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Situated on the extreme South of Portugal, this part of the territory
was the last to be conquered from the Moors by the Portuguese king in
1292. Traces of the Moorish presence are still seen in its unique
architecture - terraces, chimneys and whitewashed houses. However, the
distance that was difficult to cover back in the 13th century is no longer
an obstacle thanks to the modern Lisbon-Albufeira-Castro Marim road (IP1)
or Faro international airport.
So why not visit this charming region? And enjoy
its idyllic temperatures especially for playing golf
and other sports. In the northern part of the Algarve, the hills of
Espinhação de Cão, Monchique and Caldeirão shelter the coast from strong
winds. This brightly coloured region, with its fig trees, orange groves
and almond trees in blossom, is also the most verdant and fertile. The
southern coastline consists of a long stretch of fabulous sandy beaches,
broken up by extraordinary rugged cliffs and fantastic grottoes. |
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| Apart from the wealth of available water sports facilities (the
marinas of Vilamoura and
Lagos deserves special mention, amongst the various ports and harbours),
there are other alternatives, such as tennis courts, famous golf`courses, luxury hotels or quaint holiday resorts and an
exciting nightlife. |
 Albufeira
- Once a peaceful fishing village, it keeps its narrow streets in the
old town and whitewashed houses perched over a charming beach where, when
tourism allows it, you can walk amidst colouful fishing boats ornamented
with eyes, animals and stars. Shops, bars and restaurants fill every
corner, but there are is also the old castle, the buildings which still
preserve Moorish arches and interesting churches, like the one of São
Sebastião.
Accommodation |
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| Alcoutim
- Away from the crowds and the bustle of the tourist centres along the
coastline of Algarve, the lovely town of Alcoutim lies near the Alentejo
(at about 15 kilometres, 10 miles) and has a natural border with Spain
formed by the river Guadiana. A winding road that runs alonside the river
offers superb views of the countryside, with its orchards and orange
groves, and the rural way of life in Alcoutim remains very much unchanged.
Accommodation |
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Aljezur
- From Aljezur tourists can explore the wonderful beaches of the
Algarve´s west coast: bathed by the Atlantic, they are often wild and
deserted in contrast to the warmer ones of the south. Aljezur is small and
tranquil, it is overlooked by a Moorish castle from the 10th century.
Aljezue is divided into two parts and lies in a fertile valley with a
patchwork of fields where various crops are cultivated.
Accommodation |
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Castro
Marim - The elegant outline of flamingos. The dusty gold of
soft sand, the turquoise blue of warm waters. Vast ranges of hills covered
in a bright carpet of wild flowers. The tranquil countryside along the
banks of the Guadiana, lush with orchards and vegetable gardens. These are
just a few facets of a municipality that stretches from the sea to the
hinterland, with a river as its boundary.
Accommodation |
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Faro
- The capital of the district, with a medieval wall and a large number
of monuments: Cathedral (Roman-Gothic origin), Nossa Senhora da Assuncão
Convent (Renaissance), São Francisco Church (16-18th centuries). Museums
to visit: Infante Dom Henrique, Regional Ethnographic, Ramalho Ortigão and
Antoniano (next to the Santo António do Alto Hermitage). Also worthwhile
visiting are the beautiful churches of São Pedro da Misericórdia and Nossa
Senhora do Carmo. Roman ruins of Milreu in the suburbs.
Accommodation |
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Lagoa
- Lagoa is known for its wine, which takes the Algarve to the rest of
the country. Standing on a small hill, it is surrounded by vineyards and
its white houses gleam in the distance. A very peaceful town in contrast
to the tourist centers on the coast. Nearby Carvoeiro, with its charming
sandy cove, is an old fishing village which became a popular holiday
resort, but of the ancient fortress and convent there is little left.
Accommodation |
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Lagos
- Enclosed within 5th century walls, with its Manueline window, are
the magnificent churches of São Sebastião (Renaissance portals and
17th-18th century tiles), Santa Maria of Misericórida (16th- 19th
centuries), Santo António (Baroque) and the very old São João Hermitage
(8th-9th centuries). Other points of interest: Regional Museum, Governors'
Palace, Forte do Pau da Bandeira and the Old Slave Market. Charming marina.
Accommodation |
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Loulé-
This place is a rural administrative and active market town with some
remains of a castle dating back to the 12th Century. The Arab castle has
been virtually destroyed leaving some walls still standing that are now
surrounded by modern buildings. Like most other towns in the Algarve, most
of the older potentially interesting buildings have been destroyed in the
earthquake that occurred in 1755. Within the remaining walls is a museum
with an explanation of what was in the past the grandeur of the castle.
