Loulé is a town 32 km (20 mi) from our apartment in Albufeira. We Uber to the bus station for the 8:40 bus. On our way the Uber driver mentions that Loulé has a Carnival, which he thinks starts today. At the bus station we pay 9€ each for a round trip ticket and in 40 minutes we're there.
Loulé's main attraction on Saturday mornings is the market. From 8 am to 1 pm a farmer's market rings the Arabic-inspired Mercado Municipal de Loulé. We walk the five blocks from the bus station to find the market in full swing. We start outdoors with the fruit, vegetables, cheesemongers and cured meat stands. We pick up a few small things.
Then we move inside to see the fish stalls and butchers. Our first impression is that the market is very clean and doesn't smell. This is particularly notable given the number of fish stalls. Most of the butchers have permanent shops on the perimeter of the market. Wow - I wish this market was in Albufeira. I am tempted to buy, but I just don't want to take raw fish and meat on the bus home. Plus, we want to do some sight-seeing while we're in Loulé.
After the market it's time for a late breakfast. We see signs of the town preparing for Carnival, but learn that it doesn't start until tomorrow and it runs through Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday). On our walk to find a restaurant we pop into Nossa Senhora de Conceicão chapel. It was decorated in the 18th century and includes and huge gold alter and tiles on the walls showing scenes from the Virgin Mary's life. Beautiful.
After the market it's time for a late breakfast. We see signs of the town preparing for Carnival, but learn that it doesn't start until tomorrow and it runs through Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday). On our walk to find a restaurant we pop into Nossa Senhora de Conceicão chapel. It was decorated in the 18th century and includes and huge gold alter and tiles on the walls showing scenes from the Virgin Mary's life. Beautiful.
A few blocks away we find a cute restaurant tucked into a small courtyard. The tables in the small interior are full but we find an open table in the courtyard which is pleasant on a cool day with blue skies and sunshine. The good food and coffee give us energy to see more of the town.
We walk around Castelo de Loulé including the towers and it's small museum in the basement. As we walk around the exterior of the walls we find a couple of nice fountains and a shop with a real coppersmith working on a bowl. Interesting!
We meander through the narrow streets to find the Church of Saint Francisco, which dates back to the 16th century after the end of the Black Plague. Unfortunately it is not open. Ok - we'll just head towards the main church, Igreja Matriz.
We meander through the narrow streets to find the Church of Saint Francisco, which dates back to the 16th century after the end of the Black Plague. Unfortunately it is not open. Ok - we'll just head towards the main church, Igreja Matriz.
Near Igreja Matriz we find an old building with an unique chimney, a plaque on a nearby wall identifies it as the Tracery Chimney. Around the corner we find Amuados Garden, which was started in the 1880's. Some of our fellow visitors are taking time to picnic in the park.
Igreja Matriz is opposite the Amuados Gardens. It is a 13th-century gothic church which was converted from a mosque and the bell tower used to be the minaret.
Narrow lanes take us back toward the Mercado. We stop to enjoy the sun and have a beverage in front of Torre do Relógio. This bell tower was built on top of the town walls.
We catch the 3:15 bus back to Albufeira, happy that we spent the day getting to know a little bit about Loulé.
Igreja Matriz is opposite the Amuados Gardens. It is a 13th-century gothic church which was converted from a mosque and the bell tower used to be the minaret.
Narrow lanes take us back toward the Mercado. We stop to enjoy the sun and have a beverage in front of Torre do Relógio. This bell tower was built on top of the town walls.
We catch the 3:15 bus back to Albufeira, happy that we spent the day getting to know a little bit about Loulé.
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