Things to do in Sao Bras, Algarve

Areas of interest in and around Sao Bras

• Fonte Férrea: The Fonte Férrea picnic area is to the north of the town. The scenery is beautiful and the cool spring water pools are perfect for cooling off in on a hot day!
  
   

• Former home of painter 'José Nobre': Next door to the church is the former home of painter 'José Nobre', which is now open to the public:
  
   

• Visit Faro and take a wander around the 'Cidade Velha' (the old walled city) to see Faro Cathedral and the Episcopal Palace.
  
  

Churches in the Sao Bras area

• São Brás de Alportel church: The views of the countryside are also lovely from here. There was probably a Church on this site during the 15th century, but the current Church was rebuilt after the earthquake and extended again in the 19th century. 
  
  

• The Chapel of São José  in Alportel :

• The Chapel of São Sebastião in Rua Luiz Bívar was originally built at the end of the 17th century, but during the 19th century it was demolished and rebuilt a little distance away due to changes in the layout of the village.

• Igreja de São Romão  - built at the end of the 16th / beginning of 17th century.

• Main church in Estoi
  
  
  Originally built in the 16th century, but re-built during the 18th/19th centuries it sits in the centre of Estoi.
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• Small church in Estoi - Nossa Senhora do Pé da Cruz
  
   17th century

Galleries and Museums in Sao Bras

• Galeria Municipal , Av. da Liberdade (next to the cinema).
  Opening hours (Monday to Friday): 10.00h to13.00h and 15.00h to18.00h.

• Gallery and Costume Museum (Museu do Trajo do Algarve), Rua Dr. José Dias Sancho.
  Opening hours Monday to Friday: 10.00h to13.00h and 14.00h to17.00h
  Saturday, Sunday and holidays: 14.00 to17.00h
  
  

• Centro Museológico do Alportel (next to the Church in Alportel, just north of São Brás.  
  Opening hours Tuesday to Sunday: 14.00h to17.00h (during the winter) and 14.00h to18.00h (during the summer).
   

Historical remains in the Sao Bras area

• The Roman ruins at Milreu, near Estoi: The remains of a large villa from the 3rd century. There are the ruins of a 16th century house that was built on the Roman remains.
  
   

• Estoi Palace: Built in neo-baroque and neo-rococo style in the early 19th century by a distinguished family of the Algarvean nobility. Much of the exterior is covered in decorative, floral tiling and at the entrance to the palace there is a small temple containing a waterfall and a statue of the Three Graces on a shell, a copy of the work by the Italian sculptor Antonio Canova (1757-1822). Unfortunately Estoi Palace is not currently open to the public as a pousada hotel is being built in the grounds, but the fantastic outside entrance gate can still be admired. It is to be found at the end of the square in the centre of Estoi near the main church.
  
  

Leisure activities in the Sao Bras area

• Golf: 'Vila Sol', 'Quinta do Lago', 'Vale do Lobo' and 'San Lourenzo' are the closest courses.

• Almancil Karting:  A leisure and competition karting complex. The circuit is a replica of the Jacarepagua Formula 1 circuit in Brazil.
  Tel: 289 399 899 

• Aqualand (The Big One):  Water park near Alcantarilha. Open from 26th May to 12th September (2008) 10.00h to 18.00h.  

• Atlantic Park (Parque Atlantico): Quatro Estradas, Quarteira - has slides, water rides, pools, gardens and daily variety show. Tel: 289 397 282    

• Aquashow water park on EN396. Tel: 289 389 390    

• Zoomarine at Guia (10km from Albufeira): It's open all year round and is a great day out for the family with dolphin and sealion shows, birds of prey demonstrations and tropical birds show. It's both educational and fun. There are places to eat and drink, and also some fun rides like the pirate ship and water flume and pools to cool off in!
  Opening hours are 10.00h to 17.00h in the winter (closed Mondays in January and February); 10.00h to 18.00h mid March to end of June and 10.00h to 19.30h during the summer.
  
   

• Canil da Ria Formosa: Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, Quinta de Marim, Olhão (to see Portuguese water dogs)
  10.00 to 4.30pm during the week, 10.00 to 2.30pm weekends

• Nature Tour in Ria Formosa from Porta Nova's Pier in Faro. Tel: 289 806 840