Ferragudo is located across the river estuary of Rio Arade, on the opposite side of the neighbouring bigger city of Portimão.
Ferragudo is a beautiful village, very picturesque with whitewashed houses 'tumbling' down the hillside towards the river front.
The village is embraced by palm-fringed gardens, which run alongside a narrow riverlet up to the main cobbled square, Praça Rainha Dona Leonor. This is a lovely square, with lots of café’s offering delicious pastry. Around the corner, onto the quay, there are several typical restaurants with a lovely view offering delicious, fresh fish dishes. Praia da Angrinha is the nearest beach with the amazing Fort of São João do Arade, sometimes reffered to as the Castle of Arade.
The whole of the Algarve coastline had various fortifications and watchtowers to protect it through the centuries and some other historical remains in the area are those of Atalaia and Quinta da Torre which were medieval watchtowers to give warning of attacks by pirates and corsairs.
As you move away from the town centre, you will discover a nice selection of beaches: Praia Grande, Praia do Pintadinho and a bit further there is the famous Praia dos Caneiros with its top quality restaurant & bar named ‘Rei das Praias’ meaning King of the beaches, established since 1976.
From the point beside Ferragudo lighthouse there is a fantastic view of Portimão across the river, the Monchique hills in the background and the sea stretching into the distance.
