Loulé

Loulé, to the northwest of Faro, is best visited on market day when you can enjoy browsing the many stalls. If you’re looking for pottery then the market is the place to try. Again there is a castle of Moorish origin, to the north, where you can view the town and admire the many different types of Algarvian chimney.

Silves

Ancient Moorish capital of the Algarve (then known as Xelb), the town rises from the riverbanks with the castle and cathedral high up on the hill. Once having a port that has now silted up, the main source of income now for Silves are the citrus orchards surrounding it, providing what are supposed to be the sweetest oranges in the Algarve. The 13th century cathedral, as with many churches in the region, was built on the site of a mosque and has been altered over the years. Restored in the 1940s, only the castle walls remain but you can view the archaeological remains in the castle grounds.

Silves Castle Ruins

Admire the distant windmill in the hills behind Silves, which you can view from the castle walls or pose beside the bronze statue of King Sancho I, who captured the town from the Arabs in 1189. Stroll back down the hill and enjoy a lunch of freshly grilled sardines in one of the restaurants down by the river.

Silves Castle

Monchique

The small town of Monchique is situated high in the mountains of the Serra de Monchique, north of Portimão. Although the town in itself is not remarkable, the altitude at which it sits is, and the highest point of the Serra de Monchique lies not far away. Wind your way up through the wooded foothills and take time to stop at the ancient spa of Caldas de Monchique. The spring waters here have been visited since Roman times and there are still those that come to Caldas de Monchique for the hot, curative waters in the summer. Continue upwards to the town of Monchique and wander its streets, admiring its wooden handicrafts and perhaps purchase a jar of local honey. Take the 4km walk east from Monchique to the second-highest peak of Picota or drive west to the highest point of the Algarve at Foia and gaze at the panorama. Apparently it is possible to see all the way to Sintra (west of Lisbon!) on a clear day.

Sagres/Cabo de São Vincente

It makes for a long day out but who can resist the lure of the most westerly point of mainland Europe (Cabo de São Vincente), with winds sweeping the promontory and waves crashing against the cliffs. Supposedly Prince Henry the Navigator once lived on the cape but only the lighthouse now remains. Staying with the theme of Henry then head to the fort (Fortaleza) at Sagres, where his famous School of Navigation is said to have been set up and admire the wind compass (Rosa dos Ventos). Prince Henry (1394-1460) was a key figure at the beginning of Portugal’s period of conquest and exploration in the fifteenth and sixteenth century, with epic journeys around Africa and eventually on to India and the Far East. Don’t forget that Henry was half-English as his mother was Philippa of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt.