Ferragudo has preserved its original fishing village character, with rows of houses cascading down to the river, crowned by the outline of the church high on the hill, and pretty streets of whitewashed walls and roofs intersected by decorated chimneys.

 

Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição (Our Lady of the Conception)
The architecture of this building is typical of a country church. The 14th century altars display a worthy array of 17th and 18th century statues. In the sacristy there is a two-sided representation of Our Lady and Christ on the Cross, possibly from the 15th century, and a 16th century São Sebastian (St. Sebastian). There is a collection of sailors' and fishermen's "ex-votos", painted in a "naïf' style and depicting the miracles performed by the church's patroness. There are small panels of figurative tiles inside and outside the church (18th century). From the churchyard there is a magnificent view of the sea, the Arade river and the city of Portimão.

Fort of São João de Arade
With the facing fortress of Santa Catarina, this fort constituted the main defence of the Arade estuary. It began life as a lookout tower in the 15th century and was extended in the 17th and 18th centuries. A great deal of work was done at the beginning of the 20th century to turn it into a home, at the initiative of the poet Coelho Carvalho, and it is to this that it owes its current romantic appearance. It is now private properly.
Along the coast, where tiny beaches of great beauty are tucked away between looming cliffs, the remains c two medieval watchtowers, which were once used to give warning of attacks by pirates and corsairs, can be seen at Ponte da Atalaia and Quinta da Torre.

Popular Crafts
Here, crafts means ceramics, so strong is the tradition of pottery and so many the techniques used to work, decorate and fire clay. Dominated by turquoises and blues, which recall the sea, the charm of pottery from from this region lies in its colours and its shapes. Other crafts to be found include the construction of miniature fishing boats, decorated Algarve carts, needlework, embroidered linen, dried flower arrangements, wooden chairs, wool and cloth dolls, miniatures made with shells, paintings on textiles, tapestry, wrought iron, delicate woven rush work baskets, small bags, mats etc.

Watersports
The many beaches in the area are ideal places to windsurf, sail, dive, waterski and surf. Suberp conditions for an exciting, active holiday.