Framed by ochre cliffs and lapped by sheltered Atlantic waters, the town’s 2-kilometre-long beach is one of the most photographed in Europe, largely due to its highly architectural rock formations. The sea has sculpted the soft cliffs along the coast into fantastic shapes in the form of pinnacles, buttresses and caves shimmering with reflected light.
The promenade on Praia da Rocha’s cliff top leads to the Fortaleza de Santa Catarina, built in 1621 to defend Silves and Portimão against opposing fleets.