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Carvoeiro is a town and a former
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...
in the municipality (''concelho
Concelho () is the Portuguese-language term for municipality, referring to the territorial subdivision in local government. In comparison, the word ''município'' () refers to the organs of State. This differentiation is still in use in Portugal ...
'') of Lagoa, Algarve
Lagoa () is a city and municipality in the district of Faro, in the Portuguese region of Algarve. The population of the municipality in 2011 was 22,975, in an area of 88.25 km2. Its urban population, in the city of Lagoa proper, is 6,100 in ...
, Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the new civil parish Lagoa e Carvoeiro
Lagoa e Carvoeiro is a civil parish in the municipality of Lagoa, Portugal. It was formed in 2013 by the merger of the former civil parishes of Lagoa and Carvoeiro (Lagoa), Carvoeiro. The population in 2011 was 9,987,Estombar-Lagoa.
There are two beaches at Carvoeiro, including Carvoeiro Beach (Praia de Carvoeiro) and Paradise Beach (Praia do Paraíso).
Formed from a picturesque fishing village, with a long history of settlement, the parish slowly developed into a tourist area in the municipality of Lagoa, owing to its number of sand beaches protected by cliffs. There are vestiges of human settlement dating to the Roman occupation of the peninsula, as well as early naval activity in the area.
The region was historically unspared from frequent pirate and military assaults along the coast, with a number of naval battles occurring off the coast. Most notably, in 1544, a squadron of ships under D. Pedro da Cunha, battled the Turkish barbary coast pirate, Xarramet. From historical records, the earliest settlement originated in the name Caboiere, an old name for a hamlet of fishermen from the Islamic-medieval period. For most of its history, fishing was the mainstay of the local economy.
However, from the 1960s onward, tourism gradually became the economic base of the area, with many new hotels, apartment complexes, shops, roads, and significant improvements to infrastructures completed to attract visitors to the metropole. An insight into the effects of mass tourism on the Algarve, centred on Carvoeiro, was written by
History
Formed from a picturesque fishing village, with a long history of settlement, the parish slowly developed into a tourist area in the municipality of Lagoa, owing to its number of sand beaches protected by cliffs. There are vestiges of human settlement dating to the Roman occupation of the peninsula, as well as early naval activity in the area.
The region was historically unspared from frequent pirate and military assaults along the coast, with a number of naval battles occurring off the coast. Most notably, in 1544, a squadron of ships under D. Pedro da Cunha, battled the Turkish barbary coast pirate, Xarramet. From historical records, the earliest settlement originated in the name Caboiere, an old name for a hamlet of fishermen from the Islamic-medieval period. For most of its history, fishing was the mainstay of the local economy.
However, from the 1960s onward, tourism gradually became the economic base of the area, with many new hotels, apartment complexes, shops, roads, and significant improvements to infrastructures completed to attract visitors to the metropole. An insight into the effects of mass tourism on the Algarve, centred on Carvoeiro, was written by Patrick Swift
Patrick Swift (1927–1983) was an Irish painter who worked in Dublin, London and the Algarve, Portugal.
Overview
In Dublin he formed part of the Envoy, A Review of Literature and Art, Envoy arts review / McDaid's pub circle of artistic and l ...
, detailing the community before the arrival of mass tourism. Swift was an artist and long-time resident of Carvoeiro who founded Porches Pottery.
Carvoeiro became a separate/independent parish in 1985 and raised to the status of town on 19 April 2001.
Geography
Algar Seco, a few hundred meters along the coast east of the main square and beach, is a popular nature site where ocean wave erosion has carved out grottoes, islets and water-spouts. It is also renowned in the vicinity for prime marine life spotting. In 2011, a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) was sighted off the coastline by local fishermen, but more commonly, bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) are seen in pods of up to 12.Architecture
To the west of the town is the site of an old ruined fort, ordered built in 1670 as part of the coastal defenses of the Algarve. Only a gate survives. At the same site is the Shrine of Our Lady of the Incarnation, a chapel overlooking the sea, whose construction is said to have antedated the fort.Civic
* Lighthouse of Alfanzina (), comprising a main rectangular central block, connected by hall and lateral wings (used as residences/living quarters) and central circular tower with spiral staircase, with azulejo tile covering the interior. The design is comparable to the oldlighthouse of Ponta dos Capelinhos
The Lighthouse of Ponta dos Capelinhos (), or alternately ''Lighthouse of Capelinhos'' (), is a former beacon/lighthouse located along the coastal peninsula of Ponta dos Capelinhos and Costa Nau, in the Freguesia (Portugal), civil parish of Capelo ...
and Ribeirinha (on the island of Faial in the Azores
The Azores ( , , ; , ), officially the Autonomous Region of the Azores (), is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal (along with Madeira). It is an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the Macaronesia region of the North Atl ...
