Towns and Villages Inland from Quinta da Rā
     River Guardiana     Ancient walls of an inland village     Church at Estoi     Benamor Gold Course     Terracotta pots for sale at Moncarapacho     Knight on Horseback in Mertola    

Luz de Tavira, 1.5km inland from Quinta da Rā, is famous only for the Manueline architecture of its Church. It is a friendly local village with a small supermarket and a number of old-fashioned grocer shops selling everything from bread and wine to copper pans and pillow cases! There is a bank with an ATM and a post office. The small market, open every morning except Sunday, has good local fruit, vegetables and seafood. There is also an excellent butcher. The cafés and restaurants in the village serving great home cooked food are excellent value for money. In the main square, you can join the local families at the open air fiestas every weekend during the summer months - just follow the music!

Moncarapacho, surrounded by citrus groves, is a relaxed and friendly agricultural town. Just 15 minutes inland from Quinta da Rā, it's an alternative place to shop, with supermarkets, post office, bank and a good ceramics factory. It has a market on the first Saturday of every month. After shopping, enjoy a quiet drink in one of the pavement cafés and bars.

EstÓi is a small hillside town with a lovely café-lined square, overlooked by an imposing church. The extensive Milreu Roman Ruins, with a good interpretation centre, are about 10 minutes walk down the hill from the main square. The Pink Palace is to be renovated as a Pousada, but is presently open to the public.

Castro Marim is an attractive town with its two castles offering fine views over the surrounding countryside. There is a Golf Course nearby and a Horse Riding Centre within the Sapal de Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António Nature Reserve, which also has several marked walking paths. Ask in the tourist office, where the staff are very helpful, for further information or directions.

Alcoutim lies on the banks of the river Gaudiana with lovely views and a ferry across to Santa Luca de Guardiana in Spain. Relax and enjoy a coffee in the terraced garden overlooking the river.

Mertola, north beyond Alcoutim into the Alentejo region, has a dramatic, ancient walled town clinging to the sides of a steep river valley. A maze of narrow cobbled streets, dating back to the time of the Moors, lead to the castle perched on top of the hill. Here you can feel the history of the previous occupants - the Knights of the Order of Christ. Wander around the walls and take in the views to the river valley below then soak up the atmosphere in one of the local cafés or restaurants - you are likely to be the only tourists there!

The 'Serra' lying behind the narrow coastal strip of the Eastern Algarve is a land of hills and valleys, where small side-roads lead to ancient villages. Take a scenic driving tour, Tavira-Sāo Bras de Alportel-Cachopo-Tavira and stop for a picnic at one of the lovely riverside spots. For the more energetic, hire a mountain bike or don your hiking boots and head out on the smaller unmade roads to enjoy the birdlife, scents and silence. The Serra is at its best during the cooler months, when it is green and the rivers and streams are flowing, but especially in the spring when the wildflowers start to bloom.