The picture-postcard village of Porches lies just off the EN125 main road, midway between Alcantarilha and Lagoa. The area is noted for its classic white regional-style houses punctuated with striking decorated chimneys. Life in Porches revolves around the local pottery industry, in which many of the local population are employed.
The Porches Pottery Factory was founded in 1968 to revive a local craft and preserve ancient Iberian and Moorish patterns. Each piece is hand-glazed and painted in a free-flowing style in blue, green and turquoise. The town’s parish church has replaced an older 16th century church from which the chancel still remains.
The nearby town of Lagoa (5 km to the west) is the centre of the Algarve’s winemaking industry. Tours of the vineyards can be arranged through the local tourist office. Lost in time, the sleepy village of Alcantarilha to the east of Porches is famous for its bone chapel located by the side of the parish church. The entire interior is made up of the remains of some 1,500 parishioners.
A short drive to the south Armação de Pêra. Not very long ago this town was nothing more than a collection of small shacks where the local residents from the nearby town of Pêra used to maintain their fishing boats. It is quite probable that the name "Armação" is a link with the distant past of the great Tuna fishing industry that existed along the Algarve from the 15th Century and before. This later fell under the protection of a small 18th Century fort that still remains in part to this day.
The nearby rural village of Pêra remains as a reminder of the un-spoilt typical sleepy Algarve. Boasting one of the finest longest sandy beaches in the Algarve this is a popular location for tourists.
On the beach close to the eastern side of the town are a number of fish restaurants that pride themselves on their fresh fish. Happily, the major area behind this beach is now a zone protected against development of any kind. The spread of building from Armação de Pêra has been mainly to the west with the creation of several holiday apartment complexes above the very charming beaches of Senhora da Rocha.
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