| OLHÃO |
Situated a short drive east of Faro Airport, Olhão is
a pretty fishing port reminiscent of the typical North African
villages across the sea in Morocco.
The peculiarity of its architecture gives it a Moorish appearance,
although the town only emerged as recently as the 18th century.
Notable for its white cube-shaped houses with terraced roofs,
Olhão was the scene of a historic uprising against the
French garrison in 1808. Following the French departure, the
local fishermen sent a small vessel known as a caíque
across the Atlantic to Brazil to transmit the news to the exiled
king João VI, who later granted them a town charter.
What to see. The best view over the town is from the top of
the bell tower of the Baroque Nossa Senhora do Rosário
parish church, built on the Praça da Restauração
between 1681 and 1698. From there, the narrow, pedestrianized
streets of the old quarter wind down to the waterfront where
the lively marketplace can be found.
Nearby. Ferries and water taxis link Olhão to the idyllic
offshore beaches of Armona, Culatra and Farol, which form part
of the surrounding sandbank known as the ilhas.
Forming part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, Quinta de Marim
located 1 km east of Olhão harbour is a protected area
featuring a variety of flora and fauna. An exhibition of agricultural
and fishing techniques includes the remains of a Roman salt
production plant and a rare tidal mill dating back to the Middle
Ages.
The area is also a breeding ground of the web-footed Algarve
Water Dog, a species unique to the region.
A little further east, the regional capital of Faro caters
for last-minute souvenir hunters and those seeking cultural
attractions in the form of museums and ancient monuments. |
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| © 2007 Maisturismo |
