Alvor is an attractive holiday resort on the Algarve in Portugal. Although thousands of holidaymakers flock to the hotels here each year, it still retains the charm of the small fishing village it once was with cobbled streets and historic buildings.
Alvor has a long history. It was founded by the Carthaginians and then the Romans expanded it into a much larger port. There are some Roman remains that you can still see near Alvor in Quinta da Abicada. You can make out the bases of buildings and each room originally had mosaics. These have mostly been removed to preserve them. In Alvor itself, a big highlight for us was the church of Divino Salvador (Igreja Matriz de Alvor) which is pictured above. It dates back to the 1500s, but had some significant changes in the following years. The church is known for its attractive interior and when you enter, the three naves are from the original building, but most of what you see around them is newer. Look out for the carved altar and the decorative panels on the walls.
We enjoyed just walking around the cobbled streets of Alvor. There is much beauty here as you wander around the oldest parts of the town with multi-coloured painted buildings. Eventually, you will come across the castle. It dates back to the thirteenth-century but only the largest walls and a gateway now remain. The castle was destroyed in an earthquake in 1755 and now has a children’s play area inside. Originally though, it was an imposing structure located in an ideal defensive position near the river.
Alvor is famous for its sandy beaches. It’s the main reason that tourists flock here. There is another natural highlight though further along the coast which is a huge nature reserve covering around 1500 hectares. There are lots of walkways, including wooden boardwalks, which allow you to explore the reserve to look out for the birds, animals and insects that make this their home. The reserve includes the beach and stretches out to the cliffs at Quinta da Rocha behind.
LOCATION & MAP
Alvor sits on the Algarve coast near the Alvor River. It’s accessible by sea, road and the nearby Faro airport.
MORE ON ALVOR
Stay In Alvor – Booking.com
Alvor – Wikipedia