Our area advocate: rent a home, purchase food at the municipal store, make the majority of expeditious to the beach and the everyday trip to explore the most charming places in Algarve. Come and explore the main sights in Aljezur with us. We will show you the 'must-sees' of this historical village. We assure you that you'll find in these lands one of the best beaches in the country, full of peaceful areas, immense landscapes, and beautiful cliffs. But, Aljezur has a lot more to offer than this superb coastline so don't miss a visit to its most emblematic sights. Come and discover the main sights in Aljezur with us.

Location and Significance

Located in the southwest of Portugal, Aljezur is a small town with cobbled streets and an appeal that is both traditional and timeless. It has an interesting history, ancient walls, and a 14th-century castle, but is more commonly celebrated for its beautiful beaches where hand-in-hand strolls are an ever-popular activity, and the sunsets over the waves are as golden as the sands. The historic town is noteworthy for its iconic sights. 

Unique enviromental features, a well preserved coast - a big part of Aljezur Council in the Natural Network of Protected Areas - Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina Natural Park. As it is in inreface between the land and rough sea, of enormous geological value and bio-diversity. 

Historical Landmarks

Along the streets, we find other religious buildings such as the erased Chapel of S. Francisco, the Hermitage of the Rosary, the "Casa Plácida" that belonged to the Dominican Nuns, who came to the village in the first half of the 17th century, had a small dwelling that gave them access to "Casa da Mesa", known today as Casa da Ribeira. The Ermita de St. Anthony, built in the 18th century, celebrating the patron saint of lost things, was in the town (Ermita de Nossa Senhora da Piedade das Hortas; its construction is attributed to Albertim Gonçalves) and which connected the Donjon to the village, were also erased. Rev. Patrício Manjate, currently parish priest of Aljezur, spoke of another building related to the religious history of the place-Casa de S. Sebastião, presumably a chapel, arrested by João Vás Marcelo during the process to inherit the donation made by the navigator Luís Vás Marcelo, on 17 September 1639, to the college he created in the dinner of the Order of Christ, in the city of Faro, and that Manoel Vás Marcelo contributed to the construction, using his own resources. Its more than likely location would be on Almeida street, and until about 1968 in ruins. This street, which crosses with the one next to the river, leads further west to the Rua da Cruz da Pedra. Several crosspoints emanate from the Rue de la Croix de Pierre, among them the one named San Dominique. The church is the unmissable guidepost of Aljezur's iconic historical center.

The Church of Nossa Senhora da Alva in Aljezur is the second largest church in the municipality and the most emblematic symbol of Christian religiosity. The church was built in the 17th century next to the castle, from the generous donation of the Franciscan Friar of Congonhas, in gratitude for having survived the shipwreck of a ship at that place. The original church was deeply damaged in the last earthquake on 1st November 1755, having been rebuilt in the second half of that same century. The building is white in color and consists of a single nave, chancel, and sacristy. The chancel of triangular plant, the nave, and the entrance, to the south, and with the following facades, surmounted by bell towers. The churchyard was also part of this recent restoration. The white facades have a carved cornice and a window frame with a simple frame.

It is worth going to the Aljezur Museum that gives us an idea of the wealth of this land, its history and the way its inhabitants lived. In the proximity of the village, perched over it, lies the Castle of Aljezur, ruined like so many others in Portugal, destroyed by the earthquake. The view from there over the town and the river is worth the effort of climbing. Not far from this town is a church of the pilgrimage of the 16th century, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercy, with its facades painted in azulejos (16th century). It was from here, at the time an illustrious church with a hospice, that the Pilgrimage of the Communities started on the first Sunday of May with the carrying of the throne from the church of San Francisco to the Sanctuary.

Aljezur Castle

Aljezur Castle takes us to another time when the Moorish people lived at the top of this village. With the region's arrival from the Christians, the castle played a crucial role with the powerful strength of the fathers dominant, who refused to submit to the political infrastructure of the time. Its fabulous location provides a lovely view of the Aljezur village and the fields that surround it. It also has a couple of trees that provide some shade in one of the quietest areas of the village. A place to visit at the beginning of the historical village.

Igreja da Misericórdia

Leaving the castle and facing the town of Vila, we proceed towards the old Jewish quarter where the Templar tower is located, and later cross the old Plaza de la Igreja to Largo da Misericórdia. We find the church and the old Misericórdia next to the main door of the church facing its foundations. These are located in a recess of the North wall, in the outside area of Vale de Feitosos. It was founded in 1509 and built later. Although the church has a small façade and was inserted into the Aljezur square plan, this church proved to be wider at the transverse where the entrance grid is located.

