Monchique

As owners of a holiday rental villa in Monchique: As Andorinhas, we've written this blog with the aim of it being informative and helpful, full of interesting facts, and to give ideas, all about this gorgeous, peaceful place, Monchique. So here goes:

Monchique is about an hour and a quarter from Faro airport and one of the most peaceful places in the Algarve. It is the local town to As Andorinhas, it takes about 5-10 minutes to drive there from the villa. It's a gorgeous little town which is well worth a visit and explore. Parking is free, there's a decent sized supermarket, petrol station, cafes, tea rooms, restaurants, artisan shops, the ruins of a convent, narrow cobbled streets, and public gardens.

I'm shamelessly taking Wikipedia's description as an introduction because it gives a better summary than I could, but I'll give a bit more detail throughout the blog:

'The Municipality of Monchique is situated in the Serra de Monchique and together with the town of Monchique is a tourist destination. Attractions include a historic town centre, views from the two peaks of Foia and Picota, hiking, bird watching and biking. There are hot sulfur springs, with baths and health spas 6 kilometres (4 mi) south in 'Caldas de Monchique' (Spring of Monchique). Eucalyptus, cork oak, oranges, lemons, honey, olive oil, chestnuts, scissor chairs, black pork and black pork ham and sausages are the chief products. There are several small industries producing tourist artifacts that are sold in local shops, and medronho, a local brew made from distilled medronho berries (Arbutus/Strawberry Tree), is produced.'

About the town

Monchique has about 6,000 residents, but in the little town only about 4,800. I used to be a lot bigger but is getter smaller.

The origins of the name Monchique came from the sacred mountain. It is known as the garden of the Algarve, because it is so green.

The small town of Monchique is surrounded by the mountain range of Serra de Monchique. This mountain range is covered with forest that separates the Algarve from the district of Alentejo. The town can be reached via small roads, going up the mountain.

In the town there is a main square with a fountain, restaurants and shops.

In the centre of the town you will find many narrow cobbled streets and fabulous alleys. As Monchique is a mountain town it is quite hilly in places.

Rua do Porto Fundo is a must to walk up. This narrow road goes directly uphill and is surrounded by quaint local stores and cafes. The colourful buildings on either side complete it.

There are three swimming pools – one indoor and two outdoor – which you can see from the square and are apparently free to use in the summer. They are next to the large secondary school for the region. There's also a gym.

There is a brand new paddle court (for badminton and tennis). You can book a court or join a team.

There are some nice gardens and a park (part of it pictured below) called Jardim do Largo dos Chorões. It is just off of the main square and for all to enjoy.

Convento de Nossa Senhora do Desterro

On the hills above the town you can find the ruins of a Franciscan convent, known as Convento de Nossa Senhora do Desterro. This monastery was built in 1631, but was completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1755. It is about a 15 minute walk uphill from Monchique, with some steep sections. The convent is on private land, but the owner welcomes visitors without charging anything. From the convent you can enjoy a beautiful view over Monchique and the surrounding area. This view alone is worth the visit.

Igreja Paroquial de Monchique (Monchique's primary church)

This church was built in the 15th century and was then restored after the 1755 earthquake. It has such an fascinating porch, an interesting history and although the church is not hugely decorated, you can admire an incredibly beautifully detailed altarpiece and a special chapel.

This beautiful monument is worth a little visit. It is located in the centre of Monchique, it is easy to access, open every day, and no payment is required to visit.

Photo spots

If you visit don't forget to get a picture taken here. It's just off of the main square.

This old cart is fairly cool too.

It's always great to have a photo in front of the glorious bursts of colour so typical of Portugal.

In front of one of the murals in town.

The steps leading up to Lionel Teo's ceramic shop make a nice photo spot, especially when the arch above your head is full of colourful flowers.

And it's always fun to get a photo with the many statues around.

Statues

There are lots of life-sized bronze statues scattered around the town. See how many you can find!

One of them is of Dr. Humnerto Messias, a Portuguese surgeon who was a native of Monchique, in recognition of his dedication to his fellow citizens. He didn't want the statue to be on a pedestal, but rather that it could be represented as part of the daily life of the Monchique people and so that they could interact with it. Jorge Melicio, the sculptor, created him seated, talking to locals (4 other statues). It was placed on display in 2010. These 5 statues can be found in the main square.

