Holidays to Quarteira

Algarve resorts have a habit of dovetailing their rich and historic pasts with the desires of the modern tourist, and nowhere is this better exemplified than in the coastal parish of Quarteira, located 10 miles or so to the West of Faro.

With some scholars suggesting that settlement in the area dates back as far as the Phoenicians, who may have lived there centuries before the Common Era, we know that it was at least home to the Romans. With fishing and sugar production aiding its economy for centuries, an influx of tourism in recent decades has reshaped the area. Thanks in no small part to the availability of cheap Quarteira holidays, it gained city status in 1999. Today, it’s a modern location that still holds its past close to its heart.

Weather

From June to September, those taking cheap Quarteira holidays can really expect to catch some rays. This enjoyable climate can be fully enjoyed thanks to around three and a half miles of pristine beaches and the clear blue waters constantly on view.

Things To Do

If you have a taste for history, be sure to cast your eyes at the Cerro da Vila region for an enthralling insight into the area’s Roman past. Once a site of baths, damns and preserving fish, only the walls of this 2,000-year-old site remain today.

Quarteira boasts no fewer than five golf courses, making it a perfect place to dust off those woods and irons. The sporting activities don’t end there, with outgoing folk regularly trying their hands at tennis, yachting and horse riding during their stay.

Food And Drink

With prawns and other seafood being plentiful and as fresh as they come, visitors can try a ‘cataplana’ at one of Quarteira’s traditional restaurants. The dish actually takes its name from the clam-shaped pot in which it’s prepared and varies from one diner to the next, but it’s typically a delicious casserole with shellfish as its main ingredient. Local fish can also be bought at a weekly market in the city.

Seafood might not be to everybody’s taste, so it’s worth pointing out that Italian, English and Brazilian fare are also served up in Quarteira, along with the usual offerings of traditionally cooked British dishes for those who like to enjoy their usual meals in a Mediterranean climate.

Quarteira is peppered with bars and clubs, many of which are owned by Brits now living in the area. Holidaymakers with night fever often head to nearby Vilamoura for more options, with the Falesia beach area being home to a broad range of bars, eateries and a casino.