) or the lighthouse of Cabo Sardão.
Military
* Fort of Our Lady of the Incarnation (), little remains of the fortress, but the eastern wall, where the hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Encarnação and the older buildings of the Fiscal Guard. The fort was constructed in 1670 under the direction of Governor of Algarve, D. Nuno de Mendonça, Count of Val dos Reis, but began to serve as a fiscal outpost after 1870, before becoming a cultural attraction in the middle of the 20th century.Transport
Carvoeiro lacks direct access to train services, the nearest train station is the Estombar-Lagoa station, which is approximately 8 km away. From there, regional train services connect toLisbon
Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...
, Porto
Porto (), also known in English language, English as Oporto, is the List of cities in Portugal, second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the capital of the Porto District and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto c ...
, and Faro. Local buses are available in Carvoeiro, but the network may not sufficiently cover all the popular tourist sites. Public transport is an affordable option for travellers on a budget. Tourists can also rent a car or use taxi services in Carvoeiro and the surrounding Algarve area.
Beaches
Carvoeiro Beach
Carvoeiro Beach (inPortuguese
Portuguese may refer to:
* anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal
** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods
** Portuguese language, a Romance language
*** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language
** Portu ...
: ''Praia de Carvoeiro'') is searched for the craggy cliffs, calm waters and location in the centre of Carvoeiro. There is also the opportunity to take a boat trip around the caves from the beach or to take part in water sports during the high season. This beach can get very busy during the summer months.
Vale de Centeanes Beach
Vale de Centeanes Beach (inPortuguese
Portuguese may refer to:
* anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal
** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods
** Portuguese language, a Romance language
*** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language
** Portu ...
: ''Praia do Vale de Centeanes'') is surrounded by big cliffs. There is a shallow valley leading down to the beach at the eastern end making access fairly easy (even by wheelchair). There are plenty of facilities for all the family including a seasonal lifeguard service. There i also bar right on the beach. It is popular spot to watch the sunset.
Marinha Beach
Marinha Beach (inPortuguese
Portuguese may refer to:
* anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal
** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods
** Portuguese language, a Romance language
*** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language
** Portu ...
: ''Praia da Marinha'') is the archetypal Algarve cove. It is located in Lagoa and Carvoeiro civil parish and only 4 km far by the Algarve International School. Main characteristics of the beach are clear turquoise waters lap up against the orange limestone that forms the cliffs and iconic rock formations. Praia da Marinha is small and sandy. Boat trips (including paddle boat hire) are available from the beach. In the summer, it can get quite crowded.
Paraíso Beach
Paraíso Beach (inPortuguese
Portuguese may refer to:
* anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal
** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods
** Portuguese language, a Romance language
*** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language
** Portu ...
: ''Praia do Paraíso'') is a small, hidden cove that offers visitors a more intimate beach experience. It is surrounded by rocky cliffs and lush vegetation. The cove is a secluded oasis perfect for those seeking tranquillity and picturesque views.
Sports
There are various water sports available in Carvoeiro.Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving over water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like boat in which the paddler sits fac ...
is a popular activity, allowing people to explore the sea caves and beaches up close. Some tours offer a 2-hour kayak adventure through the caves of Benagil, providing a unique experience amidst the waves of the Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...
.
There is also land-based activity. The golf courses
A golf course is the grounds on which the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup". ...
in and around Carvoeiro are suitable to all skill levels.
See also
*Lagoa, Algarve
Lagoa () is a city and municipality in the district of Faro, in the Portuguese region of Algarve. The population of the municipality in 2011 was 22,975, in an area of 88.25 km2. Its urban population, in the city of Lagoa proper, is 6,100 in ...
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carvoeiro Seaside resorts in Portugal Villages in the Algarve Former parishes of Portugal Parishes of Lagoa, Algarve