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The Algarve, Portugal

Stretching from the Spanish Border to the wild cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at Cape St. Vincent - the Algarve has really only been developed since the Carnation Revolution of the 1970s – prior to this it was a coastline that depended on fishing and farming for its livelihood.  With the rise in mass tourism this area took off and today is a mix of past and present but it retains so much of its original charm. 

Only in this area can the people find 365 ways to cook Bacalhau (salted cod) – this speciality is sold in all the supermarkets and purchasing this delicacy can be tricky as there are so many different qualities and expertise is needed to cook it and make it palatable. 

Only these people could find new ways to use the cork that for hundreds of years sealed the wine bottles of Europe.  Now they are making handbags, aprons, briefcases from the product that takes ten years to mature on the tree.

Blow away the cobwebs on the cliffs at Fin do Mondo (World’s End) as Cape St. Vincent is known and gaze out over the waves to the distant horizon where the next stop is the New World. This is where Henry the Navigator started his school and from this point explorers ventured out to find new territories.

Traces of its Moorish past

Step back in time and visit Silves that still holds traces of its Moorish past which boasted marble-clad palaces and bazaars full of Eastern treasures.  You can feel the past whispering in your ear when you walk around the castle which overshadows the town.

Drive up the steep road to Monchique – highest peak in the area that gives a view of the whole coastal plain and stop off at Caldas de Monchique a magical hidden valley that time seems to have forgotten where the waters bubble up from far underground to create a thermal spa.

Tourism has only developed south of the motorway which runs almost the whole length of the area.  If you go north into the Alentejo you will see the Portugal of the past.  Fields of wild flowers spring up between the olives and cork oaks in the springtime spreading a patchwork of white, purple, yellow and mauve as far as the eye can see.  This is the real Portugal where small villages with the authentic tiled houses provide tourists with a chance to buy from the locals and experience a slower pace of life.

Walk to the Fonte de Benemola for a taste of the Algarvian countryside which will contrast sharply with the more developed coastal areas.  Join in a village festival for the fun of the music, noisy fireworks and taste the local wine with kebabs cooked over smoky wood fires.

Eat fresh sardines in a seaside restaurant.  You will know that these have been freshly caught that morning and your nose will lead you to the most popular which advertise themselves with a delicious scent. 

Red sandstone cliffs

Visit Praia da Rocha as the sun goes down and enjoy the changing colours of the red sandstone cliffs and rocks and look out over the bay to Lagos which at a distance seems to cling to the rocks in a helter-skelter of white buildings.

Spend a lazy day on the beach and visit one of the barrier islands such as the Ilha da Tavira and find your own private paradise among the sand dunes – get away from the hoards and enjoy the peace and quiet of the long seascapes watched over by the wheeling seagulls.

Visit the sophisticated Old Town of Faro, the capital of the area with its shops, cafes and museums.  The Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of the Bones) is a must - a chapel made of the bones of the past Carmelite monks. This memento mori will put a frisson of terror down the backbone of the visitor reading the inscription over the door “Stop here and think of the fate that will befall you”.

If you are looking for shopping then the Saturday market at Loule is the place to pick up bargains. People come from far and wide to browse through the varied stalls.  The markets of Lagos and Portimao offer the aspiring cook the opportunity to buy the freshest fish, vegetables and fruit to create their own dishes. 

Lastly the golf courses that abound in the area give the visitor the opportunity to play on championship courses such as Val do Lobo and Penina or the lesser well known greens of Alto Golf and Carvoeiro.

Truly magnificent

This is an area of immense diversity with something for everyone and promises the visitor everything that will make their stay truly memorable. There is always a reason to come back to explore more of this magnificent region.