Country side - Sierra de Monchique
The old Moorish city of Silves is a nice place to discover. Noticeable here are the countless orange and lemon groves and the fig and almond trees. Besides those also the Eucalyptus and Cork trees are very present in and around Silves. But most eye-catching is the majestic Castle on top of the town. Here you can find prove that the Moorish conquerors were more important and powerful than Lisbon at the time.
The chain of mountains Sierra de Monchique offers a nice variation to the many beaches and coastal towns. The air is refreshing and even in the summertime you can see flowers blooming. Specially recommendable are the natural springs in Caldas de Monchique, in the park you can find some of the largest Eucalyptus trees of the Algarve.
Visitors, especially by walking, can enjoy breath taking panorama views of the woods and mountains. The highest point of the Algarve is the Foia mountain. Here, on a clear day, you can see most part of the Algarve and the West coast. On the way up you encounter some very good restaurants specialised in Frango Piri Piri (spicy grilled chicken)
In the country side of the Algarve you feel like you're in one big garden. The whole rhythm is steady and slow. You can find almost any kind of flower, fruit and vegetable growing here. Apart from that, this is the place to visit the various arts and crafts shops to choose a nice hand made souvenir.
The very colourful local week markets are worth a visit. Almost any day of the week in one or the other village you can find one of those markets. They are also called gypsy markets.
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