Towns and Villages

A small village in the Algarve that is well worth visiting, above all for the Church of São Lourenço, whose interior is one of the finest examples of 18th-century tilework.

Built in the first half of the 18th century, the church is renowned for its magnificent figurative tiles covering the walls, the nave vault and the dome of the chancel. Created by Policarpo de Oliveira Bernardes in 1730, they depict episodes from the life of Saint Lawrence and are considered one of the most important examples of Baroque tilework in the Algarve. Also worthy of attention is the gilded woodcarving altarpiece in the chancel, attributed to the Algarve master Manuel Martins, who also created the statue of Saint Lawrence.

In the surrounding area, which retains much of the character and charm of the old Algarve, a group of carefully preserved historic buildings has been converted into an art gallery, where you may still find fine examples of traditional ceramics, typical of the Algarve and one of the region’s most distinctive forms of handicraft. Hand-decorated, these pieces preserve traditional techniques and motifs from the region. Palm-leaf basketry, lace and embroidery complete this rich craft heritage, passed down from generation to generation