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The Algarve region
The Algarve region averages 3000 hours of sunshine each year, more than the Costa Brava, Majorca and the French Riveria.
The province is located in the far south of Portugal, bordered by the Atlantic on two sides and mountains to the east. It stretches
from the Spanish border westwards to Cape St. Vincent.
There are over 150 miles of Portugal's coastline and it is formed by cliffs overlooking numerous secluded golden sandy beaches.
(Just like the one in Armacao de Pera).
Places to visit include the mountains of Monchique, Silves castle and of course the capital of Portugal,
Lisbon, with it's many historic buildings.
Armação de Péra
Armação de Péra was named after the inland region of Péra in Portugal, where the fishermen came down from
originally and Armação, which was a specially adapted boat, with a combined netting system, designed by the Moors.
Today Armação de Péra is a lively high-rise Algarve resort, which is very popular with Portuguese holidaymakers in the summer.
It has a wonderful long sandy beach stretching all the way to Praia de Gale.
Arriving on the outskirts of Armação de Péra, there are now huge numbers of new apartments along with new roads and roundabouts to link it all together. The centre (Centro) and the beach (Praia) are clearly signposted, and there are several roads leading to the beach, so if you miss the first one, don't worry! There is a large area of ground at the western end where you can park and another large area at the eastern end by the fishermen's beach, along with a multi-storey by Pingo Doce supermarket.
Armação de Péra is a mix of slightly weather worn buildings and new, modern apartment blocks along the sea front, many being 10 to 12 storeys high. The 'old village' is at the eastern end by the fishermen's beach and is more typically Algarvean. It is here, on the beachfront that the remains of a 17th century fort still stand - built to defend the village from pirates and corsairs by a wealthy fishing boat owner. There is a chapel inside, dedicated to Santo Antonio, which is also 17th century.
The views of the coast from the fort are of the long, long stretch of golden sand which runs from the rocks and caves at the western end by Senhora da Rocha, to Praia de Gale (near to Albufeira) in the east.
The cobbled street on the corner of the hill opposite the whitewashed fort leads down into a network of little streets with a variety of shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. It would be quite easy to miss this part of the town if you are concentrating on the sea front, which would be a shame as it's one of the prettiest parts of Armação de Péra.
There are also numerous restaurants and cafés along the sea front of the 'old village', including a couple on the beach near the fishing boats, most of which (obviously!) have local, freshly caught fish on the menu.
Walking westwards along the front from the fort you will come to the quite attractive Largo da Igreja (Church Square) on the right hand side with the church in the middle and framed by trees. If it's open, it's worth a look. It's not very big or grand, but just has something appealing about it. Further along the tree lined promenade widens into an area with an internet cabin, café, children's play area and gardens - it is here that there is a wide sloping path to the beach suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
The Garbe hotel has a prime position on the sea front just after the café area and several other hotels are situated on the road just behind the main avenue making them within a very short walk of the lovely beach. At the western end of the promenade there are several quite new 10 to 12 storey apartment blocks with some attractive cafés and bars in and around them.
Armação de Péra, for a town of it's size, doesn't seem to have a natural centre, other than the 'old village', presumably because of the rate of growth it has seen over recent years. The new developments will, no doubt, tend to have their own mini centres of restaurants, shops etc.
Still going west, you come to Nossa Senhora da Rocha (Our Lady of the Rocks) with it's beach, and several hotels and low rise apartments spreading over the cliffs. There is a very small chapel on the cliffs (probably dating from 15th/16th centuries) above the beach within the remains of a fort. (It has glass doors so that you can look in even when it is locked - it really is tiny!) From here you get good views of Armação de Péra and along the coast to Albufeira and there are also a couple of places to stop for refreshments after all the sightseeing!
Armação de Péra has everything you need for a lovely holiday - fantastic beach, shops, supermarkets, restaurants and bars. It is also ideally placed for a day out at Zoomarine sea-life park at Guia, a trip to 'Algarve Shopping' mall, also at Guia and the water parks at Alcantarilha and Lagoa.
Some useful Telephone numbers:
Town Hall (Silves) - 282 442 325
Fire Brigade - 282 322 666
Police (Silves) - 282 442 414
Emergency Treatment - 282 312 572
Ambulance - 282 322 666
Tourist Office - 282 312 145