Doors and Windows

I love all the doorways and windows that are so interesting and full of character. These are another thing I think of as so typically Portuguese. Enjoy them as you wander around.

The local handicraft

The region of Monchique is famous for its handicrafts: wooden chairs, wickerwork, cork articles and lacework amongst other things.

The cork harvest

Portugal is the world's largest producer of cork. You will see many of the rich-coloured cork oak trees around Monchique, the drive up to the villa is surrounded by them. Cork production is generally considered sustainable because the cork tree is not cut down to obtain cork, only the bark is stripped to harvest the cork. In the untreated forests of the Serra de Monchique, cork oaks find excellent natural conditions. It takes 25 years for a cork oak trunk to start to produce cork - it has to reach a circumference of 70 cm when measured at 1.5 metres from the ground. Cork trees can live for on average to 150-200 years, and may be stripped around 15 or 16 times. There will always be a gap of at least 9 years between being harvested.  It is not until it has been stripped 3 times that it is a good enough quality to become a cork stopper for wine, but it can be used for plenty of other things before that. They are normally stripped between mid May and late August. When a tree has been stripped a number is written on it so that they know which trees have been done when. They take the last number of the year it was stripped, so a 4 for trees done in 2024.

Shops in Monchique and around the Algarve are full of all things cork, as pictured below. I find it amazing and fascinating to see what has been made from the trees we've driven past in order to get from the villa to the the town, and I love seeing things being sold that are so typical of, and produced in, the local area.

Painted ceramics

These are an example of all the gorgeous painted ceramics which are another of Portugal's handicraft which it is famous for. They are so vibrant and it's a wonderful experience wandering around shops full of them.

Local artists

Lizi Allen is a British artist who has made her home in Monchique. Her love of the local area is reflected in her work, which are often modern, abstract, colourful representations of the area.

We have quite a bit of her artwork in As Andorinhas. There is a shop in town called A Casa Amarela (pictured below) that sells some of her work, amongst other gifts and crafts. There are canvases and prints, and the prints have also been made into cards (a very cheap, but wonderful way to have some of her art). You can also check out her website for details of her studio and work.

This is my favourite shop (A Casa Amarela). It's a little craft and gift shop that sells some lovely things. I recommend popping in here. You can also buy some really nice postcards here, that (in my opinion) aren't so tacky. It is closed on Sundays.

Another local artist creates these beautiful glass fish. I buy one each time I visit. You can buy them at this shop or in one of the craft shops at the top of Foia.

Scissor chairs

Centuries ago the Romans introduced the scissor chair (or cadeira de tesoura) to the area and they have become an icon of Monchique ever since. They gained their name because of the way the chair folds in a criss-cross action, resembling a pair of scissors, and the way they fold allows for easy transportation which has made them a popular souvenirs for tourists. The chair is crafted from Portuguese elm (Ulmus minor mill) due to it's flexibility and resilience. We love having some of these local creations at As Andorihas.

Leonel Telo - Ceramicas

Lionel can be found every day in his studio and exhibition in the village of Monchique, next to the town's parish church, in a space that identifies his creative work as ‘Leonel Telo - Cerâmicas’, located in his house which he calls ‘Casa da Nogueira'. It's a lovely little place to look around and you can see hm working. There are some beautiful things to buy there. It's situated half way up a beautiful steep cobbled street, which is worth a visit in it's own right. The address is Rua Do Corro 2 Casa da Nogueira, Monchique if you want to find it.

Useful places to know about in town

The supermarket and petrol station

The supermarket is part of the French chain called Intermarche. It is open from 9am until 9pm in the summer, and in the winter it closes a bit earlier, at 8.30pm. It is a smallish supermarket. Their home brand (which is a bit cheaper) is called Porsi. I love the Porsi fruit juices.

The petrol station is right next to the supermarket.

The Tourist Information Centre

There’s a tourist information centre in Monchique (Posto de Turismo de Monchique). Google Maps will take you there.

Taxi service

If you need a taxi for any reason you will find them on the main square. They don't have their own building but the photo shows you where they will be. If there is no-one there, then pop into the shop behind it and ask. Their phone number is 00351 967 038 722 or 00351 282 912 171.

