Ferrugado lies just across the Rio Arade estuary, just across the river from the resort of Portimão. The two places couldn’t be more different, however.
The village is small and traditional; white-washed houses cling to the hillside, a main square, paved with cobble-stones is surrounded by cafes, and just around the corner is a picturesque quay with wonderful views over the Rio Arade. There are more restaurants here, with fish fresh from the sea on the menus.
The village beach, the Praia da Angrinha, is overlooked by the 15th century fort of São João de Arade. Built originally as a look-out tower it was greatly expanded in the 17th and 18th century into a much larger fortification, to protect the mouth of the river. Directly opposite, in Portimão, is the fort of Santa Catalina, which together with Ferrugado’s fort, provided excellent protection from pirates, and later from invading forces, such as the French during the Peninsula War.
Ferrugado lies in the midst of several beautiful beaches, and as well as Praia da Angrinha, the Praia Grande and the Praia do Pintadhino are two more that merit mention. All the beaches are well sign-posted, and many of them have bar restaurants which are delightful places to eat, overlooking the sea which has supplied much of the food which is on offer.
It is well worth the short walk along the coast to the Ponta do Altar, and the lighthouse. There are some stupendous views from here, over to Portimão, of course, but also further inland to the Monchique hills.
Ferrugado is tipped as one of the new hotspots for property on this part of the coast. Much of the town property was once lived in by the fishing community, and these properties come at a premium. The village is so charmingly unspoilt that buying a property in town will be an excellent investment for the future, as prices will almost certainly rise when more property developers move in, and build on the outskirts. For the moment there is a wide choice of luxury villas and apartments which makes Ferrugado just that little bit more up-market than some of its neighbours.
Ferrugado, despite its smallness, is hard to beat for its beauty, its beaches and scenic walks. The calm waters around the estuary are ideal for windsurfing, and there are plenty of tourist activities just across the river in Portimão. The coast here is ideal for boat trips, to view the caves and cliffs, and in particular for dolphin watching, which is a top attraction for families.
