Don Feidner

Last Update:   18 March 2013

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Rick and I entered Portugal in the town of Vila Real de San Antonio, the easternmost city in the Algarve. After visiting Castro Marim 3 km to the north, we took the train to Armação de Pêra.  
(From Wikipedia) The Algarve (which means "The West") is the southernmost region of mainland Portugal. It has an area of 5,412 square kilometres (2,090 sq mi) with approximately 451,005 permanent inhabitants and incorporates 16 municipalities. The region coincides with the Faro District, and has as its administrative centre the city of Faro, where both the region's international airport at Faro (FAO) and public university (the University of the Algarve) are located.

Tourism and related activities are extensive and make up the bulk of the Algarve's summer economy. Production of food, which includes fish and other seafood, fruit, oranges, carob beans, figs and almonds, is also economically important in the region. The Algarve is the most popular tourist destination in Portugal, and one of the most popular in Europe. Its population triples in the peak holiday season thanks to a high influx of visitors, and receives an average of 7 million foreign tourists each year. In total, including national visitors, almost 10 million people visit the Algarve every year.

The Algarve is currently the third richest region in Portugal, with a GDP per capita 86% of the European Union average.

Vila Real de Santo Antonio

Flamingos on the Road to Castro Marim

Stork Enjoying a Stroll

Fortress in Castro Marim

Cathedral in Castro Marim

Fortress Gate in Castro Marim

Rick in Stocks

Simple Furniture in the Chapel

Inner Castle in the Fortress at Castro Marim

View from Castle Wall

Church in Castro Marim with Vila Real in Background

Roman Tower and Farmhouse in Almond Orchard

Almond Bloom

Hanging the Bikes was Not Easy

Beach near Senhora da Rocha

Nice Place to Read a Book

Porcelain Walls and Bench in the Chapel

View to Armação de Pêra from the Chapel

The coast west of Armação de Pêra was treacherous for bikes, but well worth the view. We needed the bikes to return after hiking nearly 15 kilometers to the west of the city.

View from Above

Coast West of Armação de Pêra

This Beach is Only for the Birds

Sea Stack

Rick with “Submarine Rock”

Vila Real de Santo António is a city, civil parish, and municipality in the Algarve, Portugal. Both the city and the municipality are the southeasternmost of Portugal. Vila Real de Santo António was founded after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake.

In the 12th century, the coastline area of Vila Real was inhabited by Megalithic tribes who constructed beehive tombs in the around Nora, near Cacela. The Romans, and much later the Arabs, made the settlement of Cacela an important village during their occupation of the territory, constructing fortifications to protect them from invading bands.

In the 17th century, the vila (town) of Santo António was an important frontier outpost, controlling commerce and developing the lucrative fishing grounds, there establishing canning and conservation industry. Vila Real de Santo António was a relatively recent community; the region was sparsely populated prior to its foundation and Cacela was the municipal seat of the existing municipality.

Monte Gordo Camping

Flamingos in the Wilderness

Mountain of Unrefined Salt from the Salines

For centuries, Castro Marim was the only large town guarding the border with Spain, and the settlements in the region were small and undefended. On 30 December 1773, during the reign of Joseph I, a royal decree ordering the creation of a new town at the tip of the Algarve.  Along the river, the customhouses (Portuguese: Alfândega), was one of the first buildings to be completed during the Pombaline reconstruction, to house the offices of the Sociedades das Pescarias (fishing associations/societies), and dividing the settlement in two. Vila Real de Santo António thrived on the growth of the fishing industry, which included the processing of species of tuna and sardine.

The new "Royal Town" of Santo António (Portuguese: Vila Real de Santo António) soon became the seat of the municipality, stripping the once important town of Cacela from this status.

In 1886, it became the first city in the Algarve to have gas lighting installed. As the fishing industry went into decline (around the 1960s), tourism quickly took over as the principal economic livelihood for many of its residents. The extensive stretches of sandy beaches attracted both national and international tourists, especially during the warm season. Monte Gordo is particularly visitor-oriented, counting with many hotels, bars and a casino.

Military Bastion in Castro Marim

Path to Fortress in Castro Marim

Fortress Entryway in Castro Marim

Fortress Entryway in Castro Marim

Chapel inside the Fortress

Stable in the Fortress at Castro Marim

Musem Depiction of Fortress

Rick on the Castle Wall

Castle Wall with Ayamonte, Spain, in Background

Almond Tree in Bloom

Boarding the Train in Vila Real

Armação de Pêra

Armação de Pêra is a Portuguese freguesia (parish) in the municipality of Silves. It is a popular tourist center with fine beaches, hotels, cafés and restaurants. The village is on a broad bay that stretches from Pont da Galé to Senhora da Rocha. Its beaches extend from Praia dos Pescadores or the Fishermans Beach, to Salomão beach, including those of Maré Grande and Beijinhos.

Senhora da Rocha (Lady of the Rock)

Until I visited Armação de Pêra, I didn’t know that the Lord had a bar, but there it is in black and white. Of course, like in Italy, a bar is not what you might think. A bar in Portugal is the same as in Italy - a cafe where you can get all kinds of things to drink - primarily coffee.

View to Beach from Senhora da Rocha

Senhora da Rocha

Senhora da Rocha - Inside the Chapel

Treacherous Hiking Trail

On the Cliff

Empty Beach West of Armação de Pêra

Natural Limestone Arch

Praia de Albandeira

Praia de Marinha

Benagil - The Last Beach at the End of the Day

Great Way to End the Day - A Good Meal at this Restaurant

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