DK Travel : The Algarve : Places of interest

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Estói

Just off the town’s main square is the Palácio do Visconde de Estói, a 19th-century Rococo palace, with gardens fanned by giant palms and cooled by fountains. A ten-minute walk from here brings you to the site of Milreu, a Roman complex dominated by the apse of a temple that was converted into a Christian basilica in the 5th century.
Estói

The quiet, unassuming country village of Estói basks in the glory of two major attractions. The pink Rococo façade of the town’s florid, 19th-century palace holds court over a garden replete with ornamental fountains and a terrace decorated with blue and white azulejos. Ten minutes’ walk away are the well preserved ruins of the Roman peristyle villa built in the 2nd century AD.
Estremoz

Dominating this graceful town is the Torre das Três Coroas, the Tower of the Three Crowns, named in honour of kings Sancho II, Afonso III and Dinis. You can gain free access to the tower via the adjoining castle and palace. The nearby Museu Municipal is housed in a 17th-century almshouse. Among the exhibits are some wonderful examples ofbonecos , pottery figurines typical of the region.
Évora

The historic centre of Évora, capital of the Alentejo, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stunning examples of Roman, Moorish, medieval and 17th-century architecture abound in the narrow streets and breezy squares. The central Praça do Giraldo has a wonderful 16th-century fountain. A walk from the square up the lively Rua 5 de Outubro leads to the grandiose Sé (cathedral). An adjacent 16th-century palace houses the Museu de Évora. The nearby Roman temple is the best preserved monument of its kind in Portugal. See The Alentejo.
Fábrica do Inglês

In summer this lively show ground is animated by clowns, dancers, jesters and musicians. Dazzling cybernetic water fountains play all day. As evening falls the fountains are the stage for the stunning multimedia “Aquavision” water show.
Faro

Faro is often overlooked by visitors to the Algarve who tend to head straight for the beach resorts. This is unfortunate, because its Old Town quarter is a particularly enchanting ensemble of centuries-old architecture and fine museums worthy of thorough investigation. Of special merit is the former convent of Nossa Senhora da Assunção, which houses the city’s excellent archaeological museum. See: Faro Old Town; also see Museums.
Ferragudo

Ferragudo has admirably managed to avoid the more garish trappings of tourism and looks the better for it. Sitting at the mouth of the Rio Arade, this attractive fishing village tumbles down to a busy little quayside bristling with fishermen’s huts, artisan’s workshops and one or two truly memorable seafood restaurants. The maze of steep cobbled alleys lead up to a rather handsome church. Praia Grande is a generous swathe of sand, which is popular sunbathing territory and also the location of a big windsurfing school. The beach is dominated by the monolithic Fortaleza de São João, a private residence.
Ferragudo

A maze of cottages, converted lofts and cube-like town houses tumble down towards the river and Praia Grande, a vast swathe of sand popular with sunbathers and windsurfers. The seafood restaurants lining the tidy quayside are some of the best in the Algarve.
Giões

Rarely visited, and best in mid-summer when the area is awash with bright pink oleander, the village is known for its hand-made bamboo baskets and rustic chairs. Nearby are the ruins of a fort and two mills.
Guadalupe, near Raposeira

Considered to be one of the oldest examples of Gothic architecture in the Algarve, the unassuming 14th-century chapel near the town is of great significance. Henry the Navigator was said to have prayed here when he lived in the nearby town of Raposeira, as did many a crew before departing for unknown lands. Inside the chapel, built in honour of the Virgin of Guadalupe, enigmatic stone heads peer down from the ceiling.