Armação de Pêra to the Potteries of Porches

Tracy Burton

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This circular walk starts at the western end of Armação de Pêra’s promenade before heading across wonderful open countryside to reach the charming whitewashed village of Porches, with its wonderful potteries and handicraft stores.

The route enjoys a variety of landscapes as it leaves the coast to venture into the Algarve countryside and back again, strolling along footpaths, sandy tracks and peaceful roads.

Approach Porches on a historic tiled road (Rua da Chaminé), passing some of the most elaborate Algarvian chimneys for which the village is renowned. The street itself is named after a large and ornate chimney dating from 1793.

The main church, Igreja Matriz de Porches, was rebuilt in the neoclassical style in the late nineteenth century on the site of the original Manueline temple. Patrick Swift, the founder of Porches Pottery, is buried in the cemetery opposite the church.

Leave Porches for the highlight of the route: five quite different potteries, some offering an opportunity to see highly skilled ceramic artists at work, others displaying a wide range of handicrafts from the region (see separate PDF file for more information).

When you have had your fill of ceramics and pots, join the Ecovia do Litoral long-distance cycle and walking route for a leisurely return to the coast. As you pass through Porches Velho, enjoy the aroma of the towering pines and keep your eyes peeled for the large cork oak-trees with their distinctive stripped trunks.

Eventually emerge into an urban landscape and for a while head east towards Armação de Pêra along wide roads.

This route finishes in spectacular fashion as it passes between the beautifully landscaped five-star resorts of Vila Vita Parc and Vilalara to rejoin the coast path for the final stretch into Armação.

Portugal - South Portugal - Central Algarve - Lagoa

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Church, Flowers, Food Shop, Great Views, Public Transport, Restaurant, Sea, Toilets, Woodland
3/6/2024 - Ian Runcie

Very varied walk. Mainly countryside demonstrating some of the use thereof, including the use of the clay and sandstone for pottery. Lots of flowers to be identified. Also a walk along the coast to finish off with. Gave it a 4 though because of the unavoidable walk along and crossing of a busy road.

3/6/2024 - Ian Runcie

Got lost at 5. Lots off earthen banks and left turns around. I suggest 'with an earthen bank on your left and cultivated land on your right turn left'.