Things to Do: Museums & History
Museums | |
| Museu Arqueologia, Silves | Partly set in the old town walls, Silves archaeological museum explores Portugal's history with a diverse range of exhibits. Silves. |
| Museu Cerro da Vila | A modern museum and historic Roman site houses a superb display of Roman, Visigoth and Moorish artifacts. Cerro da Vila. |
| Museu Etnografico do Trajo Algarvio | Neatly preserved agricultural equipment, and historical costumes can be found in one of the Algarve's most engaging cultural museusm. Sao Bras de Alportel. |
| Museu Maritimo | A spirited exhibition of nautical artifacts including scale models of caravells, galleons and steamboats. Faro. |
| Museu Arqueologia, Loule | Set within the town's castle, this tiny museum boosts foundations of a Moorish house and allows visitors access to the castle walls. Loule. |
| Museu Arqueologico | The view from this modern, but modest museum looks out to the ocean. Inside is a fascinating collection of Stone Age, Roman and Moorish artifacts. English and Portuguese translations provide a rich information about each exhibit. Albufeira. |
| Museu Regional | A treasure store shop of a museum, with a little bit of everything. Lagos. |
| Museu da Cortica | Silves' Cork Museum and factory highlights the abundant and versatile bark has had on the town through photographic panels, themed exhibitions and displays of early 20th-century machinery housed in converted workshops. Silves. |
| Museu Arqueologia, Faro | Housed in an ancient convent, Faro's main museum displays Moorish lamps, Roman mosaics and some fine modern paintings. Faro. |
| Museu Manuel Cabanas | A museum showcasing the work of Portugal's greatest wood engraver of the 20th century, Manuel Cabanas. A truly dynamic volume of work is exhibited. Vila Real de Santo Antonio. |
Castles | |
| Paderne | Apart from the nearby highway, Paderne's ruined Moorish castle sits in splendid rural isolation. Paderne. |
| Alcoutim | This castle commands gorgeous views across the River Guadiana and the Spanish town of Sanlucar. Built in the 14th century, it was here that the short-lived treaty between Fernado I and Henrique of Castile was signed in 1371. Lago do Castelo. |
| Ferragudo | Although not open to the public, this sixteenth century Castelo de Sao Joao do Arade is situated on the beach and can make a gorgeous photograph. Ferragudo. |
| Loule | These immaculately restored battleemnts are an integral part of the town's historical make up and a wondeful little museum has been built into the castle walls. Loule. |
| Aljezur | The remains of a tenth-century Moorish castle sit on a hilltop overlooking this pretty town. Aljezur. |
| Fortaleza de Sagres | Huge walls and bastions date from 1793 and an 18th centry sundial is fashioned into the wall aligned with the famous wind compass. |
| Castro Marim | Facing the Spanish border, this thirteenth-century castle was the former headquarters of the Order of Christ, an order who protected Portuga's remoate areas for the Church and King. Vila Real. |
| Silves | One of the most impressive fortifications in the region. Silves. |
Churches | |
| Igreja Matriz | A sixteenth-century church embellished with the distinctive Manueline architectural style, all twisted pillars and ornate carved doors. Alvor. |
| Se Velha | Faro's cathedral is the most important church in the Algarve, much of it dating from the thirteenth century. Faro. |
| Nossa Senhora de Piedade | One of the most distinctive of the region's modern churches. Loule. |
| Igreja de Santo Antonio | This fantastically embellished, barrel-vaulted, eighteenth-century church is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. |
| Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe | Local folklore maintains that Henry the Navigator was a frequent visitor to this thirteenth-century church set in a lonely field. |
| Other Must-See Sights: | |
| Milreu | The area's most important Roman site, complete with fish mosaics, a bath house and the remains of one of the earliest Christian churches in the world. |
| Rosa dos Ventos | An extraordinary wind compass dating back to the time of Henry the Navigator. Sagres. |
| Capela dos Ossos | A bizarre chapel completely decorated with human bones. Faro. |
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