The Joys Of The Algarve Inward Depression Season

Last March I went to Portugal for the 2nd time. Apart from spending a few days inwards Lisbon, which is speedily becoming 1 of my favourite European cities, I finally went to the Algarve, the southernmost share of Portugal, famous for its beaches in addition to real popoular amongst British tourists. Even though I am non a beach or a political party person, I barbarous inwards honey amongst pictures of the cliffs in Algrave in addition to amongst those bizarre stone formations jutting out of the sea. 

Portugal is a special country for me. I honey the people, thus eager to present their petty corner of Europe to anybody who cares to listen. I crave its delicious food: the 101 bacalhau recipes, the vinho verde and the delicious pastéis de nata still warm from the bakery. And in conclusion but non least, I adore the rich history of Portugal, amongst its glorious in addition to night periods alike: the historic catamenia of discoveries as a counterpart to the gloomy Salazar years. 

Lagos

Lagos is the house I enjoyed the most inwards the Algarve in addition to where I spent most of my time. Not alone is the town actually charming, amongst whitewashed petty houses in addition to cobbled streets, but simply a brusque walk away I had the pleasance to meet amongst my ain eyes these amazing cliffs that I had alone seen inwards photos. If yous desire to autumn inwards honey amongst Portugal in addition to amongst the Algarve, simply teach to Lagos.

The wild landscape to a greater extent than or less Lagos

The quondam town of Lagos is undoubtedly touristy, amongst plenty of bars catering for the British tourists that invade it inwards the summer. This agency tapas and piri piri chicken inwards many places, fifty-fifty if they are non actually Portuguese. However, if yous facial expression harder it's slow to detect authentic local cuisine, for example cataplana de peixe (a delicious fish stew amongst tomatoes, potatoes in addition to onions) or arroz de tamboril (rice amongst monkfish). Seen the reasonable prices of restaurants, fifty-fifty inwards such a touristic place, I made certain to create as many Portuguese nutrient as I could. I was at that spot at the halt of March, which is nevertheless low season in addition to I appreciated the lack of tourist crowds. However, if I had decided to teach at that spot to political party I would direct maintain been mostly disappointed, as during depression flavour the town is pretty much dead past times nine inwards the evening.

A street inwards Lagos

The best affair I did inwards Lagos was spending a whole morning time hiking along the gorgeous cliffs in addition to secluded beaches of the area. I started inwards Praia da Batata, which is at a brusque walking distance from the town centre, in addition to hiked all the way to Ponta da Piedade, where at that spot is a lighthouse. There are trails that connect all the cliffs in addition to the nature dominates this area: it's wild enough, yet the paths are good marked. 

In March the beaches were almost empty, amongst simply a few people similar me taking a elementary stroll. The conditions was expert enough, amongst a gentle breeze, in addition to it was neither as good hot or as good cold. I scrap to hike inwards hot weather, thus going at that spot inwards March was a expert pick for me.

The incredible thought to a greater extent than or less Ponta da Piedade

I absolutely loved this expanse in addition to I had such a expert time. I want I could teach to this house whenever I experience a chip stressed. I loved how the erosion formed stone arches on the beach in addition to on the water. I want I had the possibility to direct maintain a boat tour in addition to possibly explore some of the caves, too. Unofrtunately inwards depression flavour at that spot weren't many boats departing, particularly afterwards luch. 

The lighthouse at Ponta da Piedade

Back inwards town, I devoted some fourth dimension for sightseeing. The principal church building inwards Lagos is called Igreja San Antonio. Unassuming from the outside, it is worth paying the modest entry fee -  only 1,50€ - to meet it inside. It is a baroque church, amongst lots of gilt in addition to some azulejo tiles - a distinct characteristic of Portuguese buildings that I actually love. 

Another affair that is worth checking out  is Mercado dos Escravos, the quondam slaves' marketplace position (3€). It houses an exibition on the slave merchandise inwards Portugal, in addition to to a greater extent than specifically inwards this area, which gave me an thought of how Portugal came to be. Another affair I actually liked is the fortifications at Ponta da Bandeira, where at that spot are beautiful views  but also a bewautiful petty chapel dedicated to Santa Barbara. It is covered inwards azulejos on iii sides: the walls in addition to the roof. 

