Monchique

Monchique nestles in the wooded hills above the coast with wonderful views to the sea. The town is popular for those who want to escape the heat and fast pace of the coast. Also, Monchique is known for its wooden handicrafts, particularly folding chairs reminiscent of Roman times. Six kilometers before Monchique, turn into Caldas de Monchique, a tiny spa town in a wooded valley, whose tree-shaded main square has a handicraft center and a restaurant. Monchique itself has a decidedly plain look to it, but press on and follow signs for the Igleja (church), which brings you into the old part of town with its narrow cobbled streets, cafés, and the Igreja Matriz, whose doorway is embellished with intricate knotted columns that end in unusual spikes. A walk up to the ruined monastery gives a good view of the roofs of the town but to get an excellent view of the ocean, follow signs for Fóia, a 5-kilometer drive around the mountain that ends in a viewpoint/picnic area with fabulous 180-degree views of the distant coast.