Reports of Day Trips within the Algarve


18 March 2010 - Visit to the Faro Jewish Cemetery

16 Jan 2010 – Visit to the castle at Paderne.
Our guide was Rui Parreira who began the visit by explaining the history behind this important Muslim castle (Hisn) which is situated on a rocky promontory overlooking the valley of the Quarteira River. It was built in the 12th century as part of a line of castles constructed to protect the region we know as the Algarve. The castle occupies a good strategic point and dominates the valley and also one of the main entrances to the region. The castle’s elevation also allowed for good communication between other defensive positions such as Xelb (Silves). R
ui also explained that in the 14th century the castle was conquered by the Portuguese and it remained the main habitation site for 2/3 centuries until the population moved to the village of Paderne in the 16th century although the hermitage within the castle remained in use until the 19th century. The castle is built of Military Tiapa – concrete made of earth and limestone formed into blocks and there was also evidence of limestone wash that was used on the walls to give the appearance from a distance that the castle had been built of stone. This method of construction was featured on information panels inside the castle. These boards also showed how the same technique was used during recent renovation work. One typical feature of 12/13th century castle construction in Iberia and N. Africa is the military tower outside the walls which was originally linked by a small bridge/arch to the castle itself. At first it was believed that the castle had been used for defensive purposes only, with just a military, but excavations within the castle have proved otherwise.  Although only one third of the interior has been excavated there is ample evidence of houses with connecting streets and drains that exited through the walls. It is believed there are more buildings within the walls.  We were shown one example, where, during the Portuguese occupation, a house was constructed over an earlier Islamic home and close by there was evidence of a rock cut grave. The extensive cemetery adjacent to the hermitage was in use for many years in the Christian period and Rui explained that when the population moved to Paderne the some of the burials were moved to the new cemetery in the town. Within the castle a large cisterna was built for water, but as yet no food storage pits have been found and it is suggested that the occupants were probably supported by the people in the surrounding area.


30 May 2009  Visit to São Brás Alportel for a guided visit of the town and a short walk along the calçadinho which runs from the south of the town towards Milreu and Estoi. The tour was guided by Sr. Emmanuel who is director of the Museu do Trajo in the town.  He was accompanied by a young man who is a guide for the ‘cork route’ scheme which has just been set up to highlight and inform visitors of the importance of the production of cork in the region. As we walked through the town Sr Emmanuel explained some of its history and pointed out certain places of particular interest. It was somewhat surprising to hear how important São Brás had been in the administrative history of the Algarve. This was mainly due to its sound economical past as a result the cork industry and in turn through its religious and political importance. He explained how, in the early 20th century, the ‘Farmacias’ in particular had been places where people met and discussed politics depending on which stand they took …monarchist or republicans. During our walk down the calçadinho, Sr Emmanuel explained the importance of the underground water supply to the town. In early days this supply was quite abundant but in recent years the springs had dried up due to over extraction and hot summers. However with the building of a new dam and mains water from there to the town, together with increased rainfall some of these springs have become active once more. The short walk along the old road was quite atmospheric especially as this had been the old route from Faro up to São Brás from at least the Roman period right through till the construction of a new road in the 19th century. Time did not allow us to continue along the whole road beyond the flyover but it is well worth the effort as it takes one into the countryside over huge weathered stones that once carried travellers on their way to and from the town, Also there is a new interpretation centre nearby giving information about the calçadinho. The tourist office in the town is also a good source of information.

18 Apr 2009 Visit to Palácio da Galeria in Tavira to the exhibition "Patrimonio do Mar"  
On 18th April, 24 members met in Tavira to visit the exhibition Patrimónios do Mar in the Palácio da Galeria. This is an exhibition showing the relationship of the city with the sea from Phoenician and Turdetan times to the 20th century. In the entrance is a 4 meter map of the Gilão river valley as it was in the early 1800’s. Through the exhibition are maps, archaeological and artistic finds, scale models and a visual display of the immense changes in the coastline through the ages. The importance of trading with North Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and Asia is evident, as were the forts built to protect the city, though these had to be rebuilt as the coastline changed. The tuna fishing is shown as a brutal affair up to the 1930’s and the poorest women who had to climb the salt mountains to get the salt to preserve the fish must have had the worst job of all. Lastly there is a display of ships in distress painted by local artists. Our guide, Rita Manteigas, brought the exhibition to life with her immense knowledge of the history of Tavira. The exhibition was due to end in June, but has been extended until the autumn, and it is recommended to all members of the AAA.