Buses

I've put a picture with the Monchique photo point to help show you where the bus stop is. It's just off of the main square. There's the one on the other side of the road for the opposite direction. There is a bus that goes to Portimao (Route 94) that runs every hour (you'd need to double check that). Buses run every day including Sundays and holidays. Contactless payment is not accepted on buses in the Algarve. It is about 5 euros each way to be paid for by cash.

The market in Monchique

There is a monthly market on the second Friday morning of every month. There is also one every Sunday where local producers sell their products, although it’s very small. This is in Monchique near the main square. This photo was of the little one on a Sunday.

Events

Every year, there are some cool events in Monchique:

Feira dos Enchidos (Traditional Sausage Festival). This festival celebrates locally produced sausages and cured meats. A local specialty is meat from the black pig. There is also music and entertainment. It takes place in March (Check on Google to find exact dates).

Feira do Presunto. This is a festival around smoked ham, which is produced locally. Also you will be able to buy other local products, like medronho and honey. The festival takes place in July.

Feira de Monchique runs around the end of October (again, check on Google to find exact dates) Here you can find a variety of items, such as clothing, footwear, and regional products, amongst other things. The annual fair has been described as a fair where you can buy “anything at a bargain from a tablecloth to a donkey” (!)

Restaurants

There are so many to choose from, but here are a few of our favourites:

We like Luar da Foia on the edge of Monchique, and

Foz do Banho on the road down to the coast.

They both have some great food and nice views. Luar da Foia is slightly more expensive than

Foz do Banho. If you are going to Foz De Banho then don't forget to combine it with a little visit to Caldas De Monchique (described further down this post), it makes a nice little walk before or after your meal.

Jardim das Oliveiras

Located in the Monchique mountains. When I asked someone who lives in Monchique which restaurant she would recommend or is her favourite, she said this one.

A Charrette

I saw this one recommended somewhere and tried it and it was very nice. The grilled black pork tasted out of this world and it was busy and a nice atmosphere. It's not the cheapest though. This is located in Monchique town.

Casa Vintage

I haven't tried this one personally, but I saw a few of our guests had been here and recommended it in our visitor book. It's in Monchique town and is a Tapas and wine bar and is for adults only. Be warned: I think it only accepts cash.

Restaurante O Parque

In Monchique, opposite the tourist information centre there’s a restaurant called Restaurante O Parque. It doesn’t look that wonderful from outside or picturesque, so not a place a holiday-maker might think to go in, but the food is amazing, the prices reasonable, the staff great and it is used by a lot of locals more than tourists. It definitely has our recommendation.

There are loads of other amazing places you can try. Let us know if you find one you particularly like.

Local specialties

When visiting Monchique, there are several local specialties that you should give a try. As an appetizer, try the delicious smoked ham ‘presunto’ or the famous ‘enchidos’, several types of sausages. Other specialties are porco preto (black pork), frango na púcara (chicken in the earthen pan) and the ‘assadura’ (small slices of grilled pork spiced with garlic, lemon juice and olive oil). Some restaurants specialize in chicken piri piri. Also make sure to taste the delicious almond sweets.

Monchique has a lot of black pigs, creating produce like chorizo and black pudding. There are 2 butchers in the town that people come all over to buy it from. It is a traditional delicacy from the Monchique region and known for it's exceptional quality and flavour. Black pork is definitely worth a try if you are having a meal out.

Medronho

To finish your meal, drink a Medronho. It is a traditional Portuguese alcoholic liqueur typical of the region made from the locally grown fruits of the Arbutus tree. It is referred to as the local firewater. There's a sweeter version with added honey called Melosa. At one point it got banned, but when they came into the EU they changed the ruling of it and the counsil paid to legalise 52 Medronho makers so that the Modronho wouldn't die.

Others parts of Monchique

Mount Fóia

Monchique has the highest point in the Algarve. Fóia is 902m tall and has panoramic views which are simple stunning. You can see all the way to down to the south coast and sometimes to the west coast! It's a 12 minute drive from As Andorinhas and definitely worth a visit.

