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Published: 31 August 2017

Hits: 8105

Silves, the original capital of the Algarve, sits overlooking the River Arade and is approximately 8kms north of Lagoa. Under the Moors the town has been known as Xelb, Xilb and al-Shilb.

Whether you are planning to live and work in the Algarve, retire or invest, the region has something for all.

Silves is well placed in central Algarve, just 12kms from an International School, and not far from Faro airport, public and private hospitals, and also a motorway network connecting the Algarve to the rest of Portugal and Spain. There are various supermarkets catering to all tastes and diets plus a local market offering fresh local products.

Whilst infrastructure is important, so too is lifestyle and in the Algarve, you can enjoy whatever pace of life you prefer. The region offers year-round cultural events, an international racetrack, major golfing tournaments and much more for visitors and residents alike. With many of the Algarve’s beaches winning the Blue Flag the coast is an important asset for residents and a major tourist attraction.

Silves is a quiet town, due to its location away from the coast, however as a community it has much to offer. The municipal pool is close to the river with a running track/path placed around it, planted with gardens and an outdoor gym and skate park. The tennis club is located close to the centre of town and there is a golf course on the outskirts with other golf courses just a short drive away. With cycling routes, dance groups, various gyms and centres to enjoy yoga, tai chi etc you can remain fit and healthy. There are also great opportunities to enjoy bird watching and make use of the many local walking trails. For those who prefer less energetic activities there are choirs, amateur dramatic groups, bands and much more to keep you busy.

Most faiths are represented in the region offering the opportunity to worship locally.

Restaurants and bars

There is a wide selection of bars, restaurants and cafés in the town offering traditional Portuguese cuisine and friendly faces.

To download a guide to the Algarve’s wine, click here

For a Cataplana recipe book click here

For traditional Portuguese recipes download here

Shopping

There are shops in the town centre for your everyday needs along with a couple of large supermarkets on the edge of the town. With shopping malls in Portimão to the west and Algarve Shopping in Guia (near Albufeira) to the east, shoppers will find all their favourite stores close by.  With plenty of seats in the sun, restaurants and cafés in both Aqua and Algarve Shopping, plus a multi-screen cinema in the latter, late-night shopping means you can work or relax throughout the day.

Events

Throughout the year there are many fairs, festivals and shows, too many to list however, for up-to-date information on current events click here

History

The Romans are thought to have founded the town of Silves which became the capital of the Algarve until Lagos took the title in 1577, followed by Faro in 1756. It is situated on the River Arade which was navigable by large vessels until the 19th century and offers the opportunity to visit the town of Silves from Portimão by boat.

Silves Castle dates to more than 2,000 years and has been devastated by various earthquakes. The last restoration of the walls took place in the 1940s and more recently the cistern, 5m deep, was renovated to allow exhibitions to be held within it. Walking along the wall walk, visitors can look down on the excavated ruins of the Almohad-era palace and also enjoy vistas of the surrounding orange groves and the town itself.

It is believed that King Afonso III was responsible for starting the construction of Silves’ sé (cathedral) on the site of the Moor’s mosque, sometime after 1242. Works proceeded with difficulty and it was only finished in the early 16th century. It has a substantially unaltered Gothic interior and is very simple in its decoration, including many tombs of local nobles. The sculpture of Christ, Senhor dos Passos, housed within the cathedral is a main figure in the town’s Easter procession.

Silves’ archaeological museum is sited up against the castle walls and around a cistern well found in the 1980s. It houses various finds from the town and its environs, with the oldest dating back to Paleolithic times.

The limestone Cruz de Portugal, sited on the road to São Bartolomeu de Messines, is thought to have been made in the late 15th century. It is believed that it was much taller than its current 3m and was placed atop buildings for a point of reference.

If you are feeling in need of an active history lesson, an interesting trail to follow in the Algarve is the Umayyad Route, the path which the Arabs travelled throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Europe starting in the 8th century through to the 13th.

For more information on the area click here

Details

Published: 31 August 2017

Hits: 9331

Salema is a small coastal village, set on a wide bay with many small beaches close by and various walks across the cliffs for the more energetic visitor.

Whether you are planning to live and work in the Algarve, retire or invest, the region has something for all.

Salema is placed on the edge of the national park known as Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina (Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Nature Park). There are two International Schools nearby; Vale Verde in Burgau and Barlavento International Primary School, with Faro airport, public and private hospitals, and also a motorway network connecting the Algarve to the rest of Portugal and Spain easily accessible.

