Praia Da Rocha Algarve Portugal

Comfortably situated at the mouth of the Arade estuary, Praia da Rocha is the Algarve’s best known and longest established resort. Its creamy yellow sands and warm crystalline waters have provided year-round tourist appeal since the 1930s.
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.

The town itself is a vibrant holiday resort with numerous bars, restaurants, night-clubs, souvenir shops, hotels and apartments. There’s also a first-class casino located right on the beach.
Nearby, set on the estuary of the River Arade, just 3 km north of Praia da Rocha, the fishing port of Portimão is blessed with a relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere and a rich selection of fish and seafood restaurants. A short drive west lies the picturesque village of Alvor, where the discovery of a Neolithic settlement with vestiges of a subsequent Roman occupation is evidence of the town’s historic past.

Locality:

Praia da Rocha is situated on Portugal’s south coast ( 1 ml S of Portimao, 15 mls W of Albufeira, 190 mls S of Lisbon, 40 mls W of Faro and its international airport). It can be found on a clifftop overlooking famous rock formations on the beach and in the ocean. Hilly area’s can be found to the north of the resort.
There are golf courses in the vicinity;
Palmares – This is a course of great beauty, perfectly blending beach and mountain scenery.
Penina – The first golf course to be built In the Algarve, Penina is considered the masterpiece of Sir Henry Cotton.

Morgado do Reguengo – This course is the newest course to open in the Algarve. Laid out in a large 980 hectare estate through undulating small .

Alto Golf – Alto Golf runs through two valleys, and was the last to be designed by Sir Henry Cotton.
Portimão is one of the main big game centres in the Algarve, offering the chance to catch fighting swordfish and other big fish. there are also facilities for sailing, hind-surfing, para-sailing water-skiing and scuba diving The golf course set among the pines of Penina is internationally renowned. With courses at Alvor and Vau too, keen golfers arc spoilt for choice.

Mexilhoeira Grande – This is an old village, traditionally sustained by agriculture and by the resources of the Ria de Alvor. The main church is in the Renaissance style (16th century) but has two side doors that are Manueline. The main doorway is extremely solemn, with a triangular pediment. The interior consists of three naves, held up by columns with ornate bases and capitals. The triumphal arch is decorated with motifs from the world of nature and a coat of arms. There is a panel depicting the Assumption on the high altar. The Capela do Santíssimo (Chapel of the Most Holy), boasts a high relief showing the figure of tire Eternal Father and a low relief of St. Peter and St. Paul. There is a collection of statues and objects used in religious ceremonies.