High Quality Farmhouse offering Algarve Bed and Breakfast

The local area:

25 minutes drive from Faro Airport, Cerro das Covas is a hamlet on the outskirts of the small village of Tor in the hills behind the historic market town of Loule.

Quinta Familia sits alone atop the hill of Cerro das Covas overlooking surrounding hills and valley, in a landscape typical of rural southern Portugal full of Olive, Almond, Lemon and Carob trees.  The countryside is teaming with birds, including eagles and owls, rabbits and the occasional herd of goats being rounded up by the local goatherd and moved to new pastures.  5 minutes walk down the hill is the local Café/Bar where you can buy a beer with the regulars and sit outside in the sunshine watching the everyday business in the sleepy hamlet.

The village of Tor is 15 minutes walk away offering a Post Office, a Grocer and a 19th Century Church all set within its steep streets bordered by whitewashed, flower draped Portuguese houses.  At the bottom of the hill just outside the village there is a river, low during summer months and fast flowing during the winter.

The small city of Loule, 10 minute drive away,  a place mixing history and modernity side by side overlooked by the space-age church on the hill to the west of the city .  The picturesque, tree lined Avenida runs through the centre of the town to San Francisco square, both areas have open air cafes ideal for a lunchtime snack or an evening stroll.  The historic town centre is dotted with sculptures and fountains where you can spend hours viewing the remaining walls of the medieval castle and the Archeology Museum next door, visiting the Espirito Santo monastery,  the Municipal Art Gallery or roaming the narrow cobbled alleys where the tile makers, metal workers and seamstresses carry on age-old craft traditions.  The town centre is full of boutiques for shopping plus a popular daily fruit, vegetable and fresh fish market and a weekly general market, for shopping for gifts, or just the fun of a visit.

Restaurants:

There are plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants in the area catering for lunches and evening meals, prices ranging from (avg) of 5 – 25 euros a head.  Food in the Algarve is simple, lamb, beef, pork or seafood often grilled over charcoal with dressing and salads.  Beer is local and inexpensive, served ice cold.  A wide variety of wine is available, inexpensive and delicious, many from the Alentejo region in the centre of the country.

Local days out:

Quinta Familia is central for many local attractions if you want to explore….

Beaches - There are numerous long, sandy beaches within a 25 minute drive from Quinta Familia.  Miles and miles of beautiful coastline, some beaches are havens of peace while others have beach cafes and bars, some selling jewellery and beachwear, offering beach sports to keep you occupied.