The best MTB trails around Alcantarilha

The church in Ferragudo, called the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, is located at the top of the village overlooking the Arade River. It was built in the 16th century and restored after the 1755 earthquake. Inside, you'll find a Baroque altar, religious art, and votive offerings from fishermen seeking protection at sea.

By May 2025, there is no trace of peace and quiet left; you can now even rent canoes here.

Neighbouring beach of Praia de Albandeira, accessible at low tide via a rock tunnel.

This chapel is located on a narrow 'peninsula' and shines in rich white. Surrounded by a low wall, it might be a bit intimidating for a German at about 40 cm tall, but the view of the sea and the cliffs is worth it. Definitely a must-see for excursions and explorers 👍

Praia do Barranco is one of my #favorite beaches in the Algarve. It's located in this beautifully rounded bay. The beach isn't long, but it's very wide, and there are large, round pebbles scattered everywhere. They're perfect for building beach shells – they're so cozy. The beach is somewhat remote. A track about 7 km long leads from the town of Raposeira (the town right next to Vila do Bispo). There's no restaurant, no lifeguard, or anything else. The beach is popular with surfers. They arrive in their colorful buses and often stay for several days. The waves in the bay are beautiful to look at, even for non-surfers. Perhaps because of the round shape of the bay, they roll in so evenly.

Very beautiful building with impressive altars

The area where the castle stands has been inhabited since at least Roman times, due to the presence of salting tanks nearby. In the 15th century, a watchtower was built. In the early 17th century, under Philippine rule, the government began a programme to build several fortresses along the coast to defend it from attacks by pirates and corsairs. A fortress was planned to be built at the mouth of the Arade River, although initially no agreement was reached on which side of the mouth it should be built. The Italian military engineer Alexandre Massai argued in favour of the left bank, where Vila Nova de Portimão could be better defended, and so the fortress was built on this side. It was only after the restoration of independence in 1640 that plans began to be made to build the castle on the right bank, as a way of protecting the coast from Spanish attacks. The works took place between 1643 and 1644, on the site of the old watchtower, known as Ferragudo Castle, which was no longer considered strategically effective. In fact, it served not only to protect but also to control the mouth of the Arade, and was a customs registration point for ships sailing along the river to the city of Silves. In 1654, the castle underwent a process of refurbishment. The building was gradually abandoned and was already in ruins by 1669. However, the castle was still subject to extension works in the 18th century, and was only slightly damaged by the 1755 earthquake, due to the solid rock on which it was built. In 1821, two batteries were still in operation on the highest part of the castle, both with gun ports. By 1861 it was once again in ruins, and in 1892 it was leased to the writer and diplomat Joaquim José Coelho de Carvalho, whose family had bought the building in 1896. Joaquim de Carvalho carried out renovations at the beginning of the 20th century, which gave it the appearance of a romantic castle. Some time later, it became the property of the politician Francisco Vieira Machado. The monument did not undergo any major renovations in the 20th century. The changes that were made to its interior were mainly used to transform it into a holiday home, although much of the building remained in a state of disrepair. In 1976, the Ferragudo Parish Council asked for the fort to be ceded to it, so that a cultural centre could be set up inside.

The origin of the place name is found in the “Codex Pseudo-calixtinus”, whose text narrates the presence of an Arab giant who defended the Mohammedan cause called “Ferracutus”. With the definitive Reconquest of the Algarve in the 13th century, the members of the Order of Santiago, who were familiar with and promoted this legend, brought it to Al-gharb, considering that the area where this town is located, next to the river, would be a meeting point to symbolically fight the “Islamic giant” in the Algarve, that is, Silves. Here, at the top of the town, in 1520, the Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição was built. In 1755, the earthquake destroyed it and its reconstruction did not follow the original parameters. The rectangular floor plan and the roof made of wood and tiles house an interior with ornaments, with highlights including the gilded and polychrome carved altarpieces and the fragment of a cross from the Ilhéu do Rosário, with a double-sided representation of Our Lady and the Crucified Christ (15th-16th centuries). It also houses an image of Saint Sebastian (16th century), others from the 17th and 18th centuries and important examples of commissioned folk art: the ex-votos of sailors and fishermen from the 18th and 19th centuries, with promises made to the patron saint and the miracles performed by her. Located opposite the Fort of S. João, the church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição began to be built in the 16th century, at the request of the Silves Council, with the privilege of never being detached from its territory, in accordance with the law of D. João III, fl. 24, 21 August 1520. This religious building has a niche on its façade with an image surmounted by the symbol of the Holy Spirit. It has a bell tower flanking the front. Inside, it has a large amount of sacred statuary and a large collection of ex-votos, the oldest dating back to 1744.