Alvor
Alvor was probably founded by the Carthaginians. Alvor is a small fishing village and now a very popular holiday area. It's narrow, cobbled streets and it quaint way of life have kept the large developments away. This is what the tourist enjoy most about this village. In most of the streets you will find all different types of restaurants, bars and craft shops.
Most of the bars have live music. Alvor faces the Lagos bay with it long sandy beach witch has a number of small coves under the cliffs. The village is surrounded with well known Hotels and apartments. Alvor is only 70 Kms from Faro Airport.
There are many restaurants in Alvor, from Mexican and English cuisine in the newly open Amigos to the fantastic seafood restaurants on the harbour such as Ababuja, you will find many types of food from Indian to Italian as well as many typical Portuguese restaurants.
The 16th Century Parish Church has a prime example in its main doorway of the great craftsmanship of the Manueline era of architecture is the only building that has survived the strong earthquake of 1755 which destroyed most of the stone buildings in the Algarve.
Remember that Alvor is still a fishing village, talk to locals and find out what time the fisherman return from the sea. It’s well worth getting up early and watching them work with their catch. The Octupus is a real speciality. The beach is popular with Portuguese holidaymakers from the north who usually arrive in the Algarve in September, but due to its size Alvor Praia is never packed. Tres Irmaos Beach, further east, is mostly backed by cliffs, with huge rocks scattered along the shoreline. It leads to Praia da Vau and Praia da Rocha. “Praia” is the Portuguese for “beach”.
Due to Alvor’s peculiar and sensitive ecology, attempts have been made to protect the surrounding area from tourist development, which have only been partially successful. Alvor has, however, managed to retain much of its original style, with low buildings and open surroundings and the lagoon, which is a specially protected area of natural beauty.
The area around the old fishermen’s market has been developed greatly over the past five years. It now has a wide waterfront promenade, with restaurants and bars where one can sit and watch the fishing boats. Behind the fish market is the old lifeboat station, which is well worth a visit. Alvor’s main beach is just five minutes’ walk from the town.
A favourite among windsurfers, it is four and half miles of wide open sand, offering enough space for beach volleyball, football, frisbee and walking. The beach is backed by dunes and has plenty of facilities. There is much history to this settlement which was once a busy port. Its ramparts defended armies in the Crusades and King Joao II died here, but after the earthquake, it never again regained its grandeur and importance.