The south coast of Portugal, still a haven for local traditions, has a vibrancy that sets it apart and is not only a perfect place to explore, but also a golfers paradise. There are more than sixteen famous golf courses on the Algarve to choose from.
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The sweeping beaches and rugged cliffs of the Algarve are splendid and stretch across some 150 kilometers of the southern part of Portugal.
It was the Moors who really left their mark on the Algarve during their 500-year reign of Portugal from the period AD 711. The Christian resistance began as early as AD718, but it was not until 1139 that any substantial headway was made under Alfonso Henriques, who later became King of Portugal. With the help of north European crusaders, the Moors were eventually driven out of the Algarve and it became part of the nation of Portugal.
Today most of the coastal towns of the Algarve are built up and the beachfront is lined with luxury resorts and golf courses. The Pestana Alvor Praia Hotel is a stunning five star resort located at 3 Irmãos Beach, Alvor and is a golfers paradise offering an unlimited golf programme, which can be played on 3 golf courses, Pinta, Gramacho and their newly opened Pestana Silves golf course.
My partner and I chose to be accommodated at Club Med in the beachtown of Albufeira in order to enjoy a hassle-free holiday. Renowned world wide for its value for money all-inclusive packages, Da Balaia Club Med is no exception. The entertainment and meals provided took care of all our needs and gave us free time to explore the treasures of the Algarve. An added advantage to staying at Club Med is that at meal times you can drink as much wine and beer as you like - something that should appeal to South African travellers!
The charm of the Algarve lies in the little villages scattered inland. One of these villages is Silves - once the Moorish capital of the Algarve. Today it is a mere shadow of its previous grandeur when it was a strategic river port before it was destroyed by sieges and then even later, the earthquake of 1755. The massive sandstone walls and turrets of the Moorish fortress or Castelo are still a magnificent sight to be seen as you walk up the hill from the town square.
Many of the buildings that line the streets of Silves are covered in beautiful pink glazed tiles or azulejos, another remnant left by the Moors. This style of decoration was previously a fashion among the affluent, but today it can be seen on churches, villas, and mansions and even on park benches!
Wandering through the streets of Silves there are several good restaurants to chose from, one of them being the Rui Marisqueira, which resembles a local café but is apparently one of the best fish restaurants in the Algarve. Fresh lobsters and excellent caldeirada de peize (fish stew) and bacalhau á Brás (fried dried codfish) are their specialities. It was packed with more locals than tourists -a good sign of its popularity.
The sleepy village of Estoi (pronounced Shtoe-ee) is another of the villages worth visiting and of interest is what was once one of the most lavish manor houses in the Algarve - the Palace of the Counts of Estoi. The villa is a faded pink rococo building and was constructed in the 18th century and over the years various styles have been added to it and there are beautiful balustrade terraces lined with blue azulejos. Although the villa is presently in a sad state of needed repair, there are future plans to restore and to turn it into a luxury pousada (state-sponsored hotel)
An interesting way to experience life in one of the Algarve villages is to frequent their markets and the port of Olháo is a fine example. There are two distinctive redbrick turreted buildings on the waterfront, one is the fruit and vegetable market and the other is devoted to fish and seafood. Cafés line the waterfront and all serve excellent local cuisine
Surprisinghly, Olháo is not a legacy of Moorish occupation. It was founded in the 18th century and developed a Moorish style through commercial links with North Africa. Churches and cathedrals are plentiful in the Algarve and their styles differ from village to village. The Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Affitos in Olháo situated on one of the tiny cobbled streets in the town, is a definite landmark. It is a parish where the wives of fishermen have traditionally prayed for the safety of their menfolk.
One of the happy memories I have of my trip to the Algarve was having lunch at the A Muralha, an old bakery set in the town wall in the village Loulé. Sitting under the trees of its walled garden, I lunched on a Portuguese speciality sardinhas grelhadas com pimentos - a plate of grilled sardines with peppers!.
For further information on the Pestana Alvor Praia Hotel and their golfing packages, visit their website www.pestanagroup.com or contact Pestana Hotel Group (011)462 1714
For information on all inclusive packages to the Algarve, contact Club Med (011) 214 0800.
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