Towns and villages
You’ll find tourism in the Eastern Algarve only in a few small fishing villages on the coast and in the somewhat larger Monto Gordo near the Spanish border. Although Faro is a little busier because it’s the capital of the Algarve, it is still worth a visit with its historic city centre ‘Cidade Velha’, pedestrian shopping areas, beautiful cathedral and many cafes and restaurants. Olhão, east of Faro, has a Moorish looking centre and an interesting lively market on the quay.
Tavira, built on the Rio Gilão, is one of the towns that you definitely shouldn’t miss out on. Here you can stroll around the narrow streets, visit one of the 30 churches, buy fish in the covered market or just have a bica (coffee) on one of the many terraces.
In the most Eastern part of the Algarve, on the Rio Guadiana, lies Vila Real de Santo António. This bustling town with its many shops is well worth a visit even if it is only to take the ferry to Spanish Ayamonte.
Located in the middle of orchards and orange plantations, at the foot of the Serra de Monte Figo is Moncarapacho, a village typical of this area. It has a lively very Portuguese character. The only foreigners you’ll find here are so-called ‘residentes’ who have settled down around the village. Moncarapacho has several restaurants, cafes with terraces and supermarkets. Every first Sunday of the month there is a so-called gypsy market, where you can buy everything from chickens to T-shirts and local honey to shoes.
Very interesting and worth a visit is the parish museum of Moncarapacho which contains the archaeological and ethnographic private collection of a cleric. He collected a huge range of objects for more than 50 years. Beautiful also is the adjoining chapel with yellow, blue and olive green azulejos (tiles) from the 16th and 17th century. In the ‘Olaria’ near the entrance to the village ceramic is still fired in the traditional way. You can buy ashtrays and the typical Algarve chimneys here.
