Ferragudo Things to Do

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just walking along the front is very interesting in Ferragudo, there are no great tourist bars with their football flags and loud techno music here, you can stop for a drink in the little cafe that faces onto a turning circle, you will see it as that is where all the local taxi drivers go (it's just near the life boat station). walk to the end of the road and see the great view of Portimao and watch all the fishermen coming in, sorting their catch of just mending their nets, if you like beaches Ferragudo has a large one, and as there are no large hotels or apartment blocks it, like the Village is unspoilt and quiet. At the end of the Beach is the Fortress and above the beach and sea front overlooking the river is the Village Church.

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The Fort of São João de Arade began it's life in the 15th century as a lookout tower which was then extended during the late 17th earlt 18th centurys to play a part in the fortifications tprotecting the mouth of the river Arade and straight opposite on the bank above Portimão's modern marina is the fort of Santa Catarina
In the early 20th century it was bought and turned into the home on the famous portuguese poet Coelho Carvalho who modernised and built what you can see today, It is still a private home so unfortunately you can not go inside.

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Ferragudo's 17th Century fort stands at the entrance to the village's harbour, overlooking Praia Grande beach and the Arade River.

Standing as it does at the end of the beach, it has been commented that it looks like an over-sized sandcastle - I would have to agree with that!

The fort is apparently privately owned nowadays and therefore not open to the public.

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The village of Ferragudo lies on the banks of the Arade River, facing the tourist resort of Praia da Rocha, and situated close to the town of Portimao.

I walked to Ferragudo from Portimao, although there are buses that connect the two. The road into Ferragudo affords a breathtaking view of the village across its picturesque, fishing boat-filled harbour.

Ferragudo is said to be the most photographed village in the whole of Portugal, and that wouldn't surprise me!

Walking around the Castle of Sao Joao de Arade near Ferragudo, you will discover the larger beach of Praia Grande where you can soak up the sun and enjoy a drink or lunch at one of the beach bars. The activity of leisure craft and the passing of the local fishing boats compliment the view of the prestigious yacht marina of Portimao.

Of archeological note, in 1981, in some of the vertical sedimentary rock layers on the south end of Praia Grande beach, a deposit of dinosaur footprints was discovered.

In these beds, formed nearly 106 million years ago in a seacoast environment of shallow waters, there are a set of 66 tridactyl footprints (animal having three toes, claws, or similar parts on each limb). By the size, shape, distance and the angle of the footprints it was possible to determine not only the species but also some features of their behavior at the time they were passing by.

The best time of the day to see these dinosaur footprints is near noon when the sunlight is almost vertical.

And please, the dinosaur footprints are geological aspects of great importance. Their conservation is crucial. If you visit this dinosaur track deposit, respect its integrity and try not to damage it.

The fort of Sao Joao de Arade began life as a lookout tower in the 15th century. Some reconstruction and expansion was done in the 17the century along with building its sister fortress of Santa Catarina de Ribamar on the other side of the estuary at Praia da Rocha. Their task was to defend Portimao and the Arade estuary from the frequent pirate raids of the time. Ancient Roman salting tanks have been excavated next to the Fort of Sao Joao de Arade that provides the evidence that this area has been in use for centuries.

A great deal of work was done at the beginning of the 20th century to turn it into a home at the initiative of the poet Coelho Carvalho, and it is to this that it owes its current romantic appearance. It is now private property.

These forts were in an excellent strategic position and now feature splendid views of the sea, river, beaches and cliffs. I think it would be a really great place to be at sunset.

Farther along the coast, at Ponte da Atlaia and Quinta da Torre, where tiny beaches of great beauty are tucked away between looming cliffs, there are the remains of two medieval watchtowers, which were once used to give warning of attacks by pirates and corsairs.

From Ferragudo it is a 5-minute walk to the peaceful, golden sand Angrinha beach and then another 5-minute stroll to the historic 15th century Castle of Sao Joao de Arade. Angrinha Beach is closer to Ferragudo than the larger and more popular beach beyond the fortress.

However, although this beach is not as broad, its sand has the same golden glow and the water is as calm and peaceful here although it does not have the facilities that characterize Praia Grande beach. But here on Angrinha beach you will find facilities for windsurfing and canoeing.