Olhão

Olhão is home to the largest fishing port in the Algarve and the variety of fresh fish in the restaurants is breathtaking, with magnificent sandbank type islands just off the coast, a perfect spot for swimming and sunbathing.

It borders the municipality of Tavira in the north and the east, by the municipality of Faro in the west, the municipality of São Brás de Alportel in the northeast and the Atlantic Ocean in the south.

The busy town of Olhão is only a few kilometres from Faro and properties range from apartments and historical and modernised townhouses in the centre and around the port to luxury villas nearby and further inland. The surrounding countryside is well cultivated and dotted with large working farms and quintas.

Olhão is well known for the older quarter where the flat terraced roofs and straight box-shaped chimneys show a definite Moorish theme.

A drive south, initially following signs for the church, will lead you to roads that will take you down towards the boom and some of the beaches sheltered by it.

The headland is covered with foot tracks and provides some good interesting walks leading to the smaller secluded sandy beaches.
They are long bars of fine sand and warm waters which offer both peace and quiet, in the less visited zones, and more exciting water activities: canoeing, windsurf, sailing and diving are backed by excellent local services.

This area is also popular with the boat tours from up and down the coast as when the sea is rough they can´t offload their customers into the coves near Carvoeiro and then use these sheltered bays inside the Portimao boom instead.

From the town of Olhão there is a boat ferry service that takes visitors to the nearby very small islands of Ilha da Culatra and Ilha da Armona. With their un-spoilt sandy beaches and virtual lack of construction these islands act as a pleasant contrast to the noise and bustle of the main coast.

Chapel of Our Lady of Soletude
An example of rural architecture, was originally the place of worship chosen by seamen. Its construction dates from the 17th century and the altar retables are from the 18th century.