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Try a quieter and more relaxed pace of life at Porches Algarve
It is nestled quietly in the countryside, just off the main EN125 road midway between Alcantarilha and Lagoa, being only a 5-minute drive to either. The closest coastal towns are Benagil and Armacao de Pera, so only 5 km from the sea. If you don’t want to be based in a busy tourist resort, but want easy access to the beaches and all the facilities they have to offer, Porches is a good choice. It is much more relaxing to be surrounded by orange groves, vineyards and beautiful white-painted houses than an apartment in a holiday complex.
Click here to see a selection of villas in Porches to rent.
Things to do in Porches AlgarveAlgarve Pottery in PorchesIf you drive along the main EN 125 road and you’ll find many shops selling pottery and ceramics. However, if you’re after something more traditional, made the way it was in years gone-by, by a traditional Algarve potter, then Porches is the best bet. The main road has quite a number of pottery and ceramics shops and the town attracts plenty of visitors who come for the famous pottery. There are a couple of Algarve potteries close to Porches, both on the EN 125 between Porches and Lagoa. These are the Porches Pottery and the Olaria Pequena Pottery. Porches Pottery Porches Pottery is a family business, handcrafting and hand painting rustic pottery pieces. If you visit, then you can marvel at the skill of the local ladies who decorate the pottery. There is also a shop if you want to purchase anything. Also on site is Cafe Bar Bacchus, open 11am to 3pm (closed on Sundays) where you can have a snack and a drink whilst admiring your purchase and wondering whether it will fit in your suitcase on the way home. Porches Pottery is open daily, but closed Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. Contact Tel: 282 352 858 Porches Pottery Website Olaria Pequena Pottery Olaria Pequena is a ceramics studio and shop, just outside Porches. It produces tableware and tiles with contemporary designs, but using traditional techniques.If you like their stuff, then buy it here, as it cannot be bought anywhere else. If you want it shipped back home, they will organise this for you. Olaria Pequena Pottery is open all year round (closed for lunch 1pm to 3pm and all day Sunday). Contact Tel: 282 381 213 Olaria Pequena Pottery Website Apart from the pottery and a few restaurants, Porches does not have a lot to offer the holidaymaker, apart from a peaceful location, most importantly away from other holidaymakers. If you’re after other things to do, then there are plenty of Algarve attractions within a short drive. Here are some ideas: Visit the nearby village of Alcantarilha, a few kilometres east, which is home to the bone chapel and is next to the church. The interior is made up of the tightly packed remains of old parishioners! Lagoa a few kilometres in the other direction, is a pleasant town to visit and wander around. It is famous for its vineyards. A few kilometres north of Lagoa is Silves, an historic town on the banks of the River Arade, famous for its red sandstone castle which dominates the skyline. If you fancy spending time by the sea, Armacao de Pera and Benagil are nearby with some lovely beaches, particularly the Praia Senora da Rocha and the Praia Armacao de Pera. The busiest coastal town is nearby Albufeira, which can be horrendously packed in the height of the season. The thought of Albufeira is probably one of the reasons you chose the more sedate option of Porches in the first place. If you’re on holiday with the children, then the local water parks may be a godsend, keeping them entertained for the whole day. The nearest ones are Slide and Splash between Estombar and Lagoa and Aqualand between Porches and Alcantarilha. There is also Zoomarine in Guia with its dolphin show and amusement park. You can’t go anywhere in the Algarve without coming across a golf course or two. If you’re staying in Porches, try Salgados golf course, an 18-hole links style course a few km to the west of Albufeira. Near Armacao de Pera is the 9-hole, par-3 Vale de Milho golf course and at Carvoeiro there are the two golf courses of the Pestana Golf resort. These are the Gramacho Golf Course and the Vale da Pinta golf course. Restaurants in PorchesPorches Velho RestaurantServing a quality international and Portuguese menu, with a variety of fresh fish, seafood and meat. The food is good as is the atmosphere, and the service is excellent. All this makes it a very popular restaurant. It is open evening for dinner only and is closed on Sundays.Porches Velho Restaurant Rua da Praça 8400 -477 Porches Algarve Contact Tel: 282 381 692 http://www.porches-velho.com/english/index.html O Leão de Porches Restaurant Good quality French/Belgian cuisine (owner is Belgium). The restaurant is in a converted 17th Century house in the centre of Porches and is reckoned to be one of the oldest restaurants in the Algarve. On a warm evening, it’s great to sit outside on the terrace. However, it’s a very popular restaurant and full most evenings, so a reservation is recommended. The cuisine is relatively simple with great flavours from fresh quality ingredients. Speciality is lobster, but there is also a selection a mix of fish, seafood, meat and poultry. Restaurante O Leão de Porches Rua da Igreja 8400 Porches Algarve Contact Tel: 282-381 384 Return from Porches Algarve page to Central Algarve page
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