Algarve is the most magnificent region of Portugal covered with astonishing sandy coastlines, vibrant nightlife, and tasty food. However, not all of us stand at a beach side sand beneath our feet sun on your back and that's it. The Algarve is indeed the epitome of history for tourists interested in relics of the past, starting from the Paleolithic era to the medieval epoch.
Reading this blog post, you will step into the world of the most intriguing Algarve's historical landmarks.
Top 10 Algarve's Historical Landmarks
1. Silves Castle
The Silves Castle, also known as Castelo de Silves, is one of the best examples of Moorish building. It is on a hill in the town of Silves and gets a lot of visitors. Why not go back into history today? Charles the Great commissioned this fortress during the 8th Century, and on a clear day, you can see the whole of the surrounding countryside from the walls of this mighty structure.
The fort has red sandstone walls and a tower at right angles, which gives a glimpse of the history of Moors dominating the area. In the sightseeing area of the castle, a cistern, ancient wells, and the remains of a previous palace are also situated. The castle has a museum inside, and the displayed items help explain the history behind this site and the town of Silves.
2. Lagos Old Town
Lagos is one of the largest coastal towns, and it still retains its old town, which has a lot of history. Old houses split the road in the city with white plastering, and the alleys and cobblestone streets give a historical feel. Lagos has many attractions due to its age, including the Ponta Da Brandeira fort.
It was installed in the 17th Century to guard the entrance to the harbour, and what could pass as Lagos' cathedral, the Igreja de Santo António, which hosts a beautiful baroque interior, wooden carvings and also has Portuguese tiles known as azulejos. Lagos was essential in the Age of Discoveries and the Mercado de Escravos (Slave Market).
3. Roman Ruins of Milreu
Just a few kilometres from the village of Estoi, the e preserved Roman ruins of Milreu are present. This archaeological site includes a luxurious villa with delayed complications and geometrical mosaics, a holocaust, thermae, and a temple built in the first century AD. Its workings testify to a high level of the Roman lifestyle, which was once used in the corresponding district.
The marvellous works of art are the mosaic flooring, which illustrates fish, aquatic plants, and various mythological creatures. Milreu is like a walkthrough of the Roman era and the impact of this civilization, even on the present-day Algarve.
4. Castle of Aljezur
Algarves' famous defences are also in the Castle of Alsaida, a stunning town in Aljezur. This castle was constructed in the 10th Century and boasts fantastic scenery of the nearby hills and valleys. Some of the walls and towers of the stronghold have survived till the present day. However, the general view of the area is striking and powerful since the castle occupies a high ground.
The Museu Municipal de Aljezur, located close to the castle, displays items and documents that give a history of the castle and Aljezur's connection with the Moors. Visiting the Castle of Aljezur is a walk through history because the construction of this building reveals multiple layers of the region's history.
5. Faro Old Town
Faro is the capital of the Algarve, and there is an old town with an authentic feel of history. The walls of medieval constructions, narrow streets, small squares, and numerous historic buildings enclose the lanes and streets of the Faro.
The Arco da Vila is an arch dating back to the nineteenth Century that leads to the old town. The most critical facilities include Sé de Faro – a gothic cathedral built on the foundation of a mosque, and Igreja do Carmo, with a famous bone church (Capela dos Ossos). More of Faro's history can be learned at the Municipal Museum, situated in a building that used to be a convent.
6. Sagres Fortress
Located on the southwest coast of Portugal in the Algarve region, the Sagres fortress, or the Fortaleza de Sagres, is a historical gem and a geographical marvel. This construction is a fortress from the 15th Century, ordered by one of the main characters of the Discoveries' Age – Prince Henry the Navigator.
Thus, continuously watching the sea and guarding the coast became a vital defence point. Today, the massive walls of the fort, cannons, and the rather famous Rosa dos Ventos, or the Wind Compass, where it is said that the Portuguese used to train their sailors, are open for tourists. The added features that make this place even more appealing include the feeling of the Atlantic Ocean and the mighty cliffs.
7. Castle of Paderne
The Castle of Paderne, a Moorish castle situated out of the coast a bit more inland from Albufeira, is exceptionally well preserved. , The castle was constructed in the twelfth Century, and because of its place on the top of the hill, it commanded the surrounding territory. Another aspect is the castle wall or ramparts; they were constructed from taipa, which is rammed earth and presents construction of that period.
Tourism attractions that can be seen include the remains of a church, a water cistern, and a fantastic view of the countryside. If there was ever a diamond in the rough that people don't know much about, then the Castle of Paderne is it, especially in its period of Moorish village in the Middle Ages.
8. Estoi Palace
Estoi (Palácio de Estoi) is a must-visit if you crave luxury and opulence. In Estoi village, it is a wonderful representation in its pure form of a rationalist palace built in the 19th Century. The whole palace has been beautifully adorned with frescoes, chandeliers, and walls of stucco work to display the luxurious lives led by the nobility.
This palace enjoys a majestically designed garden area containing fountains, statues, and azulejos tiling. Today, the Estoi Palace remains functional and serves as a luxury hotel pousada; therefore, people can visit the place and feel the intrinsic history of each stone.
9. Cerro da Vila
Cerro da Vila in Vilamoura is best defined as one of the most important archaeological sites of the region. This set of villa houses reminds visitors of the Roman epoch in this area, which was built in the 1st century AD. The tourists can go around the echoes of Southern Italy's prosperity – the villas decorated with frescos, the domesticated mosaic floors, the spas, and the cemetery of the Roman nobility.
Located on the spot is also an archaeological museum, where pottery, coins, and tools are available to the public, giving them a glimpse of how living during the Roman period was. Thus, you can consider the visit to Cerro da Vila as a walk through time, proving that the Romans are present in the Algarve eternally.
10. Museu de Portimão
Museu de Portimão, located in the former preserved sardine canning factory, represents the historical and ethnographical development of the Algarve. Essentially located in the lively city of Portimão, this museum presents a whole cycle of the area's growth. Particular emphasis is placed on the subject known as the tinning of sardines, which formed a significant part of the economy from the end of the nineteenth Century through to the middle part of the twentieth Century.
The general public gets to appreciate videos, culturally found items, and installations that help to create perceptions of the past. It also informs the visitors of the archaeological history in the region, seaborne activities, and the crafts that are part of Portimão's past.
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