On the outside, to the right of the façade, there are two old wooden crosses, one with a Christ and the other with the Virgin, that we lose sight of being hidden on the tile terraces of the coverage. At the level of the annexes to the church, we find the old baroque fountain with a cross on the front that sends us to the end of the 17th century when it was built (1665). This was moved stone by stone to the confluence of the dice of the new houses.

Natural Attractions

The West Coast beaches are the most unpopulated on the Algarve's southern coast and ideal for those in search of unspoilt natural beauty. It is one of the only stretches of coastline that hasn't been overpopulated in a bid to cater for mass tourism and for this reason, the local government has worked hard to protect it and keep it as natural as possible. Wheeling seabirds glint in the afternoon sun and long golden beaches stretch far into the horizon. It's just you, the ocean and the sound of the waves. Odeceixe is the natural park's central beach and at low tide, it is possible to walk right up to the River. Nearby, the Barragem de Campilhas offers natural swimming and fishing in the summer, while the mountains offer trekking and bird watching year-round.

Costa Vicentina Natural Park

 If you love hiking, want to take a mountain to the sea bike ride, try out bodyboarding while you are in the area, then the Costa Vicentina Natural Park is something you are going to love. And if you are traveling with kids or toddlers, this will be a very enriching experience for them as well. The Park is a corridor of codillera with several umpteens, covering 80,048 ha, 66,925 of which are maritime territory and 13,123 ha in the municipality of Aljezur.

It stretches along the coast, in the Alentejo's southwest. It also encompasses the coastal strip of Santo Andre, Mira estuary, and Pessegueiro Islands, as they sustain a well-preserved Portuguese coast ecosystem. The cliffs to sea beaches provide refuge and feeding areas to rare, endangered, and opportunistic species. And since ornithological abundance is exceptional both in quantity and the diversity, it remains the habitat of unique bird species such as storks, owls, and peregrine falcons. The park has a platform providing support for nature observation and research. It also offers a visiting region particularly open to sustainable tourism. Such services include guided tours which are structured observation programs, the welcome survey service of the Junta de Freguesia, enabling online protection and reporting of the activities on the coast. Furthermore, providing a network of marked trails for easier access to the coast, especially that of Rota Vicentina.

Praia da Amoreira

If you travel to the west from Aljezur to Praia da Amoreira, you will find an impressive long golden sandy beach; the river, set in a backdrop of stunning Atlantic coastline. The river and estuary are sheltered by a large, high and impressive cliff which is great for fishing from up high. Further down the West Coast is the mouth of the River Seixe with a backdrop of wonderfully characteristic cliffs. This beach has easy access, making it ideal for families and it is also possible to rent canoes and go up the river to live some an adventure up this waterway with the backdrop of stunning cliffs.

Praia da Arrifana

Overlooking the beach are several cafes and some accessible cliffs nearby. With some decent facilities located on site, Praia da Arrifana can make for a very entertaining beach day, and, when the sea is behaving well (keep an eye out for motor boats, humans are the problem sometimes), it can even afford a refreshing dip. Once you’ve had your fair share of Arrifana beach, we really recommend that you take the walk across the cliffs towards the Praia dos Monteiros and Amado. The color and image alone are postcard-worthy. Chances are if you’re there just to walk, you’ll also find a new beach or two. And, generally, car freaks like to see the winding road that descends to the beach and the lovely cliffs from above.

Arrifana is probably one of the most scenic and unspoilt beaches in the Algarve. It combines the best of both worlds – a small beach set in a dramatic bay offering protection from the strong winds and get ready for some of the most consistent waves. Praia da Arrifana is one of the best western Algarve beaches, located a short distance away from Aljezur. The surrounding area is a natural wonder, full of cliffs and caves. But it’s so stunning that you’ll be hard pressed to remember to ogle the teal waters cause what you’ll really be looking at are the striped cliffs that line the beach. You can also climb up the cliffs around the beach for an amazing panoramic look at the bay and beach below.

Cultural Experiences

It was one of the great meeting places in the parish, a pole of social interaction, where stories, gossip, and the exchange of experiences made up popular culture. The "interrupted fountain" continued to offer its benefits to the inhabitants of this beautiful place. The planting of the Sabugueiros has now revived these traditions in a more timid manner, but not for this reason less important. The construction of this Fountain with the Art Workshop Alcor established a public workshop that brought together several families and architectural resources, pottery, and sanded mortar.

The 'Fonte Pequena' (Small Fountain) has been at the heart of parochial life since it was built. It has sheltered traditions linked to the consumption of fresh water until halfway through the 20th century. At its source, there was a stone for doing laundry and on one of the pillars of support for the shadecloth, a horizontal stone was placed which was used as a seat for three people, with the seat itself having a backrest carved out of the schist. For those that remember the start of the 70s and even until the start of the 80s, the Fonte Pequena was the site of the weekly news, where all the women of the parish, every day, would come to do their washing and chat with their neighbors. Decades ago, with the new means available, the population started doing their washing at home, which were much more practical, with the fountain becoming almost obsolete.

