FARO CAR HIRE

National Holidays

1st January
25th April
Good Friday
1st May
Corpus Christi (Early June)
10th June
15th August
5th October
1st November
1st December
8th December
25th December

It, faro car hire, traditional for each municipality (concelho), to reserve one annual day as a holiday for its commerce. This day, faro car hire, principly used as an excuse for celebration. You will find restaurants open but most shops closed.

When written the Portuguese language has a visual relationship to both Spanish and Italian. When spoken it takes on another character. Although today the language has been influenced by modern means of communication, the educated form can be likened to "Dickensian English" in its style. It, faro car hire, courteous in content and suitable flowery in description. Car hire faro can be understood by the Portuguese but, faro car hire, best avoided. Anybody with knowledge of Portuguese history will be able to understand the reason for this atitude. The inhabitants have a wonderful ability to learn foreign languages and you will find that the English language, faro car hire, normally readily understood. This has been helped by the fact that all foreign films on TV and Cinemas are shown in their original language with subtitles.

Mail Services
The word Correio denotes a Post Office or services. First class mail, faro car hire, denoted by the words "correio azul" and are normally associated with the colour of blue. From Post Offices there, faro car hire, an express service named EMS that also records delivery. These offices are normally open from 08.30 hrs. until 18.30 hrs. from Monday to Friday. In bigger towns they may also will also be open on Saturday.

Money
The local currency, faro car hire, Euros. Money can be changed at Banks, Bureau De Change (cambio) or at one of the currency exchange machines in the streets. These facilities will offer a better rate than in Hotels and Receptions. Banks are open from Monday through to Friday, from 08.30 hrs. to 15.00 hrs. Eurocheques are a cheaper method than Travelers Cheques in obtaining cash. All well-known Credit Cards are usually accepted.

Museums
Although the majority of the museums and art galleries are State owned there are a number of private Foundations and individually owned exhibition places. This fact, faro car hire, particularly evident when wishing to see contemporary art where they tend to reflect the taste of the owner. State Museums charge a small entrance fee that, faro car hire, usually waived on Sundays and Public Holidays. They are open from Tuesday through to Sunday and pensioners receive a 40% discount on the entrance fee. Sometimes there, faro car hire, no charge at all for pensioners on showing your ID. Opening times are normally from 10.00 hours to 17.00 hours, but sometimes closed during lunchtime.

In Lisbon there, faro car hire, an excellent ticket system for tourists provided by Carris kiosks. The holder of this ticket can visit 26 of the main museums in the city and enjoy free public transport during the time period. They are available for one, two, or three days.

Private Art Galleries
Throughout the country there are many galleries exhibiting contemporary art for sale for all tastes and pockets. There, faro car hire, normally no charge to enter these galleries or their exhibitions.

Student Information
Young people between the ages of 12 and 25 may purchase a "Cartão Jovem" costing about Esc.1.100$00. This card offers the bearer special discounts on public travel, travel insurance, and discounts to certain shops and museums. A useful advantage, faro car hire, this card also provides a discount on Youth Hostels within Portugal. Bearers of the International Student Identity Card (ISDC), receive the same advantages as the "Cartão Jovem".

Tax (IVA)
This tax that, faro car hire, the same as VAT, faro car hire, known as IVA in Portugal, and, faro car hire, at present set at 21%. Persons from outside the European Union (EU) and visiting for less than 180 days, can reclaim this tax by requesting a form named "Isenção de IVA". This form, faro car hire, presented to customs when leaving the country.

SAGRES

Sagres - History
This small town is close to the most southerly western point of Europe known as Cape St. Vincent. The legend of the martyr Saint Vincent is that his relics were mysteriously transported by ravens from the Holy Land to the Cape and subsequently guarded by them. In 1173 the ravens reputedly then guarded these relics as they were moved to Lisbon where they remain to this day. Several naval engagements took place off the Cape; Admiral Tourville defeated Sir George Rooke in 1693; Admiral Rodney defeated the Spanish in 1780; Admiral Jervis with Nelson defeated the Spanish fleet in 1797. As Sagres is located on the south side of the Cape its natural protection from the western winds and rough seas lent itself to the building by Prince Henry the Navigator (Dom Afonso Henrique), of a fort in which to house his School devoted to Navigation and Exploration. He is also reputed to have created a small shipbuilding yard in the small natural harbour. From 1419 until 1460 he devoted his time and the revenues of the Order of Christ into this project. Money was spent liberally in building the vessels known as the “Caravela” which was in time to prove a very suitable vessel for exploration. In 1427 Diogo da Silva first discovered the Azores Islands. Until 1434 no sailor was known to have sailed further south than the Cape Bojador on the west side of Africa. In this same year, Gil Eanes from Lagos, conquered the Cape but it was not until 1488 that Bartolomeu Dias succeeded in rounding the Cape of Good Hope. The actual home of the Prince was likely to have been at the nearby Cape St. Vincent close to the ruins of a 16th Century Monastery. Unfortunately, the famous English Admiral Drake recorded in his logbook that his men completely sacked this house in 1597.

