Olhão da Restauração
The traditional and unique city Olhão, located in the Eastern Algarve, is another Algarve, authentic and that still maintains its identity, due to typicality and history.
Olhão’s heritage is essentially immaterial; your history is full of heroic acts by its people, legends and traditions, traces and its Cubist architecture, unique in the country.
From the Olhão foundation, fishing is the anchor of this life and the Fishing Port its heart. It is that same people who continue to populate these streets full of charm and tradition.
Olhão is the heart of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, a unique lagoon system that stretches over 60 kilometers. One of the “7 Portuguese Natural Wonders” and an Algarve ex-libris. Here you will find rare species of plants and animals preserved in their natural environment.
For these and other reasons, it is a place to visit and a city that you always want to return to.
Climate
In general, Olhão has a humid temperate Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild winters.
Landscape
In the Olhão’s area, nature reveals stunning expressions, contrasting harmoniously. The interior of the fields and mountains, the “Barrocal” from which “Cerro da Cabeça” and “Cerro de São Miguel” stands out, its surface has a high environmental value. On the long line of a coastline sown with islands and islets of the Ria Formosa can find “nature reconised” beaching areas: Armona-Mar, Armona-Ria, Fuseta-Mar and Fuseta-Ria. As easily accessible are the nearby beaches Culatra, Farol and Deserta / Barreta on Faro municipally but geographically influenced by Olhão.
Monuments and Interesting Places
There are monuments and places in Olhão that, due to their historical importance and unique architecture, stand out, due to the role they played in the construction of their past.
Know them is to know Olhão.
Riverside Area, there are the
- Olhão Markets,
- Historic Boat Caíque do Bom Sucesso,
- Pescador Olhanense garden,
- Patrão Joaquim Lopes garden,
- Recreational Port,
- Fishing Port
Historic Area, there are the
- City Museum “Compromisso Marítimo de Olhão”,
- Mother Church Nossa Senhora do Rosário,
- Chapel Senhor dos Aflitos,
- Church Nossa Senhora da Soledade,
- Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration,
- Barreta and Levante Historic Neighbourhoods
Around
- Chalet João Lúcio,
- “Quinta de Marim” Ria Formosa Park, (Marim Environmental Education Center),
- Quelfes,
- Moncarapacho,
- Fuseta
The Islands
- Culatra Island comprises several beaches such as Farol, Culatra and Hangares. Here you can also witness local population fishing traditions.
- Armona Island comprises the beach with the same name, which is very popular for water sports.
- Near Olhão are Fuseta beach.
- With high quality waters and vast stretches of sand where you can choose quieter or more frequented areas. Depending what you are looking for.
- Desert Island (Barreta),
- Farol Beach,
- Hangares Beach,
- Culatra Beach,
- Armona Beach,
- Fuseta Mar Beach,
- Fuseta Ria Beach,
Ria Formosa Natural Park – Olhão
Making the transition between the sea and land, Ria Formosa is a large lagoon system that extends over 60 km of the Algarve east coast.
Is the most important wetland in the south of Portugal, classified as Internationals Interest Wetland.
Includes a wide variety of habitats: barrier islands, marshes, shoals, dunes, salt marshes, freshwater ponds and brackish, waterways, forests, agricultural areas, which also offer a enormous diversity of flora and fauna. Is House for rare species such as sultan hen (Porphyrio porphyrio), park symbol. Authentic nursery of marine species is also a mollusc and bivalve production center.
Be sure to set out to discover this Natural Park, visiting cities and towns, enjoying the vast sands of the barrier islands, walking the trails or taking boat trips.
Be enchanted by the gracefulness of the water birds and sharpen your eyes maybe you have lucky and see another important Ria Formosa inhabitant: the Chameleon.
https://www.visitalgarve.pt/pt/4294/parque-natural-da-ria-formosa.aspx
Mediterranean Diet
Algarve is a gateway to and from Mediterranean to Atlantic.
The Mediterranean Diet takes on one of the most fascinating and lively components in the entire region culture. Based on natural, mostly locally produced fresh products, the use of olive oil, fresh fish, such as sardines, mackerel or tuna, fruits, legumes and vegetables, low percentage of red meats, moderate wine consumption who source of natural antioxidants, is part of a healthy and appealing lifestyle.
The generation to generation transmission of knowledge and preparation and cooking processes, conviviality and socialization rituals, makes it more than simple food.
Is the community’s identity from whole Algarve.
It’s a way of life being, a healthy relationship between local people, who comes and who go.
Gastronomy
- “Raia Alhada” – Stingray with garlic,
- “Polvo” – Octopus,
- “Cataplana” – Dish prepared in a copper or stainless steel traditional closed shell-shaped pan,
- “Arroz Lingueirão” – Razor Clam rice,
- “Arroz Marisco” – Seafood Rice,
- “Arroz Peixe” – Fish Rice,
- “Xarém com Conquilhas” Savory corn porridge with bean clams,
- “Marisco Fresco” – Fresh Seafood,
- “Peixe Fresco” – Fresh fish
Official Guides
- https://www.visitalgarve.pt/guias-rta/index.html
- https://www.visitalgarve.pt/pt/4294/parque-natural-da-ria-formosa.aspx
Sources
- Municipality of Olhão (http://www.cm-olhao.pt/)
- Visit Algarve (www.visitalgarve.pt)