15 Nov 2008 a group of members visited the new museum in Portimão. The visit was organized by Gina Hall and we were guided by Rui Parreira assisted by Rosanna Costa who works at the museum. The museum, which opened in the summer is situated in the old sardine factory near to the Naval Club, took 3 years to complete. The old factory has been sympathetically restored and shows that the area in and around Portimão has a fascinating past. We began the tour with Rui who described the excavation work and some of the finds from Alcalar and which also included an impressive model of the monument. We then moved through the Roman displays to a section devoted to underwater archaeology with finds from the River Arade, which included amphora and ships’ anchor and cannon. This led on to an exhibition emphasizing Portimão’s fame as a ship building centre with original tools on display. Here we also saw an original film made in 1959 by the father of one of our members – Michèle Carron who has donated it to the museum. It was very interesting viewing especially as it was taken in the vicinity of the old factory and we could see how the area has changed over the years. Here too there was an excellent model showing the processes in the construction of a typical fishing vessel. The next part of the tour was guided by Rosanna Costa who described the life and work of Manuel Teixeira Gomes who became Portugal’s first President in 1923. We then moved through to a part of the building that still retains features of the sardine factory. This area has been totally restored but gives an excellent idea about the work that was carried out. Our guide explained how the work had been carried out and we soon understood how labour intensive the work was and how important this industry was to the local population. It seems that everything required by the industry, from the provision of clothing for the workers to the cans, printing of labels and boxes was carried out in the factory. There was even a crèche provided for the children. We concluded our visit by seeing a film made in 1948 which told the story of the sardine from its capture in the seas off the coast through its processing to its final destination the contents of a picnic! A visit to this highly class museum is thoroughly recommended.
The visit was concluded by lunch at the Dos Cais Restaurant in the Clube Naval de Portimão where we were served with generous portions of soup, salmon/pork and desserts.

August 2008 - Visit of Cerro da Vila with Felix Teichner

 


         Artefact just found during
                      the visit
    

10 May 2008 - Visit to Alzejur: The Presidente do Património, Sr. José Morreiros led us to the Bronze Age necropolis in Vale de Telha which was only identified last year and dated from 1800 -1200BC. The forward looking Câmara purchased the site to save it from developers and although graves and artifacts have already been found a lot of excavation has yet to be done. Next we went to the promontory of Atalia where extensive excavation has already taken place. This was the Ribat (convent-fortress) of Arrifana high on the cliffs containing the remains of 3 mosques each with their mihrabs oriented to the East and the principal one had a muezzin tower. It would have been abandoned in about 1151 after the murder of their spiritual leader and the persecution of his followers. Artefacts found here are housed in the Alzejur museum. After lunch we continued to Carrapateira. Located on another perilously steep promontory are the remains of the Muslim Povoado dos Pescadores, the site where the fishermen lived, probably fishing during the season and also farming the surrounding area. Artefacts have been found here including a whale bone, probably used as a bench! There are plans to construct an information centre and museum.

24 Nov 2007 - Visit to Albufeira: The group had a guided tour though the charming small museum in the old village bordering the former castle parade ground. Above the doorway to the 18th century museum building is incorporated a stone Azevedo coat of arms believed to have once adorned the castle gateway. Inside we were led along the exhibits displayed in chronological order. Significant were the Retorta Vase, several items of later periods discovered by Estácio da Viega at Retorta on the old road linking Albufeira to Quateira, and finds from near Paderne and the Visigoth necropolis at Poço dos Mouros. The Al-Buayre (castle by the sea) Islamic occupiers built the first fortifications in Albufeira and in the foundations of the museum is an Islamic grain silo, large enough to supply a household of eight and suggesting evidence of a time of trade with North Africa. Through the castle’s north gateway and ramparts we were led to the beach through the town’s famous tunnel built by the renowned engineer Duarte Pacheco in the early 20th century. From there it was on to the Neo Classical Parish Church of Nossa Senora Conceição and the Parish museum housed in São Sebastião church, with a beautiful reredos, tile fragments, and a model of the original castle fortifications.

