Tourist Attractions & Monuments Portugal

This is the cave you will see on all postcards in the Algarve, the most famous and impressive of all! Sculpted by waves, this huge cavity is only accessible by sea. Its beauty is such that there is no shortage of boats to take you there, from Benagil, Carvoeiro, Ferragudo and even Portimão! You will probably be approached to be offered an expedition to her. A minor drawback: many people obviously go there....

The Seven Suspended Valleys trail connects the beaches of Praia de Vale Centianes and Praia des Marinha by following the coast for 5.4 km. The landscape varies from pine forests, golden beaches and steep cliffs. Approach the abysses dug by erosion to hear the deafening roar of the sea and feel like you are in the bowels of the earth. Be careful, the path has few shaded areas, bring a cap and water. Possibility to eat at the start or on the beach of Benagil. Plan the day or a return by bus.

We can see it in the distance when we arrive at Tomar. The closer you get to it, the more its shape manifests itself. This medieval castle is located on Linha do Tejo, the defensive line of castle built from Santarém to protect the capital (Coimbra) of the Moors at the time of the reconquest of the Kingdom in the 12th century by Christians. Construction began in 1160 at the same time as the Charola of Convento do Cristo and Almourol Castle near Abrantes, under the leadership of Templar Master D. Gualdim Pais. According to historical writings, Tomar Castle was used as a refuge by Christians during the six days of attacks by the Moorish Caliph Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur. A plaque near the entrance to the church commemorates this victory, and a gate of the fortress was named "the gate of blood". This castle was the residence of Infanta Henrique and Manuel I in the 15th century, then João III in the 16th century. The military fortress combines the romantic, Gothic and Renaissance styles, and is composed of a double belt of walls that bounded the first village and the square of arms. The first wall of pentagonal shape is called the citadel (alcáçova) and is enhanced by the keep, the Torre de Menagem, a type of construction introduced by the Templars into the country. The round church of the castle (rotunda), like some other Templar churches in Europe, is said to have been built on the model of the Omar Mosque in Jerusalem, which the Crusaders mistakenly believed to be a relic of Solomon's Temple.

It would be a great omission not to visit the Ria Formosa Natural Park during a stay in the Algarve, and almost impossible, it must be said.... It has all the qualities for beautiful walks: pristine and sublime beaches, picturesque islands on which many fishermen have been settled for years, a unique ecosystem, a unique flora and population of atypical birds (observable especially in spring and autumn, during migration periods). Researchers from all over the world are interested in this area, studying the variation of currents and channels. Here, the dunes are not necessarily formed by the wind as is the case elsewhere....

It is in fact a large marsh that extends from Vale de Lobo to Tavira, covering the coasts of Quinta do Lago, Faro, Olhão, Fuzeta and Santa Luzia, among others. Recognized as a natural park since 1987, Ria Formosa extends over some 60 kilometres and covers just over 18,000 hectares. Dunes protect the coast and inland marshes from the roughness of the Atlantic Ocean, which, during severe storms, does not hesitate to wipe out some sandbanks with houses, as was the case in winter 2009-2010. The lagoon is much wider at Faro than at Tavira. The authorities recognize five islands: Barreta, Culatra, Armona, Tavira Island and Cabanas Island for those who want to feel alone in the world.

He alone deserves to be seen all over Europe. This park stretches over a little over 100 km, from Porto Covo in the Alentejo to Burgau, east of Sagres in the Algarve, at the very end of Europe. How can you remain insensitive to the character of its steep and severe cliffs, to its palette of colours as numerous as there are minutes of sunshine in a day, to the calm of its beaches? The white stork makes its nest here.

This huge beach is famous for its beauty and its warm and calm waters in summer. From there, you can see a magnificent view of the surrounding landscape, the island of Tavira, the bay of Monte Gordo, the church and the fortress of Cacela Velha. At low tide you can reach it on foot, but at high tide you will have to swim or ask the local fishermen who offer a boat ride to Praia da Fabrica, which is just as charming. Praia de Cacela Velha is frequented by naturist enthusiasts, among others, as well as by the LGBT community.

Its strategic position made it possible to protect the estuary. It was built around a watchtower erected during the reign of João II (1481-1495). Ferragudo didn't even exist yet. It was only later (mid-16th century) that the first defensive walls appeared. The final construction of the rampart dates back to 1643. After the earthquake of 1755, he went through very difficult times. Poorly maintained, it lost some of its prestige until the beginning of the 20th century, when the poet Coelho Carvalho undertook work to turn it into a residence.

This is one of the most beautiful beaches on the coast, if not the most beautiful, a superb site protected by black cliffs that are among the highest in the area. The path leading to the beach is worth the detour alone because it runs along a stream that crosses the valley before flowing into the ocean. Wide, the beach is covered with pebbles on which the vegetation has taken the time to cling. Some areas have become the playground of surfers. Before you go, check if it is safe to swim.

Built between 1962 and 1966 (during the dictatorship), it is 3.2 km long and 70 m high. The old "Salazar Bridge" was renamed during the "Carnation Revolution", the date of which it now recalls. You will certainly find it some airs (not only by its colors) of the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco, what could be more normal! It is the same company that made it, the American Bridge Company, respecting the seismic standards. We drive through it by car, by train. Once a year, you can even cross it on foot, but only if you take part in the Lisbon half-marathon. Very much used by the inhabitants during rush hours to get to their workplace, or on weekends to go to the beautiful beaches of the South, it is therefore almost constantly congested. All the more so as in summer there are cars of tourists who go to the beach every day. So don't be in a hurry and take your pain in your stride. Since 1998, it is no longer alone, since the Vasco de Gama bridge spans the Tagus d'Oriente at the concelhos de Montijo and Alcochete ; a project for a third bridge from Chelas to Barreiro for high-speed trains (Lisboa/Porto and Lisboa/Madrid) is under study. Since 2017, the Pilar 7 experience has been open, a new viewpoint built on the 7th pylon of the bridge. At night, you can see it illuminated (until midnight only), standing proudly above the buildings.