The various earthquakes that it has suffered through its history have
damaged the 13th Century Church of São Clemente. However, its Gothic
arches and side chapels are remaining from the 16th Century have survived.
Accommodation |
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| Monchique
- Amongst the beautiful houses on the slope stand the mother-church (Manuelina),
Misericórdia Church (with a Baroque retable) and the Senhor do Pé da Cruz
Hermitage (17th century). Nearby look for the famous thermal spas of
Monchique and Fóia (902 m high), overlooking the hills and the ocean.
Between Monchique and Portimão is the village of Caldas de Monchique that
was developed in Roman times as a Spa. Here a visitor can try the curing
elements of the sulphur smelling hot spring water that emerges at a
constant temperature of 32ºC
Accommodation |
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Olhão
- The square-shaped flat-roofed houses, with their Moorish-style
terraces, are this fishing town's ex-libris. Behind the mother-church
(17th century) you will find the Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos Chapel. Another
architectural curiosity is the fish market in a long unattractive building
on the waterfront. Every morning there is a lively atmosphere and the
impressively large variety of fish offered by the local catch is displayed
to tempt the housewife.
Accommodation |
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Portimão
- First the blue sea and its gently lapping waves. Then fine, golden
sands framed by cliffs and rocks. The cosmopolitan atmosphere of an
international tourist destination. This is the Algarve of beach holidays
in the sun. Portimão and its municipality have more to offer though. A rich
heritage of historical monuments. The eternal natural beauty of Ria de
Alvor. The charm of cultivated fields, of slopes covered with pine trees
and wild flowers. The allure of walking up into the hills and looking down
on the Algarve from a new perspective. In this fishermen's town, visit the
mother-church (14th century, rebuilt in the 18th century), the Colégio
Church (17th century), and the Town Hall. In the suburbs, the renowned
Praia da Rocha (with its Santa Catarina de Ribamar Fortress), and the
Roman ruins of Abicada.
Popular crafts - Wicker and cane baskets,
hats, mats and baskets made of palm leaves and twisted "esparto" grasses,
lace and embroidery, copper utensils, domestic and decorative earthenware:
these are among the unassuming treasures that the craftsmen and women of
Portimão and its municipality continue to make using traditional materials,
motifs and techniques.
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São
Brás de Alportel - In a fertile inland region, São Brás de
Alportel was known as a centre for cork production in the Algarve. The
town has narrow streets and rustic houses, although there are richer ones
with painted ceramic tiles and balustrades decorated with artistic wrought
iron.
Accommodation |
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Silves
- Stones of different times and cultures overlap in this town: the
castle, with its famous water cistern and walls, is of Arab origin; the
Gothic Cathedral (having undergone several restoration works) was built on
the site of an ancient mosque; the 12th century bridge was built where
formerly stood a Roman bridge. The Cross of Portugal also deserves special
mention (16th century religious sculpture), as well as the following
examples of Manueline motifs: the Nossa Senhora dos Mártires Hermitage and
the Misericórdia Church.
Accommodation |
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| Tavira
- With its inviting long beaches, typical roofs and chimneys, this
picturesque town offers a beautiful view over the Gilão river and its
Roman bridge. Churches to visit: Santa Maria do Castelo (13th-18th
centuries), Misericórdia (Renaissance), Nossa Senhora das Ondas (17th
century), São José (with Gothic and Manueline elements), São Paulo and
Carmo (17th-18th centuries). If you are browsing along the Travessa de
Dona Brites, you will see beautiful medieval houses, with Gothic windows
and portals. In the suburbs, in the small village of Luz there is a
Renaissance church, which has been a pilgrimage place for many centuries.
Accommodation |
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Vila do Bispo -
Sagres - It was here that five centuries ago Prince Henry set up a
school of navigation, which played a crucial role in the Portuguese
Discoveries. Apart from the Nossa Senhora da Graça Hermitage, you can
visit the magnificent Fortress (originally built in the 14th century, and
later altered) and the 15th century Rosados-Ventos (a 43 m diameter
compass rose). Nearby, on the extreme south-western tip of the European
continent is Cabo de São Vicente (Romans' Promontorium Sacrum), opening on
to a vast horizon of sea and sky.
Accommodation |
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Vilamoura
- Many of the Algarve's resorts have grown in a rather chaotic
fashion around a pre-existing town or village. Not so in Vilamoura. This
is a modern, purpose-built resort where everything has been planned and
designed with your pleasure in mind. The huge range of facilities
available makes it a very popular destination for families seeking
stress-free fun.
