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Olival da Colina Verde, Algoz , the Algarve

Self Catering Accommodation in Portugal

 

Silves … surrounded by the largest orange growing area in Portugal still retains its interest in cork production and processing.  It is a quiet but popular market town serving locals and tourists, all of whom take advantage of the active daily covered market. The town’s steep cobbled streets have a variety of restaurants and cafes to suit the occasion.

Silves

With such an eventful and important past it is hardly surprising that the town is so fascinating with the substantial remains of the huge red sandstone walls of the Castle. A tribute to the skills of the Moors who established Silves as the capital of their province of al-Gharb somewhere between the 11/13th centuries.  

Little remains of the castle but within the walls can be found exposed archæological digs and a modern (1941) bronze statue of Dom Sancho 1.  The grounds are planted with shady trees, shrubs and flowers and a walk around the battlements provides excellent views of the town and countryside.

Another feature is Sé Velha (Old Cathedral) also built from local red sandstone and possibly on the site of the Moorish mosque.

It is difficult today to appreciate the importance of the River Arade in the growth that was once enjoyed by Silves, but with the passing of time its economic, political, military influences and maritime importance was lost.  The river now only supports small tourist boats on day trips to and from Portimão.

Armação de Pêra … was for centuries a fishing village, a focal point for fishermen attracted by the abundance of fish, especially sardines and tuna and the industry continues today. Like most of the coastal towns in the Algarve tourism plays an important part in its survival but it does not appear to intrude on the everyday life.

Armação de Pêra boasts one of the longest beaches in the Algarve, some 3km of golden sands backed by rolling sand dunes  - a very traditional town with the older quarters cobbled streets bordered by colourful little houses.

The nightly fishing trips from Fisherman’s Beach provide the local restaurants with a plentiful supply of many varieties of fish. In the 17th century a wealthy owner of a fishing fleet constructed a small fort in order to provide protection against pirates and corsairs, these remains can be seen today forming part of a terrace overlooking the sea with sweeping views along the magnificent coastline.  

Set on the terrace is a tiny white-washed chapel of Santo-Antonio which also dates back to the 17th century.  Other buildings of interest are the main Church and the impressive Chalet das Palmeiras (Palm Tree Chalet), a red-painted house which overlooks the beautiful beaches.

Barragem do Arade Lake …

On the home page Map, a lake can be seen just above the road marked N124 near Cumeada.  This is the Barragem do Arade Lake which is within easy reach of Algoz.  Click on the link below and you will find 3 pages of useful information, directions and various photographs. Website:  http://www.carvoeiro.com/Guide/barragem/index.html

 

Alcantarilha … a very pretty little town - it is perched on a small hill Alcantarilhajust 3km inland from the beach resort of Armação de Pêra. There are three important church buildings, Misericordia (Mercy) Church, Our Lady of Carmo Chapel and the Parish Church, Our Lady “da Conceição” (16th Century) is famous for its rare 'Capela dos Ossos' (Chapel of Bones) a grim display of human skulls and bones sealed into the walls of the chapel. Nearby is the old Quinta do Rogel farm, a classified historical building complex that has now been restored as a small hotel and conference centre known as the Hotel Capela das Artes.  Although farming continues to be the main source of income for the town an overspill of visitors from the coast during the summer months bring in a welcome supplement.  For this reason over the past few years there has been an increase in Pastelarias and small restaurants.  Alcantarilha was awarded official town status in 1999 and presently has approximately 3,000 inhabitants.

 

For the Children …

There are always many wonderful beaches but for something different there is Krazy World.  Leaving Algoz on the Messines road you will come to this theme and amusement park, with swimming pools, etc., providing a great day of children’s entertainment.  In beautifully landscaped surroundings you will find mini-golf, a petting farm, pony rides, quad bikes and a fairground -  it is also home to the Algarve Zoo.  There are two mini golf courses.  The first is the Krazy Golf, 18 holes of mini-golf with obstacles to avoid, and there is also the Jungle golf course.  This is an 18-hole course set in prehistoric times.  The petting farm is a bit more exotic than you would find in the UK.  Instead of goats and rabbits, you’ll find lamas, deer, wallabies and even camels to make friends with. A favourite with children are the pony rides, where the trained staff will supervise children’s rides round the corral.

In the heat of the day, a swim in the large swimming pool may be in order.  There are sun-beds around it for your use.  Next to the pool is a children’s playground, with the usual swings and seesaws. There is also some adventure climbing equipment for them to play around on, while you relax with some cool refreshment. When you’ve got your energy back there is also a small children’s fairground with a few rides to entertain them until it’s time to leave. There are a number of bars throughout the park where you can quench your thirst.  If you’re hungry then you can try Marianna's Pizzaria serving pizzas, pastas and various other meals, as well as snacks all day long. Website: http://www.carvoeiro.com/Guide/krazyworld/

 

Armação de Pêra International Festival of Sand Sculptures ... is held every year from May to October.   It is an exhibition of huge proportions, each year being dedicated to a set theme.  It is the only festival of its type on the Iberian Peninsula for both its size and the quantities of sand used and has become the greatest exhibition of sculptures in the sand world.  The building process which starts with the technical preliminary preparation takes about 8 weeks. Following this, the park is opened to the public from 10am until midnight.  Visitors can visit the sand sculpture festival day and night for a reasonable entrance fee.  In the day time people watch the works of how the construction is completed, and admire their simple beauty. They can also make their own sculptures under the direction of the teachers in the places allocated to them, and enjoy the sun and the sand.  Nevertheless at night-time, the festival area takes on an entirely different atmosphere, with torches, special sound and light effects, laser shows, rockets, musical/dance/theatre performances. The sand sculptures really are a magical attraction.   Website:  http://www.fiesa.org/

 

Golf Enthusiasts …

There are many golf courses to choose from in the area but Herdade dos Salgados not far from Algoz can fit into just about any holiday itinerary.  It is far more than just a pretty view.  Visiting golfers will enjoy a terrific course that has a distinct links feel to it, but with an intricate network of lakes and streams worked throughout.  The 6,649 yard layout was originally conceived by Pedro de Vasconcelos, but has since been the subject of revision work, most notably by the Scotsman, Robert Muir Graves. The course has been sympathetically built into a protected wildlife area, where many rare bird species make their home.  Salgados has a tremendous variety of holes, ensuring that it is an intriguing test for golfers of all abilities.  The signature hole is arguably the first, where there is no easy opening - golfers must thread the ball onto a fairway bordered on both sides by threatening water features.