São Brás de Alportel is a historical town, of popular architecture with palace like buildings from the old cork barons. Follow the “Calçadinha”, a Roman-Medieval way along which you can visit the Mother Church (1), the Episcopal Palace Garden (2) and the Ethnographic Museum of Algarve Costume (3) where the clothing of the people of the Algarve is displayed. When you leave S. Brás de Alportel for Barranco do Velho, on the EN 2, the São Brás Pousada hotel is also an excellent lookout point over the town and the coast. The next place is Alportel, where you can pay a visit to the Chapel of Saint Joseph (4). Then you can head on to the Fonte Férrea (Spring) (5), located in a valley with many trees and a stream. Your next stop is Barranco do Velho, a small village with a large tradition in cork industry. You can then make your way up to the Chapel (6) at the top of the hill. The churchyard is a marvellous lookout point. This village is famous for its “medronho”, the local firewater.Then take the EN 124 towards Cachopo and you reach Feiteira. Here you can stop and have a look at the Feiteira Rural World Discovery Centre (7), located in the old primary school next to the main road. If you’re fond of walking then you’ll be pleased to find a network of walking tours that join, via a large route (of 45 KM), this Discovery Centre with two others, located on the “hill” of Mealha and on the “hill” of Casa Baixas.

You then arrive in Cachopo, a small village dating from the 16th century. Shortly after entering the village you can stop at the Fonte Férrea (Spring) in Cachopo (8), a very beautiful location, with chalybeate waters and lots of trees, ideal for picnicking and where you can find some good examples of local flora. In the village you should visit the small museum (9), which paints an accurate picture of life in the “serra” uplands. When you’re walking through the streets watch out for the schist or whitewashed houses, traditional stone benches, the eaves of the roofs, the community ovens, threshing floors, furnaces and intricately decorated chimneys. You can purchase pieces of local handicrafts or learn about age old hand weaving techniques in a weaving workshop called “A Lançadeira” (The Weaver’s Shuttle) (10). Then you can climb the small streets that lead up to the Church of Saint Steven (11), and after visiting the church you can pass by and take a look at the pack-saddle maker’s and the blacksmith’s. If you’re interested in seeing two megalithic monuments then we recommend a small detour following the 504 up to the “hill” of Mealha, where the Anta das Pedras Altas (Dolmem) (12) and the Anta da Masmorra (Dolmen) (13) can be found. In Mealha the Round Straw Lofts (14) are circular constructions made from loose stone and earth, with thatched roofs, which once were home to their owners. In the Mealha Rural World Discovery Centre (15) information is available on the network of walking tours. On the hill of Casas Baixas, on the 505, you can see genuine examples of “serra” style construction, in the community ovens and stone houses. There is another Rural World Discovery Centre (16) and a network of walking tours.Next you can follow the EN 397 towards Água de Fusos. A few kilometres before Tavira you can turn off in Asseca for the Pego do Inferno (Pool of Hell) (17). This is an area of great environmental wealth and great for leisure pursuits, with a waterfall with water that falls 5 metres into a pool below. You can then rejoin the road towards Tavira and at the roundabout take the EN 270 towards Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo.

Pass through Fonte do Bispo and then you come to Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo, where you can visit the Mother Church (18). It’s particularly nice to take a walk alongside the Ribeira de Alportel (Brook). It’s a good idea to visit the craftsmen of the Tile Makers Association (19). In the Santa Catarina Farming Cooperative (20) you can visit the olive oil press and if possible witness the distillation process of “medronho” firewater.From here you can opt for different small routes. The 1st suggested route takes you to Eiras Altas. This is a beautiful journey alongside the Ribeira Asseca (Brook). The 2nd route takes you on a visit of the Várzea do Vinagre, where you’ll find “medronho” spirit products. The 3rd route takes you to Tavira, a town of stately homes and, triangular roofs and carved ashlar masonry, lattice windows and colourful platbands. A visit to the exhibitions in the Palácio da Galeria (Gallery) (21) is recommendable as is the Castle (22) and the Church of Carmel (23). You can choose to take a stroll along the River Gilão, across the Roman Bridge (24) up to the old market, now converted into a cultural venue. And then you can catch the boat up to the Ilha de Tavira (Island) (25), or even lose yourself in the beauty of the Ria Formosa Natural Park.