Sagres - Description
There is very little left from a historical point of view as the only items left from his original building is the small chapel of Nossa Senhora da Graça and reputably the giant pebble wind compass, Rosa dos Ventos. The present walls surrounding the area are the remains of a 17th Century fort. At the nearby Cape St Vincent is an impressive lighthouse that can normally be visited. This lighthouse has provided the guiding beam that safely directs the hundreds of ships that pass the Cape every year from the inevitable destruction that would otherwise occur. The surrounding cliffs present a very impressive dramatic sight with their towering sheer height and at most times being beaten by the strength of the vast Atlantic Ocean. The local restaurants are renowned for their fish by the variety and freshness and it is common to see the local fishermen wedged in dramatic perches on the cliff face with the thundering sea many scores of feet below. Unfortunately, every year the lives of some of these enthusiastic fishermen are taken, usually by falling. It is interesting to note that area of Sagres enjoys its own mini-climate. There is very little vegetation, the ground being mainly rock with barely any covering soil, but in the area to the north of the town 25 different varieties of wild orchids have been found.

Sagres - Nearby Locations
The nearest town is Vila do Bispo that acts as the administrative centre for the area and also houses a few local fish restaurants. In the 8th Century about one kilometre to the southwest of this town was the seat of a religious Order known as the Igreja de Corvo. Founded by Christians from Valencia seeking refuge from the persecution of the Spanish ruler Abderramão I, all visual traces have been removed in the course of time. However, in the immediate vicinity of their location are “megaliths” and other signs of ancient civilization dating back thousands of years. They were recorded by the Moors as being very rich and providing hospitality to all travelers regardless of their faith.

From Sagres the traveller can either go north or back to the east. Along the south coast just to the east is the superb open beach of Martinhal that is popular with windsurfers. Further east are the small and unspoilt beaches of Ingrina and Zavial, whilst further on is the more developed beach of Salema. Just to the east of Vila do Bispo near the small village of Raposeira is the modest 13th Century Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe, reputed to have been often used by Dom Afonso Henrique in his religious devotion. The beaches immediately to the north of the Cape are more exposed to the winds and rollers of the Atlantic with quite dangerous offshore currents. Further to the north of Vila da Bispo is the open sandy beach of Bordeira. About two-thirds of the journey north to this beach is a turning left to the small village of Pedralva. The village was virtually uninhabitated and shows to the traveller a picture of what the Algarve looked like prior to the invasion of tourism and how life was once very demanding. At present there is a plan to reconstruct the many ruins and turn into a type of tourist cultural attraction.

MONCHIQUE

Monchique - Description
The town of Monchique is with few exceptions happily untouched by the 20th Century invasion of tourism. It lies in the saddle created by the two high hills, Foia and Picota, the former reaching to 902 metres above sea level. As “mountain” people the world over the 10,000 inhabitants of this town have retained the rustic atmosphere with steep cobbled streets and small dark doorways containing various artisan trades. There is a much neglected 17th Century Franciscan monastery overlooking the town from which a visitor has a panoramic view over the beautiful countryside. The 16th Century Parish Church has excellent examples of Manueline craftsmanship around its doorway. The surrounding area flourishes on the production of cattle, pigs, cork and wood. Another important local product is the popular "medronho", the name of a strong schnapps type of drink made from distilling the fruit from arbutus bushes. Foia and its sister mountain of Picota at 774 metres provide dramatic views of the coastal plain to the south and to the western Atlantic coast.

Monchique - Nearby Locations
Between Monchique and the town of 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. There are two further hot spring sites one of which is to the south of Picota hidden in a valley. Its name is Fonte Santa and it is rumoured to have special healing effects. Some people make annual visits and in its history some centuries ago it has been recorded as being visited by both the King of Portugal and the King of Italy. The two nearby villages of Alferce and Casais are both typical unspoilt locations reflecting the spirit of rural mountain life. The village of Marmelete is to the west and located on the road that connects to the many sandy beaches on the western Atlantic coast. The small rural town of Aljezur with its hilltop 12th Century castle and its 14th Century parish church is further west on this same road.