Introduction to the area
Luz do Sol is situated just 15 minutes from Faro Airport, located in the valley of “Vale Formoso” (Portuguese for “beautiful valley”). To the south of the villa lies the town of Almancil and beaches, to the north is the historical market town Loulé.
Luz do Sol
There are many beautiful local accessible beaches just 10 minute drive from Luz do Sol, with plenty of accessible beach restaurants, serving fresh fish and the famous Portuguese chicken piri-piri.
Just down the road from Luz do Sol is the karting track. The track is a replica of the Brazil Jacarpagua formula 1 great day out for all, children’s karting, trampolines, also karts adapted for the disabled and buggy excursions. Also 5 minutes from the villa is Aquashow water slide park for a fun filled day, and Zoomarine with shows and swimming with the dolphins.
There are excellent supermarkets: Apolonia, supplying a range of UK and European products, Pingo Doce with great fresh fish and veggies, Aldi, Lidl and a host of small local shops.
Almancil also has and excellent chemists with many UK brands, and banks, a post office and cafés.
West of Quateria is the posh Villamoura marina, with some amazing boats and yachts, here you can take boat trips which are wheelchair friendly along the Algarve cost and anchor in a small cove with caves, and maybe spot some dolphins. The marina is surrounded with accessible restaurants, cafes, and shops.
Loulé is best known among visitors for its craftsmen, its old-world charm and its keenness to party.
A daily fresh fruit and vegetable market, cobbled streets with workshops, artisans beating copper, stitching leather or selling wrought iron, cane furniture, basketwork and embroidered goods, a great day out for gifts and leather belts, bags and boots.
Like many of their street parties, “Medfest” is spread out over plazas, through winding old streets, inside markets and next to historic castle walls. Locals from Loulé, residents of the Algarve region, and tourists from all over the world mix and mingle, dance and eat, to the Mediterranean, African and Caribbean beat.
Noite Branca (white night) also in Loulé is quickly becoming one of the most popular Algarve events of the year. Sponsored by the Council of Loulé, the end-of-Summer party is intended to be a giant “chill out” party. Streets in the central district of Loulé are closed….and the area is taken-over by street performers, bands, DJs…and thousands of visitors all wearing white!
Visit Loulé at Carnival time, usually February. The merrymaking doesn’t quite rival that in Rio de Janeiro, but people from all over the Algarve converge on the town for a couple of days of float and fancy-dress parades, general high-spirits.
Nestled in a ravine surrounded by dense forest, the village of Caldas de Monchique (Portuguese for hot springs of Monchique) has been around since Roman times.
Over the centuries many have visited the volcanic spring, which emerges from the ground at 32ª C, as it is believed the waters have curative properties for those suffering from respiratory, skeletal and muscular problems. A visit to Caldas de Monchique is a tonic in itself, historical and picturesque scenery and a wonderful view of the Algarve’s cost line from the high vantage of Monchique.
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