Nature and environment
Located in the Monchique mountains, in the Algarve, Southern Portugal, the Vale da Carrasqueira leaves far behind the stress of town. In the heart of the algarvien nature you will find moments of pure delight and blessed rest.
Monchique mountains spreads over an area of approximately 380kms², being one of the five mountain or hill’s chain of the Algarve region.
All together they form a geographic belt-like which avoid cold northern winds, providing a sub-tropical climate, resulting in soft Winters and temperate Summers.
Holding a rich and diversified vegetation, Monchique Serra is known as" the lung of the Algarve". In these rich soil grows forest and fruit trees every where. Water springs are a other treasure of the mountain. Caldas spa is dated from the Roman civilization.
The microclimate of the region as produced specific variety who have been absorbed by the local culture, "medronho" is one of them. The "medronheiro" is a bush, at the same time a small tree, with lovely red fruits looking like a strawberry from which is distillate a strong schnapps so call medronho. Monchique is The place of this typical drink.
The peak of Foia, in Monchique Sierra, is the highest point of the Algarve - 902m - know also as a strategic point for overlooking - in a distance of 30km - as it was used in the XVI century to watch over the coast line. In clear days the view from up there is simply breathtaking!
At the north side of Monchique stretches the wide flat open region of Alentejo, from where comes some of the national best wine. At the south, are the famous Algarvian beaches, full of touristical animation and live entertainment.
At the west, is a more rustic lifestyle, the area is a preserved National Natural Park of S. Vicente, where the seaside is wild, with the best sunsets. A visit to Sagres, the extreme south-western point of Europe, will, most probably, inspire you as it did to those who crossed the unknown ocean to reach new worlds. Finely at east, you will find Faro, the largest town and capital of Algarve.
