Saturday in Loulé

The oldest market, a hilltop village and a Roman villa.

A very Portuguese Saturday: the morning at Loulé market, when the street fair fills the lanes around it, lunch in a hilltop village and the afternoon between the pink palace at Estoi and the Roman ruins of Milreu. Meals and entry fees are extra. For those who love good food and old stories.

The day, stop by stop

1. 

   1

   Mercado de Loulé

   Loulé's municipal market, dating from 1908, stands out for its Moorish-style domes and windows. Inside are stalls of fish, fruit, vegetables, cheese, cured meats, honey, nuts and fig and almond sweets, often sold by the people who make or grow them. On Saturday mornings the market spills into the surrounding streets, packed with shoppers and produce from the hills. Go early for the best choice, and bring a bag for your shopping.

2. 

   2

   Querença

   Querença is a small village on a hilltop, with a square where the white church, a couple of restaurants and some old houses gather. From the churchyard you look across rolling countryside of carob, almond and olive trees as far as the eye can see. There is little traffic and plenty of calm, which is exactly why it is worth stopping. Have lunch at one of the restaurants on the square, with traditional country cooking, and take time over the view.

3. 

   3

   Palácio de Estoi e Milreu

   In Estoi, a few minutes from Faro, you get two visits in one morning. The pink palace, now a pousada hotel, has terraced gardens with tiles, statues and ponds that invite a slow wander. Right next door lie the Roman ruins of Milreu, a villa with baths and fish mosaics still visible on the floor. Entry to Milreu is paid separately. Go early in the morning, when the light is soft and the heat has not yet built up.

The essentials

Duration

6–7 h · Saturdays

Pick-up

At your hotel. The final price depends on where you are staying; we confirm it when you tell us.

Included

The car and the driver, only for your group, tolls and water.

Not included

Entrance tickets and meals.

Who it is for

Lovers of food and history.

The route