Category Archives: Algarve
A visit to Madeira
Madeira – The Pearl of the Atlantic
While the entire country of Portugal is a very popular tourist destination, there are places within it which are more popular than other. One example of this would be the Algave region in the south or Portugal, and another would be the Madeira Islands, arguably the most beautiful island in the Atlantic.
Madeira
A floating garden to some, extreme relaxation to others
The rather small archipelago of the Madeira Islands has been described by many as a ‘floating garden’ or the ‘Pearl of the Atlantic’. The garden part comes in as a reflexion of the centuries of successful cultivation that the islands have seen, thanks to the rich volcanic soil, the abundant rainfall and the mild climate.
Algarve Holiday in Albufeira, Lagos and Silves seaside cities
If you are one of the 10 million people that visit us every year, and if you don’t know where to start your journey from, you can be sure that there is someone thinking of you. We recommend three tourist resorts: Albufeira, Lagos and Silves.
Albufeira is one of the most attractive tourist resorts in Europe, being a peaceful and hospitable town, in spite of its tumultuous history. Because it was established near two thousand years ago, nowadays you can find here a perfect blend of gorgeous ancient and modern architecture, and a refined combination of beautiful nature and luxurious buildings. It is both a popular and universal resort, having a long beach and a wide variety of entertainment options, from museums and art galleries to nightlife clubs.
Lagos is one of the most impressive locations due to its attractive beaches and ancient buildings, and it offers amazing shopping opportunities. The oldest building is
around 550 years old and was constructed as a slave market. The town is well known for its famous statues such as the Sculpture of Dom Sebastiao or the Statue of Algarve’s
Saint Sao Goncalo de Lagos, and the city center is a place for various cultural events held all the year round. If you like yachting or water activities, since Lagos is the main port of Algarve region, you should visit the Marina where you can rent a boat or a yacht.
Silves is famous for its fascinating landscapes and for its ancient castle dating back to the Roman times, and also for the ancient culture on which it was built. There are
several important attractions: the Archaeological Museum which has an exposition of items that date back to the Stone Age, the stone bridge Ponte Romana, the statue of
Largo dos Martires and the 13th century cathedral.
If you don’t know how to get there, we have the solution for you. The Faro Airoport Transfers Service, you’ll get from the Airport to each of the regions mentioned above in no time and without any stress or waiting time. The absence of a personal car is substituted by a service that grants you quality, safety, comfort, and above all time and money savings.
Put your worries aside and prepare yourself for the vacation of your dreams.
The Silves Medieval Festival 9-11 August 2011
Around the second week of August, the town of Silves in Portugal plays host to a Medieval Festival and it is an ideal place for this type of even as the town’s cobbled and narrow streets lead up to a medieval castle and during the Festival these streets turn into what they used to be centuries ago: a medieval market place.
Step back in time a few hundred years back to sometime between the 12th and 14th century and enjoy the particular atmosphere offered by the wandering troubadours, jugglers and barbecues and spit roasts at every couple of meters one from each other.
The Silves Medieval Festival takes place between the 9th and 15th of August in 2011 and is amongst the most popular festivals that the Algarve sees during the summer period and everybody can get into the action by hiring period costumes so as to better fit in with the rest of the medieval folk.
Silves Medieval Festival
Most of the activities that take place are free except for the jousting tournament and the wicked Black Knight which your children will surely want to see but there is only one show per night so make sure that you’re there when it happens. Talking of free, while in the Festival ground you will have to exchange your modern day Euros for the medieval currency of Xelbs; this can be done under the main gates and it’s all meant to add to the fun and immersion of the event.
Ideally you will want to grab dinner sometime around 7 PM as it will surely get really crowded after 9, despite the large number of places where you can eat rest assured that they will rapidly fill up at around that hour.
One could hardly find a better setting for such an event in the Algarve than the Moorish city of Silves its preserved old town and the castle play a huge role in taking you back in time.
