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THE ALGARVE of a Mediterranean hacienda but with a modern twist. Its cool interior offers a welcoming haven where award-winning Chef Jaime Perez rustles up some of the best Iberian cuisine and local fare.
San Lorenzo e San Lorenzo Golf Course lies in the southeast corner of Quinta do Lago, bordering the Ria Formosa Estuary and salt water lagoons. Opened in 1988, the 18 hole par 72 golf course was designed by the American golf architect Joseph Lee. e course which winds its way through a sandy undulating terrain with Bermuda grass fairways bordered by umbrella pines and the marshland bird sanctuary of Ria Formosa, is laid out in a figure of eight with the clubhouse at the heart. With stunning views of the beach and the sea beyond and some spectacularly challenging holes, this course offers plenty of thrills, not least the finishing hole. is is a beast of a par-4 with water left and right and a semi-island green, so you need a precision shot. In other words – don’t take your eye off the ball!
Golden sand Wi t h i t s b e a u t i f u l b e a c h e s i t’s h a rd l y sur pri sing that the Algarve is such a popular destination for sun starved tourists. Miles upon miles of golden sand, rocky beaches, c l i f f s a n d c ov e s , t h e re’s s o m e t h i n g h e re t o s u i t everyone. And with the s p a rk l i n g At l a n t i c g e n t l y lapping at the shore, it’s enough to tempt even the keenest golfer away from the golf course. Apart from golf, sea and sand, there is plenty to explore in the Algarve. If you want to experience the unspoiled Portugal, you will have to head inland where traditions and culture has not been stifled by mass tourism. Surrounded by cork and oak forests, a haven for nature lovers, the small villages of the inner Algarve are full of “old world” charm.
Moorish heritage Loule is the largest of these towns, with its many criss-crossing cobbled side streets where the Moorish heritage is still retained,
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it’s a nice place to spend the day. Here are to be found lots of little workshops making traditional crafts as well as boutiques, and on Saturdays there is the famous artisan market. North of Villamoura, which is one of the main holiday destinations in the Algarve, you’ll find the charming whitewashed village of Alte. Set in the rolling hills of the Serra Do Galdeirao region, this quintessential Portuguese village is considered to be one of the prettiest in the Algarve. Dating back to Roman times, the rural way of life remains unspoiled. And if you’re in the mood to explore, there are a number of these charming villages where you can wander through cobbled streets and get the taste for the real Algarve.
Delicious seafood e sea has played a big part in the history of this region and it’s no surprise that seafood features heavily on the local menus. With wonderful dishes like Caldeirada de Peixe, a traditional fish stew made with a variety of fish and shellfish, Arroz de mariscos, a succulent dish of rice, tomatoes and shellfish, and Cataplana, an aromatic dish of clams that takes its name from the Moorish-style copper pot it’s cooked in. e Portuguese nations' m o s t b e l ov e d d i s h , i s strangely enough made from a fish that is foreign to its waters. e Bacalhau, where salted dried cod is the main ingredients, is now imported in huge quantities from Norway. Seafood is so popular in the Algarve it even has its own annual festival, Festival do Marisco, which takes place every August in the town of Olhao outside Faro. In these economically troubled times, which also has had a big impact on the travel industry, the Algarve with its beautiful beaches and several golf courses rated among the best in the world, will certainly continue to attract both golfers and tourists alike. Having been there once we can say for sure – it leaves you with a taste for more. Text Nils Bjornes