Whilst infrastructure is important, so too is lifestyle and in the Algarve, you can enjoy whatever pace of life you prefer. The region offers year-round cultural events, an international racetrack, major golfing tournaments and much more for visitors and residents alike. With many of the Algarve’s beaches winning the Blue Flag the coast is an important asset for residents and a major tourist attraction.

Salema has a year-round international community living in its environs. For those enjoying sports there is much to choose from; tennis, golf courses, cycling routes, diving, surfing, bird watching and walking to name but a few. For those who prefer less energetic activities there are choirs, amateur dramatic groups, bands and much more in the region to keep you busy.

Most faiths are represented in the region offering the opportunity to worship locally.

Restaurants and bars

There are many places to eat and drink in Salema. Being a fishermen’s village, freshly caught fish and shellfish is always on the menu.

To download a guide to the Algarve’s wine, click here

For a Cataplana recipe book click here

For traditional Portuguese recipes download here

Shopping

There are several small supermarkets in the village with Vila do Bispo, Sagres and Praia da Luz a short drive away where you will find larger supermarkets and daily markets selling fresh fish, fruit, vegetables, dried fruit and preserves.

There are two shopping malls to the east; one in Portimão and the second, Algarve Shopping, in Guia (near Albufeira) where shoppers will find all their favourite stores. With plenty of seats in the sun, restaurants and cafés and a multi-screen cinema located in Algarve Shopping, the late-night shopping means you can work or relax throughout the day.

Events

Throughout the year there are many fairs, festivals and shows, too many to list however, for up-to-date information on current events click here

History

Salema is historically a fishing village and as such there is little in the way of history to see. However, at the western end of the beach dinosaur footprints, discovered in 1995, can be seen.

The Forte de São Luís de Almadena is set on the cliffs in the direction of Burgau. It was built in the 17th century but damaged in the 1755 earthquake and was then abandoned in the mid-19th century.

Nearby, the parish church of Vila do Bispo, Nossa Senhora da Conceição, is worth a visit. It was finished in the late 18th century and is richly ornamented with Baroque elements throughout. There is a museum attached to the church.

During the 15th century Sagres, just 17kms away, was the base for the Voyages of Discovery, instigated by Prince Henry the Navigator, when trade between Africa and Portugal brought a great deal of wealth to the Algarve. There is a fortress that includes a church, museum, outdoor compass and also the lighthouse on Ponta de Sagres, with a light that reaches 20kms out to sea.

If you are feeling in need of an active history lesson, an interesting trail to follow in the Algarve is the Umayyad Route, the path which the Arabs travelled throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Europe starting in the 8th century through to the 13th.

For more information on place of interest in the area click here for Vila do Bispo and here for Lagos.

Details

Published: 31 August 2017

Hits: 9540

Praia da Luz was once a sleepy village but has now grown into a vibrant town with a beautiful beach.

Whether you are planning to live and work in the Algarve, retire or invest, the region has something for all.

Praia da Luz is well placed in the western Algarve, being close to two International Schools; Barlavento International Primary School and Vale Verde in Burgau, Faro airport, public and private hospitals, and also a motorway network connecting the Algarve to the rest of Portugal and Spain.

Whilst infrastructure is important, so too is lifestyle and in the Algarve, you can enjoy whatever pace of life you prefer. The region offers year-round cultural events, an international racetrack, major golfing tournaments and much more for visitors and residents alike. With many of the Algarve’s beaches winning the Blue Flag the coast is an important asset for residents and a major tourist attraction.

Praia da Luz has a year-round international community living in the town and its environs. For those enjoying sports there are tennis clubs, various golf courses a short drive away, cycling routes, a diving centre, dance groups, various gyms and centres to enjoy yoga, tai chi etc plus great local areas for bird watching and the opportunity to enjoy walking trails. For those who prefer less energetic activities there are local choirs, amateur dramatic groups, bands and much more to keep you busy.

Most faiths are represented in the region offering the opportunity to worship locally.

Restaurants and bars

One thing you will not be short of in Praia da Luz is somewhere to eat and drink. There is a wide selection of bars, restaurants and cafés offering a choice of different cuisines.

To download a guide to the Algarve’s wine, click here

For a Cataplana recipe book click here

For traditional Portuguese recipes download here

Shopping

There are several small supermarkets (including a Spar) plus a main supermarket, Baptista, close to the church for your everyday needs and also a very well-stocked shop selling natural products (Harmony Earth, close to Baptista) for any alternative products you might want. If there is anything else you need, Lagos is a short drive away where you will find several large supermarkets, a daily market in the renovated fish market selling fresh fish, fruit, vegetables, dried fruit and preserves.

