Page 339 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

midway between Alcoutim
and its Spanish counterpart,
Did You Know? Sanlúcar de Guadiana, King
Fernando I of Portugal signed SHOP
The tipple of choice in the peace of Alcoutim with
the Algarve is a fruit Enrique II of Castile. By the late
brandy called 17th century, when its political Forum Algarve
Aguardente de importance had waned, the True to its name, Forum
Medronhos. town had acquired a new is set around a central
repu tation – for smug gling square with fountains.
tobacco and snuff from Spain. One of the region’s
Alcoutim today is a town of largest shopping
sits beside the 17th-century cobbled streets, small squares centres, it has around
Misericódia church. and a paved promenade along 100 stores, including
The town was also a centre the riverfront. A few cafés and major brands, as well as
for salt production, and the restaurants overlook the river, a large hypermarket.
surrounding salinas are now making them ideal spots from Open late every day.
home to the Reserva Natural which to watch boats floating ! E7 ⌂ EN125, Faro
do Sapal. Extending for 21 sq past. The nearby church ∑ forumalgarve.net
km (8 sq miles) south and originates from the 16th
east of town, this is an area century, but has been rebuilt. Mercado Municipal
of saltpans and marshes Over the porch are the arms of Olhão’s municipal
with a large variety of bird the marquises of Vila Real and market is the best in the
species including flamingos, counts of Alcoutim. The walls region. It is set in two
avocets and black-winged of the 14th-century castle give buildings – one for fresh
stilts, symbol of the reserve. an excellent view over the fish, the other for fruit
Individuals don’t need to small village and its idyllic and vegetables. The
book, but group tours should setting. The castle houses a market closes at 2pm on
book on 281 510 680. small archaeological museum weekdays and 3pm
exhibiting a collec tion of on Saturdays.
artifacts from the Iron Age. ! E7 ⌂ Avenida 5 de
f Alcoutim’s most unique Outubro, Olhão
visitor attraction is an exhil-
¢ Sun
Alcoutim arating cross-border zip line
(p31), set over the river that
! F7 @ n Rua 1° de Maio; divides Spain and Portugal.
281 546 179
The tiny, gem-like, unspoilt
village of Alcoutim lies 15 km
(9 miles) from the bor der with
the Alentejo, and on the natural
border with Spain, the Rio
Guadiana. The drive there
along the N122-2, a rough,
winding road which sometimes
runs alongside the Guadiana,
provides stunning views of the
country side and across the
river to Sanlúcar in Spain.
The size of Alcoutim belies
its history. As a strategic
location and river port, it was
seized on by the Phoenicians,
Greeks, Romans and, of course,
the Moors, who stayed until the
reconquest in 1240. Here, in
1371, on flower-decked boats

Inside the castle housing
the Archaeological
Museum of Alcoutim
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