Don Feidner

Last Update:   20 March 2013

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After leaving Armação de Pêra, Rick and I rode along the coast to Ferragudo and stayed in the campground there.

(Wikipedia) Ferragudo is a Portuguese civil parish that serves mainly as a bedroom community for its much larger neighbour, the city of Portimão; its residents routinely travel across the Arade River to work in the neighboring municipality. 

There have been various explanations for the community's name. The most plausible explanation is the traditional one, probably from the 14th century, which suggested the existence of an iron machine that existed on the beach of Angrinha, and which was used to raise fish for market. This iron machinery or "engenho de ferro", which was relatively "pointy" or "agudo" evolved into "ferro agudo" or Ferragudo. Ferragudo was known to the Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans, who were attracted to the mouth of the Arade River for its shelter and access to the Atlantic Ocean. In the 14th century, fishermen began to settle in the region, primarily to avoid the winter storms that afflicted the Atlantic coast. In 1520, Queen Leonor, noting the potential of the area, secured the its protection and thereby allowed continued occupation of the territory. The Bishop of Silves, D. Fernando Coutinho erected a wall to protect the population, at the same time ordering the construction of the local castle; he remained in the area until his death.

We left the campground in Armação de Pêra early in the morning and rode to Lagoa, then southwest to the campground in Ferragudo shown on the map above. Good strong hot showers and a choice of places to pitch the tent were available here. We selected this spot on the right where the sun would shine on the tent in the morning and dry it out. When the sky was clear at night, which was usually the case, dew would collect on the tent. When we pitched the tent under a tree, the tent would be dry and there was no dew, but something much worse happened - white bird droppings covered the tent.  The villa in the background is a good 250 meters away. One drawback is that you have to be a member of a camping club to stay here overnight. Since I am a CCI member, we were allowed to stay here. Overall, the campling club card has saved me up to 20% at selected campgrounds. Usually, it is only 5 to 10%, but the card has paid for itself and more over a period of 3 years.

Ferragudo Castle and Boat Harbor

The jetty on the right, protected the opening to the boat channel leading into the harbor and the Arade River which flows between Ferragudo and Portimao. It is a favorite place for a walk or for many fishermen.

Ferragudo Beach

Ferragudo Lighthouse

Rick - near Ferragudo with Portimao in the Background

Seagull Rock - in the Sunshine

To the right, you can see one of the many natural arches which continued all the way to the west end of the Algarve coastline.

Coast East of Ferragudo

Ferragudo Lighthouse - In the Distance, Lagos

Beach East of Ferragudo with Seal Rock

Roman Tower - East of Ferragudo

Yours Truly at the Roman Tower - Very Windy

Rick - On the Edge

OCEAN  SPRAY

Great Place for Lunch near Carvoeiro

Carvoeiro, or more commonly Praia de Carvoeiro (Carvoeiro Beach), is a Portuguese civil freguesia (parish) in Lagoa Municipality, about 5 km south of the city itself (on the Atlantic Ocean), 14.12 km² in area with 2,784 inhabitants (2001). It was created as a separate freguesia in 1985 and raised to the status of town on April 19, 2001.

This picturesque fishing village, with a long history of settlement, has grown over the last decades into the main tourist area of the concelho. It has several fine beaches protected by cliffs.

Not only Roman activity, but there has also been a long history of pirate and enemy military assaults on the coast, and a number of naval battles here, most notably the battle in 1544 between a squadron of ships under D. Petro da Cunha, and the Turkish corsair (barbary pirate), Xarramet.

According to historical sources, the name of the village derives from “Caboiere,” an old name for a hamlet of fishermen from the Islamic-medieval period. For most of its history, fishing was the mainstay of the local economy. From the 1960s onward, tourism gradually became the economic base of the area, with many new hotels, apartment complexes, shops, roads, and a significant improvement in the infrastructure.  (Paraphrased from Wikipedia)

Carvoeiro - Mardi Gras

Carvoeiro - Mardi Gras

Carvoeiro

Carvoeiro Fisherman

Carvoeiro Beach

That Same Evening in Ferragudo across from Portimão

Portimão Beach Apartments at the Marina

On a Traffic Circle in Portimão

Portimão Praia da Rocha

Portimão - The Rock (or High Cliff)

Alvor Harbor

The first time I visited Alvor, I met a very beautiful young lady who was standing at the end of the beach. We chatted for a few minutes and, after she had “sized me up”, she took my hand and said, “follow me”. 40 years younger than I, when she realized it might not be appropriate to hold the hand of an elderly man, she walked away and quickly around a bend at the end of a tiny beach called Prainha and  then proceeded through a hidden crack in the cliff. On the other side, I was amazed by what I saw - the most beautiful beach on the Algarve - probably seen by very few tourists.

