Odiaxere is a small village found in the Lagos parish, a village not without its own charm but usually totally neglected by tourists because the EN125 makes up its main street and there is very little information about the place to begin with. And it’s a pity because the place has a long history that dates back to the Neolithic era.

Odiaxere makes for a great and little-known pit-stop in the greater Lagos region. The great advantage to the place not being a tourist hot-spot is that you can get some truly great traditional Portuguese food for considerably cheaper than you would in the more popular places. For instance you can expect to get the ‘plate of the day’ lunch for as little as six Euros, and that will include a glass of, usually, local wine. There’s a daily indoor market, as well as a couple of bars where the local meet and mingle.

Off the main road, you’ll find a garden square with lots of seating around a water feature. This is where you’ll see a rather large house with some impressive tile frontage as well as cast iron balcony. From the square you can also see the church and its impressive bell tower, the church having been rebuilt after the great earthquake of 1755. Its impressive stone-carved doorway is the original from the late 17^th century.

The Ribeir de Odiaxere will take you down to the ocean, it’s more of a stream than a small river actually, the Moorish word ‘odi’ meaning river.

One major characteristic of Odiaxere is that it used to be heavily involved in the salt industry and you can still see many salt beds, positioned in neat rows.

Estoi

This small town is located at only about ten kilometers from Faro, so easily reachable on any day of your holiday, and it is filled with many examples of traditional Algarvean country architecture.

This is a great place for those who are interested in historical sites and Estoi will not disappoint in this regard. You’ll find an old palace with an amazing façade which also features some very picturesque old-style gardens.

Nearby you will find some Roman ruins dating from the first century, a very interesting place however make sure you don’t go there on a public holiday because it will be closed.

Sao Bras de Alportel

This is the definition of a market town, very well to do, located at about ten kilometers from Estoi, set in a wonderful almond growing area. In order to enjoy the area to its maximum you should try to visit from December to early March because that’s when the trees blossom.

The town has a very quaint 15^th century parish Church, featuring a wonderful façade and a great bell tower – featuring some great carving on their inside. The panoramic view from the terrace is quite stunning indeed. The building near the church used to be the bishops’ palace and it features a domed pavilion and a rather elaborate fountain.

Loule

Yet another market town – you’ll find quite a few of these while exploring the Algarve – this is a quite busy place, especially on Saturday mornings. However don’t be mislead by the town’s outskirts, which are very modern, you need to head into the centre to see the old town.

One of the main points of interest should be the picturesque cobbled street of Rua 9 de Abril where you will find crafts workshops where traditional artisans make all sorts of useful things.

You should also check out the Rua Garcia de Horta and if you’re visiting on a hot day, the Jardim dos Amuados.

These are just three of the several lesser known Algarve destinations which you can reach with something as simple as our Algarve car rental services.

One of the best starting places for a tour of the entire city is in fact an attraction in itself, the Praca de Dom Francisco Gomes features an obelisk erected in 1910 which commemorates the diplomat Ferreira d’Almeida, an important figure in Faro’s history.

From there, those looking for some peace and quiet can enjoy the Jardim Manuel Bivar, a garden featuring wonderful flower beds, tall palms and jacaranda trees. On the east side of the park you can see the Igreja de Misericordia, a 14^th century church.

Beyond the Jardim, you can see the Arco da Vila, which is an arched gateway, surmounted by a bell tower and a statue of Faro’s patron saint, St. Thomas Aquinus. Through the gateway you’ll see the very attractive historical centre of Faro.

The historical centre of Faro is dominated by the Cathedral, which saw most of its original Gothic look destroyed by the 1755 earthquake, however the tower and south window still remain from the initial building. It was of course later rebuilt and renovated and it now features elements of Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque architecture.

The interior is very quiet and reminiscent of a basilica, definitely a must-see for those who have a thing for religious buildings.

Then there’s the Largo Se, in the square in front of the cathedral, you can see the town hall and the Bishop’s Palace.

A bit to the south of the Cathedral, on the Praca Afonso III, you’ll find the Archaeological Museum, which is housed in what used to be the convent of Nossa Senhora da Assuncao, founded in 1518.

These are still not all of the attractions in the city, but only a few, make sure you employ our Faro car hire services in order to see them and many more while on your trip there.