The town of Monchique is some 23km inland from Portimão and sits almost 170m above sea level between the hills known as Fóia (902m) and Picota (774m) forming part of the Serra de Monchique, a range of hills that form a barrier between the Algarve and the neighbouring region of Alentejo. The inland “mountain’ location provides spectacular views to the coastal plain to the south and west both from the town as well as many of the villas that have been built to nestle in the local hillsides. The slight altitude provides a gentle and sometimes welcome relief to the higher summer temperatures experienced in the coastal regions.

The town is very much unspoilt by the ravages of tourism, but is nevertheless a busy town, particularly on the second Friday of each month, when a large market is held where a variety of trades and wares are displayed including furniture, pottery, basket making and the smoked hams for which the area is famous.

The architecture of the town is mainly unremarkable save for the parish church Igreja Matriz which can be found up a steep cobbled street from the main square. Through the Manueline porch from which five carved knots radiate one enters a typically charming Portuguese interior with three naves. It has parquet flooring, a wooden ceiling and glazed tiles lining the bottom of the walls. One of the side chapels is fully tiled in glazed azulejos.

Both on the road up to Monchique and in the town there is no shortage of opportunity to buy locally make baskets or chairs.

The famous wooden chairs that fold like scissors can be seen in houses and hotels almost everywhere are thought to originate from the Romans during their occupation of the region.

Now, however, they are made by José Leonardo Salvador, the “Monchique Chair Man” and his son Paolo who has developed the theme into various designs. Those made by José personally are individually signed by him.


A variety of styles and indeed sizes of chair can be seen in their showroom as well as the various types of table that they have branched out into which they will happily make bespoke if you have a special need.

West of Monchique the road climbs for some 8km to Fóia the highest of the Serra’s peaks. Other than a concrete obelisk and few stalls selling knitwear and souvenirs one remembers little other than the many radio and presumably telephone aerials.

The journey up to the peak of Picota is, however, much more interesting and is even easier to reach without transport. At the top one is rewarded by the full vista of the Serra’s mountain range together with an excellent view of the coastline stretching as far as Sagres.