Ceramics, patchwork, lacework and embroidery, products made from wood and cork are need to mentioned as a promary activities of the region. 

It is very important to mention the cultural project - LAVRAR O MAR Cooperativa Cultural CRL., directed by Madalena Victorino and Giacomo Scalisi, was founded in 2014 under the name COSANOSTRA Cooperativa Cultural, which, in the meantime, changed to its current name. Its mission focuses on the development of artistic and cultural projects in Portugal.

Based in Aljezur, LAVRAR O MAR focuses on the practice of contemporary performing arts and how they relate to different social contexts, territories and cultural realities. And, therefore, the artistic and cultural projects developed take different forms, dimensions and durations. The cooperative has worked mainly in Portugal, but also in Australia, Italy and Cape Verde.

The purpose of its activity can be summarized as:

· Artistic creations and productions in theater, dance, music, new circus, often establishing interdisciplinary bridges;

· Research in the performing arts;

· Cultural programming;

· Music and literature publishing;

· Artistic direction of festivals, theater seasons and various cultural programs;

· Development of concepts and implementation of artistic-educational community projects.

Local Markets and Festivals

The largest and most renowned party of Aljezur is its annual municipal fair. Organized already for 26 years, the Mareta Maresia Fair takes place during the last weekend of July and the first weekend of August. The concentration of the fair is the sporting modalities of land, areas related to commerce and local gastronomy. In addition to these locals, many families take vacations in the region, providing moments of pure leisure to locals and tourists. A true celebration in honor of sport, animation, fair, Geo contact acts of the program, organized by the local associations, with the support of the City Hall of Aljezur.

Favored among the main sights in Aljezur are the local markets and the abundance of fairs and festivals which take place during the course of the year. Throughout the municipality, several local markets offer visitors the chance to discover local handicrafts, traditional products as well as products typical of the region. Besides the municipal market, which takes place in the council center in the morning of every first Monday of the month, regular markets also function in Bordeira and Rogil.

Regular festivities include:

The Folar de Odeceixe Fair, during Easter weekend;

ArteDentro, April/May;

The Earth Fair, local product market every Saturday during July and August;

The Arrifana Fishermen's Fair, last weekend of July;

Largo Animado - animation during the Summer months;

Night A - multicultural night in Aljezur, the 28th of August;

Municipal public holiday - 29th of August the famouse "dip on the 29th" - it was believed that on that day the water turned into a holy waters;

Rogil Folklore Festival - the 1st fortnigh of August;

The Aljezur Sweet Popato Festival - last weekend of November and the first weekend of December. 

Culinary Delights of Aljeizur

What is special about this part of the world? To most of us, it's the fact that the restaurants in the region serve locally produced food. They say you are what you eat. Well, in these parts, you are what you grow, cattle, catch, and collect in the nearby mountains. The Saffron peach, together with sweet potato, is a well-known local delicacy and if you're lucky enough to know a local lady or two that makes pastry, you'll be able to experience the region's mouth-watering sweet potato tarts. They will have you dreaming about more such authentic Portuguese desserts. You want to eat Portuguese food, and local producers will be proud to serve it to you.

Aljezur is not particularly famous for sporting world-class eateries. It is a small town in the middle of one of Europe's last real beauty spots, which mainly caters to domestic tourists and those wishing to spend a few days indulging in healthier pursuits. But that doesn't mean it is not an interesting part of the world to experience the local cuisine, which, although simple with hearty flavors, is also satisfyingly delicious and at the same time extremely cheap. In recent years, visitors have started to demand that their eateries be a reflection of the part of the country they are visiting. It can't just be about ketchup-fried everything. And so, obligingly marks the lifestyle of the locals and the eaters that we finally have the chance to enjoy the flavors of Portugal. And Aljezur's culinary delights will never disappoint. It is a true experience.

Aljezur Council is reach in fish (sargas, gilt-head bream, sea bass) in seafood (from sea urchins to limpetsand mussels, swimming crabs, lobster, stalked barnacles) in game (rabbit, partridge, wild boar) and in produce from the earth ( sweet potato, beans, cabbage). 

The food associated with pig and dishes made from fresh sea food are very important in cuisine of Aljezur. Deserts and puddings include the small sweet potato and almond cakes. Peanuts are an excellent appetizer and can be accompanied with the white, red and moscatel wines produced from grapes grown in Aljezur Council.