Accommodation |
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Other
places of interest
Almancil (beautiful São Lorenço Church, a Baroque masterpiece), Alte,
Cacela, Carvoeiro, Estômbar, Moncarrapacho, Ponta da Piedade, Porches, São
Bartolomou de Messines, Vila Real de Santo António. |
Apart from a very high quality, international cuisine that stems from
the expanding tourism industry, this region also offers delicious regional
dishes. Seafood soups oregano snails, pork meat and "cataplana"
clams, roasted dried octopus on the grill (Lagos style), and grilled squid
and cuttlefish.
Special attention should be given to the fig pastries, to the marzipan
pastries, shaped like little animals or fruits, to the famous "D. Rodrigo"
and "morgado" from Lagos, to the puff pastry from Olhão, and to
the egg yolk, almond paste and caramel pastries from Tavira. You should
taste the Lagoa wines, internationally famous, as well as those from Lagos
and from Tavira and the various regional liquors.
Food Festivals
Sausage Festival - Monchique, March. Portuguses Food
Week - Lagos, June. Beer Festival - Silves, July. Tuna
Itinerary - V.R. de St. António, July. Art of Desert Fair -
Lagos, July. Sardine Festival - Portimão/Quarteira, July/August.
Seafood Festival - Olhão, August. Algarve Tavern Fair - Lagoa,
August. Titbit Festival - Loulé, August. Sweet Potato and Rock
Barnacles Festival - Aljezur, October/November. |
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| FESTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT |
Almond
Blossom International Cross Country Race
Loulé
Carnival - February/March
Algarve
Bicycle Race - February
Ladies
Football Cup - March
Holy
Week - March/April
Grand
Prix Formular 1 World Championship - Arade/Portimão,
April
Algarve
Open Golf - April
Algarve
International Film Festival - May
Pròcession
of Nossa Senhora da Piedade or Mãe Soberana - Loulé, May
Popular
Saint Day - June
Algarve
International Music Festival - May/June/July
Algarve
International Motercycle Meeting - Faro, July
Senhora
do Carmo Festivities and Fair - Faro, July
International
Jazz Festival - Loulé, July/August
Fatacil
- Lagoa, August
Senhora
dos Màrtires Festivities and Fair - Castro Marim, August
Medieval
Days - Castro Marim, August/September
Algarve
Folk Music and Dance Festival - different locations, September
Algarve
international Horse Jumping - Vilamoura/Portimão,
September
Santa
Iria Fair - Faro, October
October
Fair - Monchique
Christmas
Concert - Tavira, December |
Wicker
and osier objects
Straw
hats and baskets
Copper
and tin objects
Wooden
objects
Ceramics
from Porches |
| Algarve
Tourist Information Offices |
Albufeira
Alcoutim
Aljezur
Alvor
Armação de Pêra
Carvoeira
Castro Marim
Faro
Lagos
Loulé
Monchique
Monte Gordo |
289 585 279
281 546 179
282 998 229
282 457 540
282 312 145
282 357 728
281 531 232
289 803 604
282 763 031
289 463 900
282 911 189
281 544 495 |
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Olhão
Ponte Inter. Guardiana
Portimão
Prai da Rocha
Quarteira
Sagres
S. Brás de Alportel
Silves
Tavira
V.R St. António
Faro International Airport |
289 713 936
281 531 800
282 416 556
282 419 132
289 389 209
282 624 873
282 842 211
282 442 255
281 322 511
281 542 100
289 818 582 |
| Algarve
Consulates |
Germany -
Faro
Austria - Albufeira
Belgium - Faro
Brazil - Vilamoura
Cape Vert - Portimão
Canada - Faro
Denmark - Faro
Spain - V.R St. António
Finland - Quarteira
France - Vilamoura |
289 803 148
289 510 900
289 899 590
289 322 117
282 417 720
289 803 757
289 805 561
281 544 888
289 399 873
289 310 956 |
Holand - Faro
Iceland - Portimão
Italy - V.R St. António
Morocco - Albufeira
Mexico - Lagos
Norway - Portimão
Peru - Vilamoura
UK - Portimão
Romania - Vilamoura
Switzerland - Portimão |
289 820 903
282 413 311
281 544 274
289 587 960
282 762 814
282 414 878
289 389 977
282 417 800
289 303 180
282 413 311 |
Health
In case of emergency call 112, the
international emergency services number. If you require medical
assistance, go to your local Health Centre. In more serious cases, visit
the hospital A&E. |
Faro District Hospital 289 830 300
Lagos District Hospital 282 763 034
Portimão - Barlavento Hospital
282 450 330 |
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Health Centers
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Albufeira |
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| Centro de Saúde de Albufeira |
| Tel.: 289 587 550 |
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| Centro de Saúde de Ferreiras |
| Tel.: 289 571 732 |
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| Centro de Saúde de
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| Tel.: 289 561 662 |
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| Centro de Saúde de Olhos d ' Água |
| Tel.: 289 501 946 |
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| Centro de Saúde de Paderne |
| Tel.: 289 367 213 |
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Alcoutim |
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| Centro de Saude |
| Estrada Nacional 507 |
| 8970 Alcoutim |
| Tel.: 281 540 140 |
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Aljezur |
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| Centro de Saude |
| Rua dos Bombeiros |
