Holidays in Porches

An introduction to Porches

This quaint little treasure perfectly captures the Algarve's traditional side. Largely untouched, it's packed full of the same old-worldly charm heading into the 21st century. The houses are still whitewashed. The roofs are still red. And the bougainvillea still has a mind of its own. But that's not all there is to this place – far from it. Porches is well known for producing some of the best pottery in the Algarve. Many a day-tripper heads up to the pottery factory to splash some Euros on the distinctive blue, green and turquoise pots. If you're lucky, you'll see the craftsmen at work and they may even take a special request. These pots are great buys, but don't forget that once you've bought one, you've got to carry it. Man made beauty aside, make sure you check out some of the natural sights. There's a 19th century church built on a 16th century site, of which the chapel still remains. Then you've got the Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Rocha, or 'Our Lady of the Rock' to me and you. It's a narrow tongue of rock that extends into the sea, surrounded by the remains of an old coastal defence port, destroyed by an earthquake in 1755. Also worth a look is an old Roman Village, Porches Velhos. Keep an eye out for the famous villa with a chimney that stands over two stories high. And how could we talk about natural beauty without mentioning the seafront? The jagged rock faces are typical of the Algarve, as are the powder soft sands and deep blue seas. And with glorious year-round sunshine it's the ideal place to lie back and not think of England.

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