Alvor
The historic village of Alvor is part of the popular coastal region of
Algarve in Portugal. Like many other resorts in the Algarve, Alvor has become a
favorite destination of tourists. The village enjoys a location less than an
hour's drive from the Faro airport and flanked by the commercial centre of
Portimao and the beautiful beaches of Lagos and Praia da Rocha. Alvor's own
sandy beach faces a lagoon that spreads out onto the sea, and has a few coves
sheltered under the cliffs.
While Alvor has opened its arms to tourism—with several hotels, apartments,
restaurants, and other establishments now catering to visitors—developments have
still been kept to a minimum. You can still see vestiges of its past, starting
with its narrow streets of cobblestone, its whitewashed houses and the docked
boats that remind you that it was once a humble fishing village. A central
historic landmark is the town's antique parish church from the 1500s, which is
the only survivor of the big earthquake of 1755 that destroyed all the other
buildings in the original village, including a great castle. The church remains
an evidence of the elegance and craftsmanship of Manueline architecture during
its time.
Alvor is a family-friendly resort town, with most accommodations and
establishments catering to both adults and children. The most popular hotels
offer apartment-style rentals, with either studio or one- to three-bedroom
apartments. Units typically include a kitchenette complete with all the
necessary appliances, to give vacationers the option and convenience of
preparing their own meals—although the apartment hotels usually have their own
restaurants and snack bars as well.
Some of the nicer places include the Pestana Dom Joao II, the Pestana Alvor
Atlantico and the Pestana Alvor Park Garden Resort Hotel. The Dom Joao, for
instance, is located right on the beachfront, which is ideal if you want to
spend a lot of your time on the beach. The Pestana Delfim water sports centre is
likewise only 500 meters away. Other notable places to stay are Clube
Alvorférias, with its simple yet elegant set of low, light-colored apartments,
which are 230 units in all. Alvormar Apartments is a relatively smaller complex
with only 57 apartments, but nonetheless ideally located on a high area close to
the beach.
Alvor has a variety of dining establishments offering a world of cuisines—from
authentic Portuguese to English, Welsh, Indian, and other international cooking.
Make sure to visit Na Colina, which has a vegetarian menu in addition to
favorites like fish and chips. If you like meat and you like watching it cook
right before you eat it, order Steak-on-a-stone at a restaurant called
Buganvila. The slab of meat is served raw on a sizzling hot stone where it
cooks, with some chips and dips on the side. Other recommended places include
the Crow's Nest and Taverna do Guedes.
Alvor also has a colorful nightlife, especially during the tourist season,
although it is really more of a destination for golf enthusiasts. There are
eight golf courses within a 15-kilometer radius from the town, including the
Alto Golf Club. |
