The Algarve, the Jewel of Portugal

Lagos harbor

When you think of the Algarve, cool beaches and fun in the sun come to mind. But there is so much more to this exceptional part of Portugal. I was only able to visit a few cities; Faro (home base) where I spent a lot of time and was able to get to know the city pretty well. It is the juxtaposition of old and new, Lagos was the major port for the moors and Roman, but today boasts one of the best beaches in the Algarve, Silves is more inland and features more moorish architecture, Loule where I took a wine tour, Tavira where I could live in a heart beat where the architecture is a wonderful mix of old and new and Albufeira, a pure resort city.  

Algarve History

The moors called the Algarve their Sunset Land. Silves was the capital of the moorish province where the castle battlements still stand, except for the cathedral built over the mosque after the Christians took the Algarve in 1242. The history in the area is a mix of Roman, Moor and Christian.

Silves - view of castle battlements

Roman dig in Silves castle

 Lagos Forte da Ponta da Bandeira

Lagos was the European hub of the slave trade.

 

Tavira castle cathedral

Silves - The cathedral built over a mosque after the Crusades

Silves castle walls

Of course before the moors were the Romans. There are several Roman digs in many cities  in the Algarve.

Lagos castle walls

 

Tavira  - Roman dig near Castle

Faro old town has the most impressive walls and towers in all the Algarve built by the Romans. The old town is surounded by fortified walls with an arch opening into the town with a straight path to the cathedral.   

Faro old town cathedral

Art 

Food and Wine

You can't come to the Algarve and not have either octopus or sardines, both a delicacy. Portuguese wine is delicious and very inexpensive. There are wineries throughout the Algarve, but not the big production type. They are smaller and more tactical in their wine production.

Quinta da Tor Winery

Octopus salad tapas. Soooo yummy!

A vineyard in Silves

Seabass with wine in Albufeira

The Environment

It really wasn't beach weather but I did take a tour of Ilha Deserta, a grey dunes where there are several species of birds that only live on and around the dune. The wetlands in this area are the largest in all of Europe. The dunes have a boardwalk all around the area which ends at the beach. 

I have so many more photos and videos but can't seem to get them all uploaded to this post. Suffice to say, I had a terrific time in the Algarve and really feel I have a better understanding of the Portuguese culture and heritage.