The Historical West Algarve
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The Historical West Algarve
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The Historical West Algarve

1 day
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Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Silves, Silves, Faro District, Algarve

Silves, The Moorish Shielb appears clustered around the castle which dominates the surrounding countryside. It is the Algarve city where the Islamic heritage is most striking. Here lived scholars and poets of the Al Garb (the West) of Al Andaluz, the powerful caliphate which dominated the Iberian peninsula for centuries. The gates of the city open on to the walls which, even today, guard the castle, whose battlements provide us with a kind of winged walk, with a view over the River Arade flowing lazily down below.

At night, cleverly lit, the castle takes on mysterious shapes, and the legends of enchanted Moorish maidens suddenly make sense. The legend of the Great Cistern of the Castle tells of the misfortune of a princess who, on the night of S. João (summer solstice) sails over the deep waters in a boat of silver with golden oars. Disconsolate, she sings sad songs. And she can only escape from there when a Moorish prince pronounces the magic words that will break the spell.

We cannot leave Silves without trying a “morgado”, one of the best recipes for this cake which is so typical of the Algarve Mountains.

It was from the bay of Lagos that the caravels set off on the great saga of the 16th century, in search of new worlds. Today the old cosmopolitanism is preserved, along with the long-standing intimacy with the sea, in one of the most beautiful cities in the Algarve. The friendliness and welcoming nature of the people of Lagos are part of history: King D. Sebastião elevated it to the status of a city, after a journey to the Algarve in 1573, because he was so impressed by the warm welcome from the populace. It is well worth visiting its churches, museums, the castle and the walls.

Finally we get to Sagres, the legendary promontory. In 350 A.D. it was described by the Roman Rufus Festus Avienos in the following way: “the Cynete Cape, where the sidereal light goes down, emerges proudly as the extreme point of the rich Europe and goes into the salt water of the ocean, inhabited by monsters. There is then a promontory with frightening cliffs dedicated to Saturn. The choppy seas boil and the rocky coast stretches for a long way”. Almost 22 centuries later the magic and imposingness continue.

Just a stone's throw away is the Cabo de S.Vicente, with its chapel, convent, fortress and lighthouse, the most south-westerly point in Portugal and in Europe. The cliffs are 60 metres high, dropping down into the furious spray of the waves and often hiding many tiny beaches, almost empty, where that paradigm of the perfect beach can be found, that we yearn for in our imaginations.

Keen botanists, for their part, will find here several dozen plant species which are unique to this area, and, as Sagres is on the migratory route of a large number of birds, given a bit of luck, you can watch their arrival or departure, a unique spectacle which can take days.

Duration: 8 hours

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Included
  • The tour rate includes all taxes, personal driver with a car/minivan, pick-up, and drop off from and to Tavira, Cabanas de Tavira and Olhão.
  • If you wish a pickup from another city, an extra transfer must be added to your booking.
  • There are no hidden costs.
  • Pickup Times: We are proud to offer hotel specific pick up times. Please be at your hotel lobby at the time noted. Exact pick up time will vary depending on location of hotels.
Not included
  • Gratuities for your tour guide are not included in tour fares, are payable at your discretion, and are greatly appreciated.
Additional
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • The tour is private with your personal driver/guide. There will be no other people joining the tour.
  • To keep our tours private and comfortable we limit the groups with 7 people per guide.
  • The tour is done by car/minivan. We use cars (up to 4 people) or minivans (5 - 7 people).
  • During the tour we will make stops according to the itinerary.
  • Tour duration can be shortened upon your request.
  • We can also pick you up at diferent locations and hotels. Simply add to your booking an extra transfer.
  • Our guides will be happy to help you to buy souvenirs during the tour. It is strictly prohibited for our guides to take any commission from the shops.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 7 travelers
Features
Tourism
85%
Cultural
65%
Sport
20%
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