Olhão, a city in the Sotavento (Eastern) Algarve, is essentially a fishing town, with an attractive harbour, and nicknamed the “Shellfish Capital”. An obligatory visit should be to the market, where the fresh fish are sold, just landed from the numerous fishing boats. The main Parish Church, Chapel of our Lady of Solitude and Olhão Town Museum are places worth a visit. There are visible signs of occupation in ancient times by the Romans, Visigoths and Arabs in Cerro da Vila.

Don’t miss the Olhão Shellfish Festival in the first 15 days of August, held in the Jardim do Pescador, and taste the best traditional recipes for the preparation of seafood.

Algarve traditions still survive in Fuzeta. Although a fishing town, it is also attracts the tourist trade, by running boat trips to ferry people to the island of Fuzeta and to Armona, a delightful area with white sands and warm waters.

As part of the Nature Reserve of Ria Formosa, visitors can observe the rich variety of flora and water birds that inhabit these shores, i.e. Moorhens, Little Egrets, Mallard, Lesser Flamingo and Stilts amongst others.