CAR HIRE FARO
Time to Travel
It, car hire faro, safe to suggest that the whole year, car hire faro, a good period to visit. Mainland Portugal has an attractive climate with long hot summers, and mild pleasant winters. In the north winters are obviously cool and wet, whilst in the Algarve temperatures seldom ever fall below freezing. Inland areas have hotter summers and cooler winters except for mountainous regions that even enjoy snow. Madeira Island and the Islands of the Azores enjoy a temperate climate the year around.
Traveling nationals of the EU (European Union), Australia and New Zealand, require only their passport or Identity Document. They may remain for a period of up to 90 days. American and Canadian nationals may stay for a period of 60 days with a valid passport. Other countries are subject to Visa controls and it, car hire faro, recommended that a potential visitor should check with the Portuguese Consul in their respective country prior to traveling.
TRANSPORT
Airports
The international airport, car hire faro . Throughout the country there are a number of small airports with limited facilities. It, car hire faro, possible to travel from the international airports to many of these smaller ones but it, car hire faro, important to first check, as these services are variable.
At Faro Airport a bus can be boarded outside the Terminal that will take you to the centre of the city. Faro airport car hire, numbers 17 and 18 will also take you to and from the airport, a distance f 11 kms. Taxis are also usually recommended.
Coaches
There, car hire faro, the national network of Rodoviária Nacional (RN), and competing private operators who run quick non-stop services on the more popular routes and often to destinations not covered by trains. The RN tends to be slower but its prices are cheaper. Many private operators offer more facilities on longer runs such as toilet, video, air-conditioning and snacks. Prior to a long trip it, car hire faro, best to check what the coach facilities are before boarding. You will find that in major tourist areas or cities there are excellent local excursions by coach. In almost all cases tickets are purchased in advance.
Disabled Facilities
The needs of the disabled are visibly evident with reserved parking spaces in public areas, special toilets at airports, stations, and centres of entertainment.
Driving
Portugal drives on the right side of the road
Except when otherwise indicated all vehicles approaching from the right have priority. The driver already on a roundabout normally has the right of way
Safety-belts are compulsory in all circumstances
Drinking and driving, car hire faro, severely controlled and limited to a restriction of 0.3 g/l
Unless otherwise indicated urban limit, car hire faro, 50 km/h
Rural roads other than those zones indicated are limited to 90 km/h
Motorways are limited to 120 km/h
Rent a Car
In all major towns there are a number of companies providing rent a car service. Proof of identity and a valid current Driving Licence, car hire faro, required. The minimum age to hire a car, car hire faro, 21 years old but some companies' place the age higher. Make sure that all needed documents relating to the hired vehicle and the driver are always available in the vehicle as Traffic Police often check these legalities on roads.
Trains
The Portuguese railway system, car hire faro, State owned and the name, car hire faro, “Caminhos de Ferro Portuguese (CP)”. The system provides a very reasonably priced transport within the country. Major lines are fast, efficient and comfortable.
There are daily international connections as shown below.
Lisbon - Porto - Paris (Twice daily)
Lisbon - Madrid
Porto - Vigo (Spain)
Lisbon - Badajoz (Spain)
There are new express trains “Alfa” between Lisbon and Braga to the north of Porto. To make this journey it, car hire faro, necessary to change trains both in Porto and Lisbon. From Braga it leaves at 13.30 hrs. and the traveller arrives in Faro at 20.20 hours. There, car hire faro, an Alfa leaving Braga at 16.30 hrs. arriving in Lisbon at 22.15 hrs, but with no further connection at this time to Faro.
From Faro the Alfa leaves at 6.45 and arrives in Lisbon 09.30 hrs. For more accurate details of times and cost we suggest you visit www.cp.pt. A regional train system operates throughout the country joining up the main towns. This system (IC), car hire faro, less comfortable than (Alfa) and, car hire faro, slower. There are two classes, 1st and 2nd with the exception for local trains where there, car hire faro, only one class. Special tourist tickets may be purchased valid for 7, 14 or 21 days. There, car hire faro, also the "Cartão de Familia" that gives special terms for families on journeys over 150 kms. Outside most provincial stations there, car hire faro, a normally a coach waiting to take you to the centre as the stations can be distant from the town.
(Alfa) and (IC) tickets can be purchased up to 20 days in advance. Other train tickets are bought on the day of travel.
PORTIMÃO
Portimão History
It races its origins back to a small trading port of the Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians. Some historians have indicated that the place was originally the famous Portus Hannibalis named by the famous Carthaginian General, Hannibal Barca. During the following Moorish occupation they renamed the place “Burj Munt”. Located at the mouth of the River Arade it provides a natural harbour and has at times been known in its past as a home for smugglers and pirates. The river also provides the sea access to the up-river ancient City of Silves that was the capital of the Algarve during the Moorish occupation. At this time the place was named Porcimunt but later in 1504 it was recognized as a proper town and granted the name “Vila Nova de Portimão” and became part of the property possessions of the Castelo Branco family until the 17th Century. Much later it was commonly renamed as Portimão and was extensively developed in the 19th century to become one of the most important centres on the Algarve of the fishing and canning industry until the early 1980s when the drop in fish stocks and recession drove the remaining factories out of business.
