Places to  Visit

Faro

 Loule

Faro is the capital of the Algarve district and it’s located near the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Nowadays it is a modern and  pleasant city, with a very peculiar lifestyle, a well-preserved historical centre and an animated nightlife that attracts many tourists all year round.
 A medieval wall and a large number of monuments such as the Cathedral  (Roman-Gothic origin), Nossa Senhora da Assun Convent (Renaissance) and the  Sao Francisco Church (16-18th centuries) can still be seen here. The most lavishly adorned of Faro churches is that of Nossa Senhora do Carmo. It is also the spookiest. It has a bone chapel with the skeletal remains of 1.245 former  monks. An inscription over the doorway translates to: "Stop here and think of the fate that will befall you.”

Faro is also known for the Motorcycle Rally that happens every year in July.  Motorcyclists from all over the world gather here to show-off their bikes, get together and party!

Loule, is a vibrant and typically market town set in almond-covered foothills. It is an ancient town, but only remnants of its once Roman, later Moorish castle walls remain. The castle walls are in the central area that is best known among visitors for its craftsmen, its old-world charm and its keenness to party.
 As you stroll around the narrow, cobbled streets, you will come across dimly lit workshops. Peer in through the gloom and you will find artisans beating  copper, stitching leather or selling wrought iron, cane furniture, basketwork or embroidered goods.

A handicraft fair is held each August, but just about every morning, certainly on Saturdays, Loule exudes a fair-like atmosphere in the Moorish-looking municipal market, built at the beginning of the century.

The historical past of this city is very rich and can be seen on its buildings and on the street  planning of the historical centre. Also known as the “cidade das  igrejinhas” (little churches town), it is apart away from the crowded places of the Algarve and boasts the spectacular Tavira Island and the fabulous Ria Formosa.

Picturesque and unique, Tavira is a mix of wonderful architecture, saltpans, enchanted beaches, mountain ranges, windmills and (of course)  churches, crossed by the river Gilhao. A roman bridge makes the connection between both margins of the river, and both sides of Tavira.

Vilamoura  is the tourist resort par excellence. The biggest private holiday development in Portugal has golf courses, a wide range of other sports facilities and an incredible marina with all sorts of facilities and entertainment. From the holidaymaker’s perspective you should know that if  there’s something to do, it can be done in Vilamoura.

Nearby, the Vilamoura Casino is not quite up to Las Vegas standards, but you can try your luck on the one-armed bandits or on the more serious  gaming tables. The casino restaurant features a nightly floorshow with high-kicking dancers.

Animation, discos, green areas, golf courses, horse riding, water sports,  all together in a well conceived area, known for being both a resting and a “have fun” destination.