2023 09 16 PORTUGAL - ALGARVE - MONCHIQUE, PASSADIÇOS BARRANCO DO DEMO & SILVES

Rising up between the Algarve and neighbouring Alentejo region is the Serra de Monchique, a range of rolling mountains clad in heavy forest. Here you will find the highest point on the Algarve; standing at 902m is the peak of Fóia with its all encompassing views which span the Algarve's south and west coasts all the way to Cabo de São Vicente. A few kilometres to the east of Fóia is the pleasant little market town of Monchique itself. Set amongst the pine, oak and eucalyptus forest of the hills the town here is a world apart from the beach resorts the Algarve is better known for. Here the pace of life is far more sedate and the town has very much escaped the ravages of the developers.

Passadiço do Barranco do Demo is a project in Monchique region creating a 1000 meters of walkway, going up and down, with a 50 meter suspension bridge, where it is possible to appreciate the best that the Algarve mountains have to offer.

Silves is the perfect town in the Algarve to explore for a day trip. Walking in this unique town with its cobbled streets makes you believe that time has stopped. The town is famous for having the most well preserved castle of the Algarve. Silves was once the capital of the Algarve and the town stands out because of its Arabic architecture. Every year during summer, the town hosts a famous medieval festival and attracts a lot of visitors. Town has a Roman bridge (in Portuguese: Ponte de Silves) above the Arade river. The bridge stems from the 14th century and is part of the cultural identity of Silves.