At first sight the fishing port of Olhão could be mistaken for a Moroccan village, with its white houses and terraced roofs.
The village was first mentioned in the 14th century but it would take another 500 years for the town to become the largest fishing port in the Algarve.The port is still very active today, with fishing boats, warehouses and the industrialisation that goes with the fishing trade. But there is another side to Olhão just around the corner from the busy dock. The town has a pleasant waterfront with a long, attractively paved promenade with central gardens providing much needed shade.
On the waterfront are two indoor markets which are very popular with both locals and tourists. The halls are noisy, crowded and cheerful, but not to be missed. They sell fish and seafood straight from the port, which is only a few metres away, and a vast selction of locally grown fruit and vegetables.
There are numerous pavement cafes close by and this is a great spot for relaxing with a drink, whilst watching the boats coming in and out of the harbour, and local people meeting and greeting.
From the waterfront, pedestrianised streets wind up into the old town, and the Praca da Restauração. The road up to the centre is lined with stylish old houses with wrought-iron balconies and ornate tiling, a delightful contrast to the busy port down on the waterfront.
The 17th century church of Nossa Senhora do Rosàno can be found in the Praca da Restauração. It was the first building in Olhão to be constructed using stone, and is built in the traditional baroque style of the period. The bell tower is usually open to the public and from the top there are some great views over Olhâo.
The town centre is a maze of quaint cobbled streets with a wide variety of small shops, cafes and restaurants. This is an extremely attractive area and seems to be light years away from the hustle and bustle of the port.
Although Olhâo has a great promenade, the town doesn’t have a beach suitable for holidaymakers, as it is part of the Ria Fomosa lagoon, but there are plenty of ferries and water taxis for hire on the quay at the eastern end of the markets, which transport visitors out to the superb beaches of Armona, Culatra and Farol, just three of the many small ilhas which are scattered around the lagoon.
Ilha da Amona is the closest island to Olhão, and has a large sandy beach, a few restaurants and some holiday chalets.
Ilha da Culatra is an excellent island for underwater explorers. The crystal-clear waters which surround it are full of marine life and it’s the perfect location for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Just one kilometer east of Olhão is the Quinta de Marim, a protected wildlife area with a wide variety of endangered flora and fauna. There are also the remains of a Roman salt plant and a medieval tidal mill. The Chalé de Marim, built in 1916 by the Olhão poet and musician João Lúcio, can be seen here too. It is a much photographed house charmingly situated in pinewoods at the edge of the sea.
Due to Olhâo’s closeness to Faro, tourism is coming to the town in a big way. Some of the older town property has undergone major restoration, and new apartments are being built. For rental investment location is everything, and away from the fishing port there are some excellent opportunities to purchase property in town or on the developments which are situated a little further out of town.