Top Things to do in Porches
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What to do and see in Porches, Algarve: The Best Things to do Good for Couples
Discover the best top things to do in Porches, Portugal including Porches Pottery, Capela da Nossa Senhora da Rocha, Praia de Albandeira, Albandeira Beach, Praia do Vale do Olival.
Restaurants in Porches
1. Porches Pottery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 147 reviews
Porches Pottery creates the original and most distinctive handpainted ceramics of the Algarve. This working pottery is a family-run, local business that was founded over 50 years ago by two famous artists; Patrick Swift and Lima de Freitas. It was their dream to show that old crafts and artistic traditions did not have to die in our modern, plastic age. Porches Pottery is now world-famous for its colourful pots and tiles, all made by a small team of talented local artists, many of them trained by the founders. Together they continue a tradition that is thousands of years in the making. All year-round, on any weekday visit, you will see highly skilled artisans at work. Visit Porches Pottery to discover unique, hand made ceramics and take home a truly unique souvenir of Algarve. After your visit, stay and relax, and enjoy a light, refreshing lunch in the beautiful gardens of our Bar Bacchus café.
Reviewed By Bluesman2009 - Mijas, Spain
Porches and its pottery can be found about a kilometre and a half from Lagoa along the N125. Historically, the Algarve has been the focus of attention by a number of civilisations for many hundreds of years, situated as it is on a key trading route for Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans and Moors. Between them they have left behind a comprehensive and artistic deposit of artefacts. Potters were quick to adopt the designs utilised by the many trading visitors and expand their designs accordingly. In the nearby town of Lagoa local skilled artisans continued these traditions of hand thrown and decorated clay pots. However, little by little, the industry declined and by the 1960s there were but two potters in Lagoa. In 1968 two artists, Patrick Swift and Lima de Freitas, united to share a dream of preserving the skills of creating the handcrafted clay ware and the Olaria Algarve - Porches Pottery was established. Patrick Swift created the initial designs based on medieval, or older designs, gradually broadening the range to include contemporary forms. The kilns were replaced with more modern units to improve the quality of the clay ware and new glazes were formed to enhance the pottery. The next generation of Patrick Swift’s family, his daughters Estella and Juliet, continued the development of Porches Pottery, both on the creative and management sides. Now, there are new artisans helping to maintain the traditions of this unique family business. WE were tempted to join one of the classes, or, workshops that the Pottery offers to visitors on a Saturday, but for us, there just was not enough time to fit everything into a very short visit to Portugal. In a delightful location adjoining the Pottery is the Baccus Café offering a primarily vegetarian menu that enables you to have enjoyable food in a peaceful setting, along with a glass of wine and/or a cup of coffee. There is plentiful parking on site and the Pottery is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 6:00pm and on Saturdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Unfortunately, the access to Porches Pottery is not really suitable for wheelchair users as there are many steps and changes in level. Thanks for reading this and if you've found it helpful I'd appreciate a ‘thumbs up’ below.
2. Capela da Nossa Senhora da Rocha
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 655 reviews
Zona numa falésia, que entra pelo mar dentro, com a Capela da Nossa Senhora da Rocha do séc. XVI, a praia da Senhora da Rocha de um lado e a Praia Nova do Outro lado. Com uma vista panorâmica única. Neste lugar já existiu um forte militar que protegia a costa de ataques militares e piratas. Na capela podem-se acender velas a pedir a protecção de Nossa Senhora da Rocha.
Reviewed By TylerS30 - Toronto, Canada
This little chapel atop the cliff is a gorgeous little spot. It was super quiet in November with just myself and my partner up there for most of our visit. The church wasn’t open but we walked the grounds and looked peered through the chapel gate. Beautiful stop to check out. Great views. Great photo opportunities.
3. Praia de Albandeira
4. Albandeira Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 61 reviews
Reviewed By kyredhead16 - Pera, Portugal
The beach is not actually very big but at low tide you can move through a low cave onto another beach where you can view the famous arch. There were 3 lifeguards there the day that we went. it was a beautiful day and there were plenty of people. The snack bar should have closed an hour earlier but they were still open, Very nice people, a bunch of pic nic tables at the snack bar and then again off to the side of the parking lot was another group of pic nic tables and a place for a cook fire. We saw a couple of people with small charcoal grills. After you park walk towards the snack bar/ beach then up the hill on your right. You will be able to see the arch from the cliffs. If you continue to walk around to the right, You can walk for miles down the coast. Or you can walk left when you get to the top and actually walk out ON the arch. But Please, Please, take your pictures & move along. There are probably people across from you on the cliffs waiting to get a picture of the arch without you standing there. Be polite. If you are on the cliffs across from the arch, this is a great place to watch the sunset. The arch is far enough out in the ocean that the setting sun shines on the striated rocks and lights up the colors.
