Alcantarilha

Perched on a small hill just 3 kilometres inland from the beach resort of Armação de Pêra is the very pretty little town of Alcantarilha. Of Moorish origin the town was first named Al-Qântara, meaning bridge, it was later changed to Alcantarilha, an abbreviation for 'Little Bridge'. Stones for the bridge came from the battlements that were built in the 16th century as a protection against pirate attacks. Until fairly recently their remnants could be seen, but now they have been reduced to rubble. There are three important church buildings, Misericordia (Mercy) Church, Our Lady of Carmo Chapel and the Parish Church, Our Lady “da Conceição” (16th Century) is famous for its rare 'Capela dos Ossos' (Chapel of Bones) a grim display of human skulls and bones sealed into the walls of the chapel. Nearby, until the second half of 2002 was a rare opportunity to view the past, in the present. Housed in a small dark green building near the church was the “barbeiros” (barber), who managed, like his few remaining contemporaries in other towns, to resolutely continue his trade against what must have been a declining market. To view the interior was to see history being made and perhaps an almost certainty that there was nobody to take his place when he put his cut-throat razor down for the last time. Just maybe, it was the lure of re-development! Another place of interest, close to the N125 is the old Quinta do Rogel farm, a classified historical building complex that has now been restored as a small hotel and conference centre known as the Hotel Capela das Artes (www.capeladasartes.com). Although farming continues to be the main source of income for the town an overspill of visitors from the coast during the summer months bring in a welcome supplement. For this reason over the past few years there has been an increase in Pastelarias and small restaurants. Alcantarilha was awarded official town status in 1999 and presently has approximately 3,000 inhabitants. ALCANTARILHA GARE A few kilometres inland from Alcantarilha is this small village with a shop and two or three bars. The reason for its importance is the Railway Station with links to Faro and Lisbon (via Tunes). In the opposite direction towards Lagos the line follows the coast providing a very pretty journey of about an hour and costing very little, the timetable has yet to be mastered but in true Portuguese style 'There will be one along in a minute'

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