Villages of the Serra
Image gallery of typical localities in the hinterland of the Algarve: Monchique, Caldas de Monchique, Alte, Salir, Querença, Messines, São Marcos da Serra, ...
Monchique: Largo de Chorões
The dominant feature of this square, found in Monchique’s centre, is an old well which has been rebuilt and is said to have been invented by the Moors to irrigate their fields.
Monchique
View from the Picota, the second largest elevation in the Algarve, to the village and the hills of the Serra de Monchique.
Monchique: Centre
Monchique is located in a saddle formed by the two highest hills of the Algarve, Picota (774 m) and Foia (902 ml). The inhabitants of this town have maintained the rustic atmosphere. Monchique is a great place to start exploring the landscape of the Serra.
Monchique: Lane
The photo depicts one of the many steep and narrow lanes in the old part of Monchique. Here the walls have been artfully decorated.
Caldas-de-monchique-1
São Bartolomeu de Messines
Aerial view to the town of São Bartolomeu de Messines, located on the road IP1 to Lisbon. In the background you can see the hills of the Serra de Monchique.
São Marcos da Serra
Aerial view to the village in the heart of the Serra
São Marcos da Serra
Parish church of the village
Alte: creek
Alte: Fonte Pequena
Draw well at the entry to the restaurant
Alte: Centre
The centre of the village with the parish church (Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção), a café and a shop with regional handicraft products.
Alte Keramik Atelier
Alte Ribeira Bachlauif 3
Concelho de Loulé: Salir
Located on two hills on the way from Loulé to Alte, the village of Salir has still almost maintained its original state. The larger and newer part is assembled around the parish church and the nearby water tower, visible from afar.
Salir: Chapel
We follow the village street from the newer part of Salir to the castle hill in the West. The piittoresque little chapel is located at the border of the old part of Salir.
Salir: Castelo
From the chapel the paved way leads uphill to the remainders of the the Moorish castle. The way , shadowed by a rich vegetation, leads around the castle hill along the old wall to a place, where the basements of the Moorish walls have been uncovered.
Querenca: Church
The church is situated on hilltop in the centre of the hamlet.
Querenca: Tourist Info
The tourist information is situated next to the communal administration. The building includes a museum (Pólo Museologico de Água – Querença) about water, a natural richness of the area.
Querença: Cemetery
View from the main square to the cemetery.