For centuries people have been bringing back weird and wonderful gifts from foreign shores. In fact, the Portugese themselves were one of the first peoples to bring back treasures from far off lands.
An Algarve holiday offers a golden opportunity to shop for unique gifts. Materials to wear, ceramic to dine from, metalwork to admire in your living room.
Highly distinctive hand-painted plates and tiles are enough to light up any mantelpiece back at home. The copper and bronze goods give the effect of an older age in time.
Most towns also sell the traditional holiday paraphernalia one finds in just about every seaside town in the world. Good wine stores can be find in all the big resorts.
PORTIMAO
has an attractive
shopping centre. Nearby
PRAIA DA ROCHA
has a long, sandy beach
and many shops and boutiques. Both areas have pleasant cafes and restaurants in which to relax
and compare purchases. The towns of
ALMANCIL, LOULE, FARO
and
ALBUFEIRA
are also recommended for their bustling shops and
boutiques.
The attractive old town of
LOULE
has a large Saturday
market that welcomes coaches of visitors from all over the Algarve. The market and surrounding shops
are stocked with Portugese handicrafts: leather, lace, metal and pottery. The little cafes lining
the boulevard are packed with visitors on market day.
The following towns have a fresh fruit and vegetable market every
morning Monday to Saturday:
ALBUFEIRA, ARMACAO DE PERA, FARO, LAGOA,
LAGOS, LOULE, PORTIMAO, QUARTEIRA
and
SAO BRAS
.
Additionally, there are more regular gypsy markets. These offer a range of good's, within which a
real magic treasure might be hidden.
