Welcome To Algarves

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Olhao is the gateway to one of the most beautiful and deserted landscapes of the Algarve regions with some of finest beaches across Europe.

The natural beauty of the estuarine Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, network of dunes, lagoons, endless beaches and salt pans is home to numerous species of birds, fish, fauna and flora, idea for uninterrupted peace and solitude it is hard to beat.

Carvoeiro is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Algarves, now famous for its sandy beaches and sheltered bays, making it real exclusive holiday, with even a beach in the centre of town close to plenty of bars and restaurants nearby.

The cliffs are lined with postcard-perfect white housing, lighthouse and the remains of the fort which date back to the 17th century.

The cobblestone streets of Tavira reveal the stunning gardens and shady plazas are such a great feature of the little Portugese town.

Tavira offers traditional culture with so many ancient churches and 18th century buildings, built after the earthquake of 1755.

Recent golf courses are opening nearby, and the beach lies beyond salt pans reached by a small ferryboat or footbridge to the sand-bar island of Ilha Tavira.

Carvoeiro is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Algarves, now famous for its sandy beaches and sheltered bays, making it real exclusive holiday, with even a beach in the centre of town close to plenty of bars and restaurants nearby.

The cliffs are lined with postcard-perfect white housing, lighthouse and the remains of the fort which date back to the 17th century.

Albufeira is the Algarve’s longest-standing and most well-known holiday resort for the bars, nights clubs and restaurants, with its narrow, cobbled, whitewashed alleyways in the old town’s main square.

With unspoilt beaches and bays line the coast, many of them blue flag recipients, including Praia d’Oura, a favourite of watersports enthusiasts.  

The gigantic sculptures carved out by the pounding waves that plunge into a crystal sea make some amazing features to see.

The amazing sea caves are found beach after beach of soft sand tucked away between ochre cliffs stretching clear to the horizon. 

The countryside is dotted with the white of houses, are a few reasons for visiting Aljezur discovering one of the most attractive parts of the Algarve. 

The tales of the little boy with big black eyes in the streets of Olhão was seen on the dark nights in the quarter of Barreta, it was said the fishermen noticed the little boy, dressed only in a shirt, with big black eyes.

The little boy cried a lot and didn't say anything to the fisher-men, they felt sorry about the child so they took him under there wings, but the little boys weight continued to increase as he walked around, but the little boy was often seen just crying on the ground.

The tales say the boy created a distraction in the town as the fisherman were smuggling goods of the fishing boats at night-time.

Near the Levante Quarter, in the Sobrado area, there was a windmill and next to it, there was an old house where a middle aged man named Zé lived. Zé was known for drinking especially if he was with his friends, and he often told that, during the night, a beautiful moorish lady showed up at his place and they would caress each other until dawn.

His friends didn't believe his tales anymore. So, one day, Zé made a bet with the youngest of the group, Julião, who was about to marry a girl named Aninhas. Zé would give him a farm he owned at the Relvas site as an engagement gift if the moorish lady showed up to him, and would give him nothing if she didn't.

At midnight, Julião showed up by the windmill. Suddenly, when he was about to leave, he sees a beautiful lady.

An enchanted moorish lady! Julião sat with her near a tree, and she told himthat her spell could only be broken when someone took her near to the sea, and stabbed her left arm near her heart.

Julião couldn't do it, because he was engaged to Aninhas, when he got home, his fiancée was in tears and by her side was Zé. But as Julião turned around to talk to him, he had already gone.

It is said that Floripes, the moorish lady, took him with her when she left to the North of Africa, since he was the only man who truly loved her...

LEGEND OF ARRAÚL

Arraúl was the beautiful son of the Hercules Col- Umns chief guard, and Atlantis only survivor.

One day, Arraúl was caught by a storm that Swept him into the deep sea, where a whale Swallowed him despite his misfortune, the young man survived, and the whale brought him ashore at the Prainhas site – the place where Olhão was found- Ed, as it is said.

Arraúl immediately fell in love with the place, and Decided to protect it by building an enormous Sand barrier with soil from the São Miguel and Cabeça’s hills – thus creating Ria Formosa’s Barri- Er Islands

 A young fisherman named Manuel was playing with his friends in the street when a mysterious boy came to them asking if he could play, and everyone agreed, but he wasn’t that skilled at playing, so Manuel told him, and the other boys to go and play somewhere else.

As they arrived, the mysterious boy opened a trapdoor and Manuel saw a magnificent palace full of treasures, that almost drove him insane, so the boy comforted Manuel and told him he would take him back to his parents and would stay with him forever, but only Manuel could see him, because somebody put a spell on him at least until his mum took him to church to confess.

Since then, Manuel never saw his beloved friend ever again...

In Marim, there was once a beautiful and luxurious palace, where a girl named Alina lived whom Abdalá, a troubadour, fell in love. Every night, Abdalá would comento her and sing beautiful love songs.

Alina's father, however, wasn't happy with the situation; so, he called Abdalá and promised he would give him his daughter's hand in marriage if he could bring the spring of the near by river, which was a hundred miles away, to the palace in a single night. 

The young man leaves with a thoughtful face, and Alina's father was pleased to think that he had managed to separate them.

On the next night, Abdalá did not show up, which left Alina very sad. 

However, it was already dawn when the sound of a lute was heard. It was him! Alina's loved one and he brought with him the river spring. Alina's father, enraged, threw his daughter from the window, she fell into her loved one's arms, and they parted together down river.