06 Oct 2007 - Visit to the olive farm of Detlev von Rosen near Moncarapacho: On this most interesting and enjoyable visit made to the olive farm we were welcomed by the owner and self-appointed guide. On this farm is a walkway with pillars dating from Roman times and a section of the Roman road that led to Balsa. In addition to a host of interesting facts, we learned that olive trees can live to a great age (some thought to be 200 years old) although harvesting usually starts at 7 years. The modern production plant was visited where oil is extracted to produce ‘extra virgin’, ‘virgin’ and plain olive oil depending on its acidity.
04–11 June 2007 – AAA visit to Roman Provence with Chris Pollard.
May 2007 - Laccobriga (Roman Lagos) with Rui Parreira: The exhibition in the Lagos Cultural Centre was about Laccobriga and had pulled together finds and information that had been collected over the years. Rui guided us through the exhibition and explained the artifacts on display. After the visit we went to Monte Molião where he showed us the archaeological excavations that were taking place. New discoveries included evidence of defensive ditches and also a small section of fish salting tanks down near the modern road.

27 Apr 2007 – AAA day out to Castro Verde: Guided visit to the Basilica Real, the Tesouro da Basilica, the Moinho da Largo da Feira, the Museu da Lucerna and Monte das Oliveiras.
April 2007 - AAA visit to Miróbriga with Felix Teichner : Miróbriga is the supposed name for the site that Pliny refers to as Merobrica being a Roman settlement on the coast between the Tagus and the Algarve but there is no certainty that this is it. The site of Miróbriga is near the prosperous town of Santiago do Cacem, 20 km from the modern port of Sines. Earlier it was an Iron Age fortified settlement (oppidum) in an area not only of fertile agricultural land, but of extensive mineral deposits (copper and iron). The Roman town – dating from the 2nd. century BC – was no doubt an important trading centre, probably a municipium with a local senate and was still occupied in the 5th century. Within the walls the site is hilly but the Forum sits on the highest point, levelled out and dominating the countryside; and itself splendidly overlooked by the podium and columns of a central Temple dedicated to the Emperor. Most of the urban area was buried but a commercial zone and a number of insulae have now been cleared. An unusually interesting double public bath complex is especially well preserved. An exceptional feature is the hippodrome, large enough to have held a possible 5.000 spectators - the only one to have been found in Portugal – and measuring 360 x 77 m. (larger than that in Tarragona, but comparable to those at Mérida and Toledo). There is much still to do and the comparative remoteness of Miróbriga continues to result in low funding and intermittent excavation. A large visitors’ centre has been built and it is expected that this will contain a site museum.

27 Jan 2007 – AAA day visit to the Western Algarve with Dr Rui Parreira as our guide: Near Raposeira we visited the medieval chapel which is dedicated to the Black Virgin of Guadalupe, whose cult is linked not only to navigators and mariners, but also to the ransoming of captives. Henry the Navigator is known to have visited the chapel (having a rural palace in the area). At Boca do Rio (Budens) we visited the Roman ruins that are under considerable threat not only from sea erosion but also through unscrupulous treasure hunters. However we were able to see some of the remains of what had been a large fishing settlement in Roman times having baths and fish salting tanks dating back to the 1st – 5th centuries AD. After lunch we carried on to Praia da Luz to see remains of the Roman baths once part of a small fishing settlement (3rd – 5th century AD). These were originally located and excavated by Estaçio da Viega during the 19th century. Later, the area was used to grow vegetables, but when building work was planned rescue excavations were carried out. This work supported by the AAA revealed fish salting tanks and an aqueduct as well as the baths. Part of the bath complex is now open and we could see the remains of some of the original mosaics, most of which are now sadly destroyed. Finally we visited Monte Molião, a prominent hill facing the city of Lagos.  This is the site of an ancient Roman settlement known in classical times as Laccobriga and dating back to the 4th century BC. Rui described the interesting history of the settlement and explained that in the 1st century AD the settlement was moved and is now covered by the town of Lagos