There are two shopping malls a short drive away, one in Portimão and Algarve Shopping in Guia (near Albufeira), both to the east, where shoppers will find all their favourite stores. With plenty of seats in the sun, restaurants and cafés and a multi-screen cinema located in Algarve Shopping, the late-night shopping means you can work or relax throughout the day.

Events

Throughout the year there are many fairs, festivals and shows, too many to list however, for up-to-date information on current events click here

History

Portuguese historians have been able to prove that there have been settlements around Luz for millennia with many cultures leaving their mark.

During the Middle Ages the village of Luz was known as Nossa Senhora da Luz which was changed in the vernacular to Praia da luz in the early 20th century.

There are some Roman ruins of a bathing complex hidden just behind the wall that runs along the promenade. Other Roman ruins of a salting and processing centre can be found further away from the centre.

Three factories dedicated to the preserving of tuna and sardines were based in Luz, with figs being the other main commodity that were exported from the village.

With Luz being susceptible to attacks by Moors, as was most of the Algarve coast, a fortress was built opposite the church, Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Luz. The church, along with the village, was decimated by the 1755 earthquake and was rebuilt in 1874.

If you are feeling in need of an active history lesson, an interesting trail to follow in the Algarve is the Umayyad Route, the path which the Arabs travelled throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Europe starting in the 8th century through to the 13th.

For more information on place of interest in the area click here for Vila do Bispo and here for Lagos.

Details

Published: 31 August 2017

Hits: 8073

Porches still has a rural, sleepy feel about it, even though the village is alive with restaurants, cafés and the odd festival.

Whether you are planning to live and work in the Algarve, retire or invest, the region has something for all.

Porches is well placed in central Algarve, being close to an International School, Faro airport, public and private hospitals, and also a motorway network connecting the Algarve to the rest of Portugal and Spain. There are a few local shops in the village with various supermarkets nearby that cater to all tastes and diets. Markets offering fresh local products can be found in Lagoa and Armação de Pera.

Whilst infrastructure is important, so too is lifestyle and in the Algarve, you can enjoy whatever pace of life you prefer. The region offers year-round cultural events, an international racetrack, major golfing tournaments and much more for visitors and residents alike. With many of the Algarve’s beaches winning the Blue Flag the coast is an important asset for residents and a major tourist attraction.

The village of Porches is known for its pottery and in days gone by also for wine. Tennis clubs, various golf courses, cycling routes, diving centres, dance groups, various gyms and centres to enjoy yoga, tai chi etc are a short drive away plus great local areas for bird watching and the opportunity to enjoy walking trails. For those who prefer less energetic activities there are local choirs, amateur dramatic groups, bands and much more to keep you busy.

Most faiths are represented in the region offering the opportunity to worship locally.

Restaurants and bars

Porches has quite a few places to eat and drink with a far selection of bars, restaurants and cafés.

To download a guide to the Algarve’s wine, click here

For a Cataplana recipe book click here

For traditional Portuguese recipes download here

Shopping

There are a few local shops and a chemist in the village with various supermarkets close by in both Lagoa and Armação de Pera. With shopping malls in Portimão to the west and Algarve Shopping in Guia (near Albufeira) to the east shoppers will find all their favourite stores close by.  With plenty of seats in the sun, restaurants and cafés and a multi-screen cinema located in Algarve Shopping, the late-night shopping means you can work or relax throughout the day.

Events

Throughout the year there are many fairs, festivals and shows, too many to list however, for up-to-date information on current events click here

History

An old Roman and medieval settlement known as Porches Velhos is thought to be the origin of what is now known as Porches, although there is evidence that there has been continuous occupation dating back to the Neolithic Age. With its narrow streets, friendly community and a sleepy nod to the past, the village is a haven of peace.

The parish church, Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Encarnação, was built in the 19th century on the site of an earlier building which was razed by the 1755 earthquake. The stations of the cross were designed by Patrick Swift, one of the founders of Olaria Algarve (Porches Pottery).

Built on a narrow promontory on the coast but still part of the Porches parish, the chapel of Our Lady of the Rock forms part of the now non-existant fort, Forte de Nossa Senhora da Rocha. The chapel has a large rectangular narthex (antechamber), open to the exterior, through a triple arcade of columns and two Corinthian capitals (chapiters) dating to the 3rd/4th century, an octagonal cupola and it also incorporates stones from Roman and medieval buildings found locally.

If you are feeling in need of an active history lesson, an interesting trail to follow in the Algarve is the Umayyad Route, the path which the Arabs travelled throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Europe starting in the 8th century through to the 13th.

For more information on the area click here