Activities in the Alcoutim area
- Visit Alcoutim by boat journeying up the Rio Guadiana. It is one of the best ways to see the beautiful scenery of Alcoutim and the surrounding area. The following companies organise boat trips along the Guadiana:
'Riosul' tel: (+351) 281 510 201
'Transguadiana' tel: (+351) 281 512 997
'Turismar'. tel: (+351) 281 513 504.
- Visit ' Cova dos Mouros Mine': A transformed mining site with historic replicas, traditional mining theme and reconstructions, natural pools to dip in and donkey rides. Opening hours (winter) 10.30 to 16.30 and 10.30 to 18.30 (summer). Closed Mondays and from mid December to mid January.
- Bird watching: Between Martinlongo and Alcoutim is ideal countryside. You can look out for Stone-curlews and Montagu's Harriers and in the winter - Golden plovers and Lapwings. At night it is a hunting zone for Eagle Owls.
- Golf: The nearest golf course is Castro Marim.
Areas of interest in and around Alcoutim
Castelo de Alcoutim and Núcleo Museológico de Arqueologia:
Alcoutim's Castle has an Archaeological Museum inside showing artefacts of its heritage. The castle is just a short uphill walk between the houses and overlooks the town and river frontage, giving a wonderful view of both.
Castelo de Alcoutim and Núcleo Museológico de Arqueologia are open every day from between 9.30am and 5.30pm and entrance only costs €2.50 (2007). Children under 14 years get in free.
- Bird watching - between Martinlongo and Alcoutim is ideal countryside. You can look out for Stone-curlews and Montagu's Harriers and in the winter - Golden plovers and lapwings. At night it is a hunting zone for Eagle Owls.
If the only thing you want to do is relax - the countryside around Alcoutim is lovely and there are lots of places to stop for refreshments! Alternatively take a picnic and swimsuit as there are lots of places to take a dip in one of the rivers.
- Ribeira da Foupana - there is a picnic site beside the stream on the stretch between Alcaria and Alcaria Queimada.
- Bentos -on the Odeleite ribeira, south of Vaqueiros
- Barrada - just south of Martinlongo in the ribeira da Foupana
Churches in the Alcoutim area
- Alcoutim: The church on the river front is lovely inside...originally built in the 16th century, but since rebuilt on a number of occasions.
- Pereiro: The Mother Church of São Marcos from the 16th century
- Martinlongo: The Church has Moorish origins (the minaret is now the bell tower). There are also the hermitages of the Espírito Santo and São Sebastião, dating from the 16th century and the hermitage of Santa Justa from the end of the Middle Ages.
- Vaqueiros: A small Church originating in the 16th century
Local Crafts in the Alcoutim area
If your interest is in local crafts then the Odiana association (set up to promote the eastern end of the Algarve) suggests several places to visit between Alcoutim and Martinlongo:
- Basket making from canes collected from the local stream and soaked and softened for use can be seen in Balurcos - if the local expert is working he's normally sitting outside his house!
- Saddlemakers in Pereiro craft the traditional coloured collars and strapping pieces for mules and horses using straw, coarse linen and woollen threads.
- Dried flowers, painstakingly made from dried corn leaves, by a lady in Lutão de Baixo (near to Martinlongo) and another lady in Santa Justa can be bought singly or as an arrangement if you fancy a souvenir with a difference.
- See linen being woven on a traditional loom - that's after the linen has been grown, harvested, soaked and spun all in the traditional way -in Penteadeiros (between Lutão de Baixo and Santa Justa on the way to Martinlongo).
- To see Jute dolls being made, visit Flôr da Agulha, Artesanato in Martinlongo. They are handmade by a small team of local ladies. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9.00 to 12.00 and 13.30 to 17.00.
- Watch pottery being made in the traditional way and even have a go yourself at The Martinlongo Pottery. (open Monday to Friday)
Historical remains in the Alcoutim area
Alcoutim and it's surrounding area has fascinating evidence of it's history going back as far as 4,000BC.
Castelo de Alcoutim:
Alcoutim's Castle has an Archaeological Museum (Núcleo Museológico de Arqueologia) inside showing artefacts of its heritage. The castle is just a short uphill walk between the houses and overlooks the town and river frontage, giving a wonderful view of both.
Castelo de Alcoutim and Núcleo Museológico de Arqueologia are open every day from between 9.30am and 5.30pm and entrance only costs €2.50 (2007). Children under 14 years get in free.
- The Lavajo Menhir - to be found on a hilltop near the village of Afonso Vicente - showing human presence around 4,000BC.
- Castelo de Santa Justa - remains of a settlement from around 2,500 BC when mining brought people to the area. There are some remains of the mines - the last ones were working into the beginning of the 20th century.
- Roman villa remains at Montinho das Laranjeiras.
Museums in the Alcoutim area
Núcleo Museológico de Arqueologia:
Alcoutim's Castle has an Archaeological Museum inside showing artefacts of its heritage. The castle is just a short uphill walk between the houses and overlooks the town and river frontage, giving a wonderful view of both.
Castelo de Alcoutim and Núcleo Museológico de Arqueologia are open every day from between 9.30am and 5.30pm and entrance only costs €2.50 (2007). Children under 14 years get in free.
- Museu do Rio (The River Museum) in the old primary school in Guerreiros do Rio.
Opening hours 10.00 to 12.30 and 14.00 to 17.00. Closed Sunday, Monday and holidays
- Núcleo Museológico de Arte Sacra (Museum of Sacred Art) in the hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Alcoutim. The museum presents the evolution of Sacred Art from the 16th to 19th century in various churches of the municipality of Alcoutim.
Opening hours: 10.00 to 17.00. Closed Mondays.
- Núcleo Museológico de Barrada (Martinlongo): The museum brings together information about the structure of Alcoutim.
Opening hours: 9.00 to 12.30 and 14.00 to 17.30. closed Mondays
- Núcleo Museológico de Giões (Farelos): The museum shows the history of weaving in the municipality.
Opening hours: 9.00 to 12.30 and 14.00 to 17.30. closed Mondays
- Núcleo Museológico de Santa Justa (near Martinlongo): A classroom from the years 1950/1960.
Opening hours: 9.00 to 12.30 and 14.00 to 17.30. closed Mondays
- Núcleo Museológico de Vaqueiros: The museum shows what country life was like.
Opening hours: 9.00 to 12.30 and 14.00 to 17.30. closed Mondays
- Núcleo Museológico do Pereiro: 'The construction of memory'
Opening hours: 9.00 to 12.30 and 14.00 to 17.30. closed Mondays