Portimão - Description
The town with some 35,000 inhabitants is essentially commercially orientated and was the main shopping town of the whole Algarve during the 1970s and 1980s. The town church that is the last attractive building surviving in the town dates from 1476 but it has undergone many alterations as from 1717 onwards. The town council appears to have adopted a policy of demolishing architecturally interesting buildings in favour of modernization. Happily, it also has a very active cultural department and there are always different forms of events happening throughout the year. A boat marina was recently opened adjoining Praia da Rocha and adds the fascinating sight of the many boats at anchor and a choice of bars and restaurants in which to pass the evening. When approaching the town from the direction of Faro there is a choice of two bridges to cross. The old one runs along past the harbour but we would recommend take the new bridge. It is so well balanced in design that it can be seriously considered among the most pleasing bridges to the sight built in Portugal in the 19th Century. On the river front many different boat tours and deep sea-fishing outings can be booked.
Portimão Nearby Locations
In the Portimão area is Armação de Pera with a small 18th Century fortress and a popular location to tourists with its long sandy beach. The beach village of Alvor is another popular tourist location. Still maintaining its village character with its 16th Century Parish Church its small streets teem with life most of the year around. The village of Carvoeiro is a small charming beach location that is now surrounded by comfortable self-catering villas. The tourist trade has happily not yet overpowered the small delightful fishing village of Ferragudo, lying just across the river from Portimão. Slightly inland is Lagoa a small administrative town. Praia de Rocha and Praia de Vau both seriously devoted to offering tourist accommodation with the added attractions of good beaches and active nightlife. The inland city of Silves and its truly interesting historical background is worth a visit. Including in the many true stories are the battles between the Moors, the Crusaders, and the Portuguese. Unfortunately, the city was for the most part destroyed by the earthquake of 1755. The Moorish occupiers considered the city at the turn of the 11th Century as the centre of all true culture in the Iberian Peninsular. Near to the town of Portimão are several sites of interest such as the Caves of Estombar, the mosaic floor of the Roman villa at Figueira, and at Alcalar the well restored burial tombs from the Dolman period (around 3.500 BC).
SILVES
Silves - History
This city was once the capital of the whole district and that was still referred to in the 19th Century as the “Kingdom of the Algarve”. So much history is attached to Silves and its surrounding area that only a book would do it justice! Standing proudly on a hill the origin of the town traces back to existing some 1.000 BC. Evidence shows that it was already a notable place in Roman times but it really became an important place during its occupation in the early 11th Century by the Moors. Giving it the name of Xelb, they constructed lavish palaces and it became the cultural centre of learning for the whole Iberian Peninsular although it was still fell under the mantle of Cordoba in Spain. They imported lions and other wild animals that are reputed to have roamed freely through exotic gardens under its Seville based powerful ruler Al-Mutamid. Born in Beja in 1040 he became at the tender age of 13 years old ruler of Silves until later when he moved to Spain. It is recorded that in 1189 there were over 15.000 inhabitants when the Knights of Santiago sacked the city with the assistance of the Anglo-Norman Crusaders. Under the control of the Portuguese Kings it continued in its importance until the commerce began to decline in the 15th Century due the silting-up of the Rio Arade that gave the town access to the sea. A specialty of the town is the “Morgados” cakes made with pumpkin filling.
Silves - Description
Most of the town and nearly all its ancient buildings were destroyed by the earthquake of 1755. The impressive remains of the castle dates back to Moors and there is an impressive underground water reservoir that is still used by the city today. It has the romantic name of “Cistern of the Enchanted Moorish Girl” and was said to be a principal factor in the fall of the town during its siege. The Museu Arqueológico has been constructed above the cistern and here a visitor will find exhibits of locally found objects included items from the Stone Age. As a reminder to the Romans occupation there is the Ponte Romana, a fine strong bridge over the Rio Arade below the city walls and rebuilt from the original in the 15th Century. The city’s earlier 13th Century Cathedral was built on the site of a Mosque and has suffered considerable alteration over the centuries.
To the southwest side of the town is a modern statue celebrating the siege of 1189 in an appropriately named square, Largo dos Mártires, where it is suggested that the defending Moors were buried. Just to the northeast of the city is a fascinating 16th Century granite cross that is located beside the road to the north. The countryside around Silves is the biggest orange growing area in Portugal and other neighbouring towns’ share in the economic benefits from this product. There has been a popular recent decision to site a new University in Silves to recreate its links with its past.
Silves - Nearby Locations
Another administrative and rural town named Lagoa is only 8 kms. to the south. To the southeast is the town of Alcantarilha whose main claim to fame is a chapel lined with hundreds of bones belonging to earlier inhabitants. Further to the south of Alcantarilha is the beach town of Armação de Pera with its long beautiful sandy beach. Lying to the north of the fertile valleys of Silves is an area of attractive forest covered hills that eventually lead up to the mountains of Monchique. The large national Dams of Arade and Foz are well worth visiting for the beauty of their natural setting.