| 7680 Aljezur |
| Tel.: 282 990 200 |
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Castro Marim |
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| Centro de Saude |
| Apartado 40 |
| 8950 Castro Marim |
| Tel.: 281 530 100 |
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Faro |
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| Hospital Distrital de Faro |
| Leão Penedo |
| 8000-386 Faro |
| Tel.: 289 891 100 |
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| Centro de Saude |
| Urbanização Graça Mira - Lejana de
Cima |
| 8000 Faro |
| Tel.: 289 830 300 |
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Lagoa |
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| Centro de Saude |
| Urbanização dos Vales |
| 8400 Lagoa |
| Tel.: 282 340 370 |
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| Centro de Saude |
| Rua do Barranco nº76 |
| Praia do Carvoeiro |
| Tel.: 282 357 320 |
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| Centro de Saude |
| 8400 Estombar |
| Tel.: 282 432 665 |
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Lagos |
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| Hospital Distrital de Lagos |
| Rua Castelo dos Governadores, 8600
Lagos |
| Tel.: 282 763 034 |
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| Centro de Saude |
| Sito da Pedra Alçada |
| 8600 Lagos |
| Tel.: 282 780 005 |
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Loulé |
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| Centro de Saude |
| Avenida Laginha Serafim |
| 8100 Loulé |
| Tel.: 289 401 000 |
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| Centro de Saude |
| Largo de José Cavaco Vieira |
| 8100 Alte |
| Tel.: 289 478 174 |
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| Centro de Saude |
| 8100 Salir |
| Tel.: 289 489 200 |
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Monchique |
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| Centro de Saude |
| Rua Calouste Gulbenkian |
| 8500 Monchique |
| Tel.: 282 913 762 |
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Olhão |
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| Centro de Saude |
| Rua Antero Nobre |
| 8700 Olhão |
| Tel.: 289 700 269 |
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Portimão |
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| Hospital do Barlavento Algarvio |
| Sitio do Poço Seco |
| 8500-338 Portimão |
| Tel.: 282 450 330 |
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| Centro de Saude |
| Praceta Poeta António Aleixo |
| 8501-856 Portimão |
| Tel.: 282 416 272 |
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São Brás de Alportel |
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| Centro de Saúde |
| Rua João de Deus |
| 8150 São Brás de Alportel |
| Tel.: 289 840 440 |
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Silves |
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| Centro de Saúde de Alcantarilha |
| Tel.: 282 322 388 |
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| Centro de Saúde de Algoz |
| Tel.: 282 574 269 |
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| Centro de Saúde de Armação |
| Tel.: 282 312 572 |
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| Centro de Saúde de Pêra |
| Tel.: 282 313 819 |
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| Centro de Saúde de S. B. Messines |
| Tel.: 282 330 932 |
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| Centro de Saúde de S. Marcos |
| Tel.: 282 361 193 |
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| Centro de Saúde de Silves |
| Tel.: 282 440 020 |
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Tavira |
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| Centro de Saude |
| Largo Sacarias Guerreiro |
| 8800 Tavira |
| Tel.: 281 324 023 |
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Vila do Bispo |
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| Centro de Saude |
| Zona Industrial/ Residential |
| 8650 Vila do Bispo |
| 282 639 179 |
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Vila Real de Santo António |
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| Centro de Saude |
| Avenida Ministro Duarte Pacheco |
| 8900 Vila Real de Santo António |
| Tel.: 281 511 371 |
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Portuguese Red Cross
289 899 900
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Businesses
Opening Times
Chemist Shops - Weekdays: 9am-1pm & 3pm-7pm. Saturdays:
9am-1pm. In each area there is a chemist open 24 hrs.
Post Office - Open Monday to Friday from 9am-6pm.
Shopping - Most shops are open between 9am-1pm and 3pm-7pm on week
days. Shopping centres stay open longer, generally between 10am-11pm.
Banks - Open from 8.30am-3pm on week days.
Museums - Generally closed at lunch time and with different closing
days.
Credit
Cards
Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere: Visa, Amex,
Eurocard, Diners club & Mastercard. You can withdraw money from "Multibanco"
cash points on any highstreet. |
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Accommodation |
Sightseeing
Guided Tours | Golf
| Places of Interest |
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