Armacao de Pera
A fishing village turned beach resort with one of the longest sandy beaches in the Algarve, a clifftop chapel and boat trips to sea caves.
Armacao de Pera is a beach resort of around 6,000 permanent residents on the central Algarve coast, within the municipality of Silves. The name translates roughly as the tuna trap of Pera, a reference to the armacoes, or fixed net systems, that were used to catch Atlantic bluefin tuna as they migrated along the coast. Tuna fishing defined the settlement for centuries, and though the practice has effectively ceased, the name endures and the old fishermen's quarter at the western end of town retains some of its original character.
The beach at Armacao de Pera is one of the longest continuous stretches of sand in the Algarve, running for over two kilometres along the seafront. It is broad, gently shelving and well suited to families, with lifeguard cover during the bathing season. The western end of the beach is backed by a low cliff and the remains of a defensive wall, while the eastern end extends towards the cliffs of Salgados, where a coastal lagoon attracts wading birds and flamingos. The promenade above the beach is lined with restaurants and cafes, busy in summer and largely shuttered in winter.
The Capela de Nossa Senhora da Rocha, perched on a headland at the western end of the town, is one of the most photographed buildings in the Algarve. The small, whitewashed chapel sits on a narrow promontory above sheer cliffs, with the sea visible on three sides. Its origins are medieval, though the current building dates from various periods of reconstruction. A tunnel through the headland below the chapel leads to a small, sheltered beach. Boat trips depart from the Armacao de Pera beach to visit the sea caves and rock formations along the coast towards Benagil, roughly four kilometres to the west.
The town developed as a resort from the 1970s onwards, and much of the central area consists of apartment blocks of varying quality built during the tourism boom. The old town, at the western end near the fishermen's chapel, is more characterful, with narrow streets, traditional houses and a couple of good fish restaurants. The Fortaleza de Armacao de Pera, an 18th-century fortress built to defend against pirate raids, stands on the cliff above the old quarter and has been converted into a small cultural space.
Armacao de Pera sits between the busier resorts of Albufeira to the east and Carvoeiro to the west. It has a loyal following among Portuguese families who return each summer and among foreign residents who appreciate the long beach, the relatively moderate prices and the less commercial atmosphere. The Salgados golf course lies immediately to the east of town. The EN125 national road passes nearby, and Faro Airport is roughly 45 minutes to the east by car. The town is quieter and less fashionable than its neighbours, but the beach is outstanding and the chapel headland is one of the finest viewpoints on the coast.
Highlights
- Capela de Nossa Senhora da Rocha on a clifftop headland with sea views on three sides
- Over two kilometres of continuous sandy beach, one of the longest in the Algarve
- Boat trips to the Benagil sea cave and the rock formations of the western coast