Panoramic Tour Of The Algarve

Absorb the Algarve’s wonders as you visit a medieval castle and a lovely garden, explore verdant mountains, revel in the view from the region’s peak and even indulge in fresh-squeezed Algarvian orange juice. Drive inland through a ruggedly scenic landscape dotted with whitewashed houses and almond trees to Silves, the region’s former Moorish capital, which boasts a commanding Gothic cathedral and the 11th-century red sandstone Castelo de Silves, an astonishing structure featuring square turrets and seemingly impenetrable ramparts.

Delight in the market town of Monchique, where rolling hills are blanketed by forests of chestnut, pine and cork oak trees, and enjoy a stop at the city garden, which is resplendent with exotic vegetation. After a relaxing break over coffee, journey to the apex of the Algarve, Mount Fóia, which on a clear day affords glorious sights of the rocky coastline to the west and south. Back in Portimão, relax at a 16th-century fortress overlooking the powdery sand beaches of Praia da Rocha. As you sip a glass of juice freshly squeezed from local oranges, gaze at the ocean vistas and reflect on Portugal’s gifts, both natural and architectural.