any similarity between inland and coastal Algarve ends. Coastal Algarve is all holiday homes, hotels and tourism, the Monchique is the epitome of rural charm, exuding peace and tranquillity.
The town’s central square has an attractive paved area with seating benches and a lovely water feature. It is the ideal setting for a holiday break designed to refresh and revive the soul. There are natural hot springs nearby, said to have healing properties but in truth, a visit here is healing in itself. Look out for the spa of Caldas de Monchique; the Romans built baths here to utilise the natural spring waters and today a thermal treatment centre exists to treat rheumatism and respiratory illnesses.
There are a number of cafe bars and restaurants in the town serving up delightful and typically Algarvean fare, many of which will also serve Medronho, a local brew made from the fruits of the arbutus or strawberry tree. It is an acquired taste and quite strong but it is good for clearing the sinuses. Those of you with a sweet tooth should head for the pastelarias where you’ll find delicious cakes and desserts made with local honey.
Algarve villas in Silves
The first things you’ll notice on approach to Silves are the impressive castle and cathedral that sit atop a hill above the town. The Castelo de Silves is now the best preserved castle in the Algarve. It is classified a National Monument and has been the subject of extensive restoration works which have involved rebuilding sections of walls and some of its eleven towers which were severely damaged by the earthquake of 1755. Silves cathedral is one of the Algarve’s few remaining gothic monuments; sitting alongside the castle it houses several ancient tombs.
Located on the banks of the Arade River, the town is steeped in history, everywhere you look you’ll see reminders of its affluent past. Silves was once the main shipping access to inland Algarve but nowadays the river is too silted up for large vessels to use.
Like many towns in Portugal’s Algarve, Silves is constructed around a central square; the very pretty Praça do Municipio, with its palms and flowers has beautifully tended gardens and a newly paved river frontage. The town’s market building is on the main street opposite the river along which you’ll find numerous cafés with outside seating taking advantage of the lovely river views. Within the town, there are cobbled streets lined with cafés and shops and some quite beautiful buildings dating back to the time when Silves was a rich merchants town
Like Monchique, Silves is very relaxed and has history in abundance but time and a willingness to move with it have seen cafés and housing erected in close proximity to some of the more ancient buildings. The river is still utilised commercially but on a much smaller scale; there are boat trips from Portimão to Silves along the Rio Arade, which give the visitor time to look around the town and stop for coffee (just over an hour) before returning whilst the tide is still high enough for the boats to make the return journey.
The relaxed pace of life in Silves makes it ideal for a truly restful break. There are plenty of eateries around the town and a good selection of bars and cafés too. The local authority has tried to ensure that the most notable, historic and picturesque areas are presented in the best possible light, attracting visitors and tempting them to stay for longer as a result. That said, they have been at pains to ensure that the town has not lost its typically Algarvean appeal and that it remains both charming and picturesque.
Not far from the coast, Silves provides idyllic country living with the opportunity to spend days by the seaside should you so wish and for the children, there is the slide and splash water park at Lagoa, Lagos zoo with its famous monkey islands and Zoomarine at Guia with its dolphins and sea lions.
Algarve villas in Loulé
The first thing you’ll notice as you approach Loulé from along the A22, is a curious dome shaped building set high on a hill. This landmark building is in fact a church; the church of Nossa Senhora da Piedade or “Our Lady of Mercy or Piety.” It looks from the inside, more like a modern concert hall than a place of worship and from the outside, all painted in Algarvean white, it looks for all the world like a spaceship likely to disappear upwards at any moment.
Loulé has all the amenities you’d expect of a fully functioning, self sufficient town. There’s a fine selection of art galleries and many shops concerned with producing and selling souvenir items made of copper, leather, cane and wood, to service the tourist industry. A weekly fair attracts visitors from all over the Algarve and the annual carnival held in February is considered to be one of the best in Portugal. Markets are held regularly on Saturday mornings and there is also a very good daily (except Sundays) market to be found on Praça da República.
Most of the touristy bits of Loulé, including the remains of a 12th century Arabic castle and the 13th Century Church of São Clemente are contained within a relatively small area of the town and due to its layout it is quite easy to miss them, seeing the town as nothing more than a modern shopping area with very little character. Best advice is to buy a local map, this will point out the areas of historic interest and in this way you’ll avoid wasting time and shoe leather wandering the streets. Many of the places of historical interest in the town are surrounded by quaint little cobbled streets that play host to restaurants, cafés and shops, so there is plenty to do and see in these areas and the town’s council has ensured that these areas are as attractive as they can possibly be, paying close attention to the cleanliness of the streets and the beauty of the gardens.
Loulé carnival is one of the biggest events in Loulé and is famous across the Algarve. It takes places in February (over 3 days, ending on Shrove Tuesday and is a truly colourful affair, reminiscent of the Brazilian carnivals. People come from all over the Algarve to watch the processions and join in with the party atmosphere as everyone takes to the streets. It is something of a tradition at carnival time for people to throw water bombs and eggs etc, so if you are attending the carnival, it is probably better to go in an old pair of jeans and a top that you’re not precious about. The town centre is shut off during carnival so get there early for parking and admission.
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