A chapel inwards Lagos

Portimão and Praia da Rocha

If Lagos has sold its soul to tourism, Portimão has stayed for the most part a regular Portuguese town, amongst a principal square, a few churches in addition to some cheap restaurants. It has that facial expression Espana or Italia must direct maintain had 25 years ago, amongst family-owned shops in addition to elementary unpretentious bars. 

A café inwards Portimao

I noticed that Portugal is total of graffiti and quondam abandoned houses, non alone inwards large cities similar Lisbon or Porto, but also inwards smaller towns similar Portimão. Portugal may non prosper economically, but the Portuguese direct maintain flora ways to embellish abandoned houses amongst eye-catching graffiti. 

A grafiti nigh fado inwards Portimão

In these expanse all the tourists are inwards Praia da Rocha, to a greater extent than or less twenty minutes past times autobus from Portimão. It is a long stretch of sand amongst an a ocean promenade total of restaurants, hotels in addition to souvenirs shops. As inwards Lagos, yous tin walk along the cliffs in addition to admire the landscape. I walked from Praia da Rocha until Praia do Vau: pretty much until I was tired of seeing cliffs in addition to stone arches.  

Praia da Rocha is a prissy place, but overall I preferred Lagos, amongst its wild nature in addition to hikng possibilities. If yous are looking for something autentically Portuguese, yous should caput elsewhere, to a modest hamlet as at that spot are many nearby or fifty-fifty to Portimão itself.

Praia da Rocha

Faro

Faro is the principal town of the Algarve in addition to where the international airdrome is located. For this reason, for many people it is simply a stop-over on the way to the beach. It was my in conclusion halt earlier catching the airplane dorsum to Barcelona in addition to I didn't know what to expect. 

All inwards all it was a pleasant surprise: the historical centre is a jewel, especially the old cathedral. At the entrance of the cathedral at that spot is a modest bone chapel , but my favourite affair nigh it was the incredible thought from the piece of occupation past times of the bell tower. Faro is located simply adjacent to a lagoon in addition to from the roof of the bell tower yous tin meet all of the quondam town amongst its whitewashed houses in addition to the orangish roofs. This creates a contrast amongst the azure in addition to light-green of  the lagoon simply behind it.

The thought from the piece of occupation past times of the Sé bell tower 

The remainder of quondam town is as attractive, amongst the ubiquitous dark in addition to white mosaic inwards the pedestrian streets, of the same form that yous tin detect inwards Lisbon, in addition to serenity streets amongst inviting cafés in addition to restaurants to pass some fourth dimension without whatever rush.

Faro town center

Silves

During my 5 days inwards the Algarve the conditions was mostly good, but at that spot was 1 solar daytime when it wouldn't halt raining, in addition to yous produce non actually desire to endure hiking to a greater extent than or less cliffs on a rainy day. Moreover, I realized that you actually require a car to hit some of the smallest villages, similar Alvor or Benagil, as at that spot are few buses that connect them to the bigger towns. 

That's why I decided to see the modest walled town of Silves, inwards the interior of the region. It's reasonably connected to other places similar Portimão in addition to it offered the possibility of a modify of scenery, non to advert some authenticity. The castle to endure honest was a chip disappointed: fifty-fifty though it is 1 of the most of import Islamic fortifications inwards Portugal, at that spot isn't much left to meet apart from ruins in addition to powerfulness walls.

The walls of the castle inwards Silves

Silves was inwards the past times an of import town occupied past times the Moors. There is 1 foursquare inwards item inwards Silves that displays this link. It is called Praça Al Mouhatamid Ibn Abbad, in addition to it is dedicated to an 11th century Islamic manlike someone monarch in addition to poet amongst potent connections to Silves. I liked how this petty town recognizes in addition to remembers its Islamic past. It's non something that yous meet everywhere.

The outpouring inwards Praça Al Mouhatamid Ibn Abbad

As it kept raining, I had luncheon at the lovely Café Inglês adjacent to the cathedral. It is a cozy in addition to colourful eating theater that also offers alive music inwards the evenings. What a lovely ending of my fourth dimension inwards the Algarve!

Detail of the principal church building inwards Silves

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