There is a café and restaurant there, some stalls with local crafts, and a shop with typically Portuguese things in. There's a mound of rocks which are fun to climb up to reach some higher views.

Advance warning: Lots of local artists sell their craft but it's all paid for in one place, so they only accept cash.

It's an exhilarating experience rather than particularly fun or exciting, You'll get some beautiful photos and a sense of awe. There's some great viewing points on the way too which are worth stopping at. The picture below was taken there.

It can be a shortish trip if you just want a little something to do, but you could also take longer if you want to.

Serra da Picota

Picota is another notable peak, but not as high as Foia.

It was a beautiful evening so I thought I'd try visiting Picota. Google maps didn't take me to the place I intended, though it was still Picota and the view was stunning (the middle picture). I tried again another day once I realised I needed to look for 'Picota watchtower' on Google maps. This took me to the right place but it was covered in cloud at the time. I'm definately going to try coming back here though because there's a proper peak at the top, where you could get 360 degrees views. I managed to drive most of the way up (the roads up are a little scarey, but not too dis-similar to up to the villa: winding roads and steep). There's not many parking spaces either. Once you've parked, there's a little scramble up some rocks, which is quite fun (and not for those unsteady on their feet, Foia would be better for them). Then there's some things to climb at the top (pictured), again, a bit of fun and good photo opportunities. It's smaller and less touristy than Foia, which I quite liked.

Caldas De Monchique

Caldas De Monchique is a beautiful local place to visit. There are some natural thermal springs (free to wander around - always a bonus!). There's a nice café at the bottom and a wonderful area to stroll around as well as a few little shops.

It's near one of the restaurants we recommend, which people always enjoy: Foz De Banho. It has stunning views, reasonably priced food and is delicious.

Combining the two makes a great trip out.

There's also a thermal spa you can pay to go into. You can use the spa facilities which includes an indoor pool, sauna, steam room, foot spa, ice room and hot lounge chairs.

Parque de Mina (Mine Park)

This is in Monchique, it's a 15 minute drive from the villa. It is based on an old iron ore mine where you can see the workings of the mine along with a variety of fun activities in the surrounding park. Heritage-wise you can learn about the workings of the mine, visit the medronho (moonshine) distillery and tour the 18th century manor house. There's a small petting zoo with a range of animals to feed from dwarf goats to Vietnamese pigs. There's a picnic spots amongst the trees, a nature trail, a nice playground for littler children and a rope slide for those a bit older. It takes about 1-2hrs and is inexpensive. There's also a little pool to play in with sunbeds around it.

It's not the best place ever, but if you want something to do with the kids that is local, and don't go with high expectations then you'll probably have a nice time. My favourite bit was the bouncing bridges which I went on twice despite being on my own and 45!

Beyond Monchique

Portimao: this is the nearest big town. All the lights you see in the distance from the villa are Portimao. It's a great place to visit, there is lots to do around there. It has a stunning beach called Praia da Rocha.

There are lots of other nearby towns which are worth an explore, like: Silves, Ferragudo, Lagos, Alvor, Albufeira, etc.

Monchique is such as peaceful place to be and have as a base. It is also near enough to stunning beaches, entertainment and activity without travelling too far if you want it.

I hope some of this information has been of interest and/or helpful to you. And if you are going to be visiting Monchique we hope you have an amazing time.

If you would like to do a Monchique walking tour then contact Alecrim Tours: https://www.monchique.com/index.php/en/foodietours If no availability shows up then email them and sometimes they can accommodate you. I paid 20 euros and it lasted about an hour. It was very interesting and nice to be taken to all the best places without having to try and find them.

As Andorinhas

As Andorinhas is a 3 bedroom villa in Monchique, The Algarve, Portugal. This holiday home that sleeps 6-7 in Monchique is the perfect place for a memorable holiday. With its beautiful sloping mountain view, it is located in a quiet, secluded and picturesque place, but also has the advantage of not being far from stunning beaches, restaurants, entertainment and activity should you want it. It has onsite, secure parking, it’s own garden with garden furniture, a terrace and private pool which isn’t overlooked. Inside it is spacious and well equipped with all the comforts for an enjoyable break, including a fireplace. If you'd like to know more about staying at As Andorinhas please visit https://www.holidayvillaalgarve.com/ for more information.