Tourist Attractions & Monuments Algarve

Following the Ria from the city centre southwards, we arrive at the beginning of the road to Praia Barril. The beach is reached in 15-20 minutes by foot or by a small train. The destination is popular, especially on weekends, but its miles of sand will allow you to find a place to yourself. Barril was an old fishing village, and today it remains a tuna museum and an anchor cemetery that the boats left there when the fishing stopped. On site also a restaurant, a bar and two snacks.

Built on the site of the former Arab mosque, this cathedral (Sé) is an eclectic mix of different styles. One of the side naves was built in pure Gothic style, while the other two have many Baroque elements. You can also admire the tomb of King João II who died during a medical stay in Monchique (located about ten kilometres to the west) in 1495. However, his remains were transferred to the Batalha Monastery in 1499. Nice visit to an important building.

Perched atop its cliff, it seems to mark the end of a world. By rushing into it, we have a vague impression of leaving the planet earth for an unknown universe. Initially built in the 15th century, redesigned according to Vauban's constructions in the 18th century, it was disfigured in the 20th century by a concrete block for trading. The mosaic compass rose is said to date from the time of Henry the Navigator and to have served as an instrument for the nautical school he founded in Sagres.

The car parked at the top of the cliff, only 200 meters left before walking to the tip.... Sit down, take the time to look at the small beach that has emerged over the centuries, on the left, before contemplating, on the right, the rest of the bay, immense. Here fresh and salt water meet to feed the marshes that give birth on the beach. In season, it will always be possible to rent canoes and venture out on the river to return inland to discover a very active wildlife.

Don't miss this amazing parish church whose interior walls are covered with azulejos. Its painted ceiling highlights the altarpiece and the nave is covered with splendid brutesco style coffers. According to historians, the baroque decoration of the whole was completed in 1726. Historians are also convinced that the tiles came from Lisbon, because at that time no local craftsman could have produced them. The visit ends in one of the buildings adjoining the church where a small museum of sacred art is hidden.

The beach of Sagres is the easiest to reach. Much less sheltered from the wind than the neighboring beach of Beliche, Tonel is a favorite spot for windsurfers. From the sand, you can see on the left the fortress of Henry the Navigator. The ochre-blond color of the cliffs and the clarity of the water contribute greatly to the beauty of the site. The access to the beach was dug naturally, thanks to water infiltrations. The regular fall of stones on the beach reminds us that erosion continues its work.

It is one of the most powerful lighthouses in Europe. Built in 1904, it has a light that can be seen at a distance of 90 km. Inside, its small museum, which can be visited in a maximum of 30 minutes, recalls the importance of the place. The lighthouse is surrounded by a fortress built in the 16th century to protect itself from the Moors' offensives. Legend has it that the walls were built over an ancient medieval convent, where the remains of Saint Vincent are believed to be.

On this square, in the heart of the city, there is a beautiful architectural complex that does not go unnoticed. The former Renaissance palace of King Sebastian dominates the scene. On the other side of Praça Infante Henrique, the small customs post is one of the few remains that shows that in the past the most important slave market in Europe was located here, as early as 1444. A museum is dedicated to the memory of the Mercado de Escravos. Jewellery, coins and skeletons discovered during work on a car park are presented in a very simple way

A 3 km walkway has been built on a pretty wooden footbridge, overlooking the immense Praia de Alvor on one side and the Ria do Alvor on the other. It is ideal for bird watching (especially during migration) and enjoying the calm of the area. All this while digesting a good meal taken in the village or before a sunbathing break. You will take the time you need to take this short walk, which is essential if you are travelling through Alvor.

This beautiful church housed the Saint-Sébastien chapel, whose first stones were laid at the beginning of the 18th century. Observers will find confirmation at the base of the arch, the date "17-40" is engraved there. The brotherhood was known to have a large religious influence on the lives of its contemporaries. The sacristy, far from its original purpose of serving as a space to store sacred vessels and priestly vestments, houses a small museum of sacred art.

It is obvious that it was not built there by chance. Older civilizations had already chosen this site as a strategic military point. The first traces would even go back to the Iron Age, around 1100 BC. Two towers still stand and mark the end of a long wall that has hardly been altered since its construction. Inside, we can see an Arabic cistern. If some effort is required to achieve this, the beautiful view from the heights is the right reward.

Succumbing to the charms of the beautiful Tavira from the window of the Delgaturis is almost a guilt. The complete fifty-minute circuit takes you to the left and right banks of the stone city. It begins rue Jacques Pessoa, before going to the city hall, the church of São Paulo and of course the castle overlooking the city. The small train crosses the river on four occasions, so enjoy the beautiful panorama.

The Jewish cemetery in Faro is the only post-Inquisition remnant of the Jewish presence in the Algarve. The first person to be buried there was Rabbi Joseph Toledano, and the last burial was in 1932. After being abandoned for several decades, it was finally restored in the 1980s. The cemetery has a total of 107 graves. Within the perimeter there is a museum dedicated to Jewish traditions and a synagogue.

A quiet and unusual beach that Sagres surfers frequent assiduously. Small, it is also an excellent spot for snorkeling to observe the fish that roam around. The left side of the beach is quieter because it is protected by steep rocky walls, but it is also the naturist's corner. Part of Zavial is only accessible on foot. There are some small paths on the cliffs for those who like hiking, the opportunity to observe endemic plants and junipers

The wetland covers two thirds of the reserve, which covers 2,089 ha. The last third is occupied by hills and agricultural land. There are salt marshes where many migratory birds nest. Hiking trails allow you to discover some of the 180 species that make up the reserve, including the perna-longa (long black beak and long red legs). If you come early, flamingos are generally relatively easy to observe.