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 Olhão Accommodation
Olhão Holiday Apartments
Olhão Holiday Rental Agents
Olhão Hotels
Olhão Hotels & Spa
Olhão Inns
Olhão Entertainment
Olhão - Night Life
Olhão - Restaurants
Olhão - What to Do
Olhão Golf
www.algarvegolf.net
Olhão Wines
Algarve Wines
Olhão - History
The town of Olhão is essentially and historically linked to
the local fishing industry and only grew into existence as a
significant location in the 17th Century. It has about 30,000
inhabitants and was raised to the status of a town as a result of
their actions in 1808. On the 16th of June they revolted
against the French occupying army. Then 17 local fishermen
successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean without charts in their
small fishing boat “Bom Sucesso”. The vessel was 18 metres
in length and had two sails and the journey took two and half
months. Their successful purpose was to announce to the exiled
Prince Regent, Dom Pedro, that the French invading armies
had been defeated in the Algarve and had retreated northwards
leaving the Algarve free for their him to return to Portugal.
After his return in November of the same year the village was
raised to the status of a town in reward for the valiant trip
taken by the fishermen. It was in this town in 1882 that the first
canning factory for tuna and sardines was established. Very soon
canning factories spread along the coast and it was to become the
leading industry for many years in the Algarve. (Visit - Portugal History)
Olhão - Description
The town lies on the coast reasonably close to Faro and at the end
of the Ria Formosa Nature Reserve. Architecturally the town is
well known for an older quarter where the flat terraced roofs and
straight box-shaped chimneys show a definite Moorish flavour
in their style. Another important curiosity to the visitor is the
fish market held every day in a long building on the waterfront.
Each morning there is a lively atmosphere and the impressively large
variety of fish offered by the local catch is displayed to tempt the
local housewife.
Olhão - Nearby Locations
Travelling east from Olhão is the small sea village of
Fuseta with the ruined remains of a what was once a castle
and some older similar architectural style houses. To the north in
the countryside is the small village of Moncarapacho with a
16th Century Church with a local museum next door. On the nearby
hill named Cerro da Cabeça there is a popular grotto named
after the village. From the town of Olhão there is a boat
ferry service that takes visitors to the nearby very small islands
of Ilha da Culatra and Ilha da Armona. With their
un-spoilt sandy beaches and virtual lack of construction these
islands act as a pleasant contrast to the noise and bustle of the
main coast.
Olhão Photos
Church
· Town Hall
· Local Shop
· Street
· Town Boat Marina
· Estuary
· Aerial View
· Nearby Island
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Olhão Events |
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| Town Holiday |
16th June |
| Festival do Marisco (Shellfish) |
August |
| Feira da Laranja |
3rd Saturday & Sunday of August |
| Market Day |
3rd Monday every month |
| Flea Market - (Fuzeta) |
28th of every month
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Algarve Towns
Albufeira
· Almancil
· Alvor
· Armação de Pera
· Carvoeiro
· Faro
· Lagoa
· Lagos
· Loulé
· Monchique
· Portimão
· Quarteira
· Quinta do Lago
· Sagres
· Silves
· Tavira
· Vale do Lobo
· Vilamoura
· Vila Real de Santo António
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Olhão Telephone Numbers
8700
