But even though the piri-piri is almost synonymous with the regions’ chicken, shrimp and a plethora of other dishes, it’s interesting to note that it wasn’t indigenous to the region. The piri-piri chilli, as well as other sweet chillies were brought by Portuguese seafarers from the New World. It’s not well known where exactly the piri-piri came from but what matters is that it has been part of the region’s gastronomy for many hundreds of years by now.

Chicken Piri-piri

This is probably the most well-known and most easily available dish in the region, it can be found pretty much on any menu anywhere in the Algarve.

What chicken Piri-piri basically is a smallish chicken, cut in half, slashed to the bone and marinated in a mixture of sea salt and spices for several hours, after which you grill it over hot coals. The resulting product is traditionally cut into small pieces and served with potatoes and a side salad. As you might think there are variations of this basic recipe all throughout the region, some places will serve the entire grilled half chicken and French fries tend to be the ubiquitous side dish to the spicy bird.

Considering the fact that the Portuguese are very keen on pork as well, it’s interesting to see that Piri-piri pork isn’t as easy to find in the Algarve, however you will find Piri-piri shrimp, it most likely has to do with the more easily available raw materials.

You can find piri-piri in a wide array of product type, and lovers of spicy foods will love to experiment with as many of them as possible.

For a great overview of the different varieties of piri-piri infused recipes, keep our Algarve car rental services in mind, it will make getting from one place to another that much easier.

Each region of the country has its own calendar of more or less unique festivities, whether religious or not so religious. These types of events tend to normally showcase all manner of traditional culture, processions, fireworks and such, but there are also many of them that are deeply rooted into the modern.

Those interested in the religious aspect of the region may want to schedule their Algarve holiday to coincide with such a celebration, such as the Festa das Chouriças em Sao Luis. This festival takes place in late January in Querenca, it is the day of the patron saint of animals which is rather paradoxically celebrated with a smoked sausage auction and cultural fair. We should note that all the proceeds of the auction are donated to charity.

One important religious event in the Algarve is a two-part festival held in Loule in mid-April. The first part of the festival takes place when the 16^th century statue of the city’s patron saint is brought down from Ermita do Alto do Cerro to the Church of Sao Francisco.

The second part of the festival takes place two weeks later when the statue is returned to its resting place

There are other types of Algarve festivals and events of course, which we’ll talk about in a future article, till then keep in mind that you can visit these locations and many others with the help of our Algarve car rental services.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima

This site is by far one of the most famous Marian shrines in the entire world. The main building is the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima, whose construction started on the 13^th of May 1928, a wonderful Neoclassical church that was later consecrated on October 7^th 1953.

The central spire is a slender construction that rises sixty-five meters and the church itself is flanked by monumental colonnades which overlook a very large open plaza. The center of the plaza is dominated by the Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus which was built in 1932, being situated over a spring that according to the shrine, has been ‘the instrument of many graces’.

The basilica has fifteen altars dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the rosary and it also houses the tombs of the young visionaries.

The other mains stop at Fatima is the Chapel of Apparitions, an open-air chapel built on the original site of the appearances, which is open year-round for regular services and can even  be virtually visited via high-res webcam.

The Convento de Cristo in Tomar

The Convent of the Order of Christ was built in 1160 by the Knights Templar in order to defend the very volatile Muslim-Christian border at that time.

This is quite a unique monastic fortress, first of all because it is a monastic fortress and then because its construction was an on-going project for somewhere close to five centuries, which turned the initial Templar stronghold into a gallery of Portuguese architectural styles.

There are many things to see here, actually everything is interesting however we’ll just mention a couple, starting with the portal of the church which was designed about 1530 and richly decorated in the typical Manueline style.

To the left of the portal you’ll find the 16^th century rectangular Manueline nave, which replaced the older Gothic nave, and a large interior arch links the Romanesque round church to the Manueline nave.

We could talk about these religious destinations in much more detail and we probably will do so in the future, but keep in mind that you can see them for yourself with the help of some Algarve car rental services.

Many holidaymakers return to Albufeira city Portugal when they’re looking for a specific type of atmosphere which mixes great climate, lovely beaches and a plethora of eating establishments.

There are some who call Albufeira the St. Tropez of Portugal, while one must maintain the proportions in mind when making such a comparison, one also has to acknowledge that there are some similarities between the two. Our Albufeira city guide won’t talk about all of them however we will focus on a general outlook of the city.

The ex-fishing village is situated in the central part of the Algarve region, at about a thirty minute drive from Faro Airport, thankfully there are many Albufeira transfers from Faro Airport available for those interested in getting there quickly and in safe comfort.

Albufeira city

For those who have visited a bit of North Africa, coming here will offer a very interesting experience seeing as how Albufeira looks quite a bit like a village from that region. The city is home to one of the greatest beach-side tourist developments in the entire country, not only the region, however you don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to, the nearby locations of Quarteira and Almancilalso offer some great accommodation options.

On the other hand you could have a wonderful vacation and never leave the town or its surroundings, in such a case considering some Albufeira car hire services might prove to be a great idea, especially if you’re planning on cooking your own meals and if you wish to have the same flexibility of movement that you have at home.

Being the largest resort in the Algarve, Albufeira didn’t get that reputation for nothing, the wide variety of attractions, sights and activities that the place offers is appealing to a wide range of travellers, of all ages.

The city is split into two entities, the ‘old’ and the ‘new’, the first offering history and tranquillity while the other a constantly humming nightlife. Add to this some of the finest beaches on the continent, and couple it with the great weather, plus the local culture, one can understand why the atmosphere here is much sought after by travellers and holidaymakers of different ages and backgrounds.

Of course, considering the resort’s size and the plethora of offerings it has, one cannot think that it does not cater to those who love to shop while they’re on vacation. For those looking for some ‘retail therapy’ after a few days of lounging on the beach, rest assured that Albufeira’s main shopping street of Rua 5 de Outubro has pretty much anything that you may want or need, from a new outfit that you can wear on a night out in Albufeira to presents for your family and friends back home.

The resort doesn’t only offer great beaches, and wonderful eateries, golfing enthusiasts will also have a chance to play a solid number of holes at the Pine Cliffs or again, can take a ride to one of the top notch courses around Quarteira, like the Vila Sol and Vilamoura Old Course.

Albufeira guide – Albufeira beach Art

As far as the more traditional idea of an attraction goes, Albufeira has a few interesting places that will be ideal for a large percentage of visitors. For instance those who are traveling with their children will surely have to visit the Zoo Marine and the variety of water parks which can be found in and around the city.

More adventurous adults may want to visit Monchique and Foia, which are the highest points in the region, the views from here amaze every time, without fail. While on this trip make sure to check out a few local specialties, such as Medronho – a traditional alcoholic beverage – and Honey Cake, both of which are worth trying.

This has been just a quick look at what Albufeira has to offer its visitors, rest assured that once you’re there, you will surely find many more things to see and do.