Algarve Summer Holiday - See Worlds Largest Sand Sculpture Event

When you are on holiday at my beautiful villa, with private heated pool, you may want to visit the Feisa - an International Sand Sculpture Festival - the biggest sand sculpture park in the world. This is held from 22 May until 22 October every year, from 10h to 24h, at Pera, just 20 minutes from Carvoeiro. Previous years themes vary from Great Discoveries of the World, Hollywood, and World of Nature. It is amazing by day or at night, when it is floodlit. There is a snack bar, sand activities, shops, and music in the evenings. It covers 15000 sq meters and 35000 tons of sand has been carved by 60 known sand artists. This is just one of the many things to do when you enjoy an Algarve holiday - enjoy golf, beaches, cliff walks, historic towns and pretty villages. See www.harleystreet.net/luacheia for more information.

Holiday Events - Silves Medieval Festival

Silves Medieval Festival - mid August every year

Silves is just a 15 minute drive inland from my holiday villa www.harleystreet.net/luacheia. If you visit it during the Medieval Festival you will be transported to another time. In 1189 D Sancho 1st became King 'of Portugal, of Silves and of the Algarves'.

The festival takes you back to the 13th and 14th centuries, where you will see street shows with jesters, jugglers and acrobats, and battles with Knights on horseback. The streets capture the atmosphere of medieval times and there are various stalls selling food and crafts. See my previous blog if you are interested in finding more about the historic and beautiful town of Silves, or in taking a holiday in my Carvoeiro villa with heated pool.

Algarve Villa Holiday - more than just beaches and sun

We all know that there are lovely beaches and a beautiful coastline just a few minutes from the pretty village of Carvoeiro. That is why so many of you choose to holiday in this area, where my villa with private heated swimming pool is situated. However many people never discover how much more this area has to offer. Just a few miles inland is the picturesque town of Silves. Silves was the western capital of the highly civilized Moorish kingdom in southern Iberia. Although much of the ancient city was destroyed in the great earthquake of 1755 some of the city walls, castle and cathedral survived. On going excavations inside the castle have recently revealed the 'Palace of Varandas' from Arab times, and the 'House of the Governor' from later medieval times. Less well known is the small but beautifully decorated church, on a corner opposite the cathedral. Visit the castle museum to see relics that have been found in the area. There is also ample evidence of Phoenician, Celtic, Visigoth and Roman presence in the area - the river was originally spanned by a Roman bridge, and the remains of Viking long ships have been found a few miles downstream in the Arade estuary. It is possible to take a boat ride up the river from Portimao to Silves so that you can see the less accessible parts of the river and its wildlife, and you can often see storks and flamingos. In ancient times Silves was an important port, and the river front has recently been redeveloped to provide parking and an attractive river walk and quayside area. Explore the narrow cobbled streets and the pretty square and fountain by the Town hall. Although there are also modern buildings, cafes and restaurants, storks can often still be seen nesting on the old chimneys of Silves. See my website www.harleystreet.net/luacheia to see how to holiday in this area which has so much to offer.

Visit Ferragudo when you are on holiday at my Algarve Villa

While you are staying in my Algarve villa, you should visit Ferragudo. It is one of the few remaining unspoilt working Algarve fishing villages. Situated at the mouth of the River Arade it has beautiful views across the river to Portimao and Praia de Rocha. There are pretty cobbled streets with old fishermens cottages, a church high up with great views along the river to the suspension bridge, and several good fish restaurants on the quay. There is also Praia Grande, dominated by the castle which was once a look out fortress but is now an impressive residence in private ownership. On one side of the castle is the fishermans beach and on the other is a large expanse of gently shelving beach, with a childrens play area and several beach restaurants. This is just a short drive from my holiday villa, and on the way you will pass two other other lovely beaches - Praia de Pintadinho and Praia dos Caneiros. See my website www.harleystreet.net/luacheia for details of holidays here.