Prainha (Little Beach) - Only Reachable at Low Tide

Prainha near Alvor

Prainha near Alvor

The Exit is at the End of this Beach

Prainha near Alvor

Prainha at Low Tide

Prainha

Dos Irmãos (Two Brothers)

Dos Irmãos at Sunset

Camping Ferragudo

Jetty at Mouth of the Arade River

To the left, you can see yours truly pushing a bicycle up the steep cliff. A hiking trail follows the entire Algarve coast, but only about 1/3 of it is suitable for riding a bicycle. The rest of the time, pushing is necessary. Why take the bike? After going 10 or 15 kilometers along the coast, it is normally an easy ride back home.

Ferragudo’s Second Beach

Seagull Rock

Natural Limestone Arch

Coast East of Ferragudo

Coast East of Ferragudo

Rick at the Roman Tower

Rick - On the Edge

Yours Truly - Near the Top

Nice Place for a Break

Carvoeiro - Mardi Gras

Carvoeiro - Mardi Gras

Carvoeiro

Carvoeiro Coast

Carvoeiro - Long Way from the Beach to the Top of the Cliff

Carvoeiro Fishing from the Cliff

The Next Morning - View of Portimão

(Wikipedia) Portimão is a Portuguese cidade (city). It was formerly known as Vila Nova de Portimão In 1924, it was incorporated as a cidade and became known merely as Portimão. The town has 41,000 inhabitants and the Portimão Municipality has 50,454 (as of 2009; INE). The two most populous towns in the Algarve are Portimão and Faro.

Portimão is the most popular summer tourist city in the Algarve and is filled with hotels, pubs, shops and tourist attractions. Portimão is known for its sporting events. In the summer, a beach soccer tournament called the Mundialito de Futebol de Praia ('Little World Cup') is held. The Lisbon to Dakar Rally passes through here, and many come here for surfing and kitesurfing.

Portimão is the host venue for many prestigious sailing events including the annual Portimão, Portugal Match Cup event which is a part of the World Match Racing Tour. The event draws the world's best sailing teams to Portimão in a gladiatorial battle of nerve and skill on the water.

Church in Portimão

Portimão Praia da Rocha

Portimão Praia da Rocha (Beach of the Rock)

Portimão Praia da Rocha

Alvor was founded in 436 by the Carthaginian General Aníbal Barca as a commercial port, which he named Portus Hannibalis. The settlement grew around the sea, near the place called Vila Velha, where a Celtic castro dominated the river mouth during the Iron Age. It is likely that it was the Roman colony of Ipses, which was authorized to mint currency, and was absorbed during the Roman era.

Taken by the Moors in 716, the settlement began to be referred to as Albur, and gained an impressive castle, with only vestiges remaining. This bastion was conquered on 3 June 1189, by the forces of King Sancho I of Portugal, with help from Crusader forces.It was retaken two years, and definitively reconquered in 1250.Rebuilt by King Denis in 1300, it served for 500 years the coastal defences against attacks by pirates and privateers until it was destroyed in 1755 by the tsunami and earthquake that devastated Lisbon.

The parish of Alvor is located along the southern coast of Portimão surrounded by its municipal neighbours Mexilhoeira Grande and Portimão, and the municipality of Lagos (parish of Odiáxere).  (from Wikipedia)

Church of the Divine Saviour of Alvor
(Igreja Paroquial de Alvor - Igreja do Divino Salvador)

Prainha near Alvor

Prainha near Alvor

Prainha near Alvor

Prainha near Alvor

Prainha near Alvor

Prainha at Low Tide

Dos Irmãos (Two Brothers)

Dos Irmãos at Sunset

Walking into the Sunset on Alvor Beach

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