Villa Salema Azul

Salema
Salema is a small town of Budens parish, located in the municipality of Vila do Bispo, in the most western part of the Algarve. Located at the base of a cliff and surrounded by the National Park of Southwest Alentejo and the Algarve coast.

The village of Salema is one of the few communities that has a small indigenous fishing fleet of traditional colourful boats, still launched from the beach (but now with the help of a tractor), which is cast into sea to catch snapper, mackerel, sardines and octopus that you can taste freshly grilled at local restaurants on the same night.

The sandy beach and gently sloping, it is ideal for swimming and safe for children. A lifeguard service is available during the summer months and the sea water quality is excellent. There are a couple of bars and restaurants in the village, some gift shops and convenience stores.

The city of Lagos to the east and Sagres to the West are just 15 km away. The west coast of the Algarve can be reached in about 15 minutes by car. There you can find sandy beaches stretching down the cliffs for miles. If you want to do more than just lie on the beach there are golf, tennis courts, spas, horseback riding, boat and walk all within a few miles. From the beach cliffs, there are also great launching points for practicing paragliding.

Cultural Attractions

Sagres Fortress (18km away)
Located on Cape Sagres, Promontorium Sacrum famous for its outstanding beauty, the “Fortaleza de Sagres” owes its origin to Henry the Navigator, who here would institute a village and die in 1460. From the wall built by the father of Discovery little remains since the fortress was rebuilt in the sixteenth century and the second half of the eighteenth century, when it was adapted to the defensive system "vauban". The entrance to this bastion fortress is a good example of neoclassical architecture. Inside are in sight some guns, one sixteenth century tower and even the Church of Our Lady of Grace, built in the sixteenth century in the very place where once had been the Church of Santa Maria, founded by Henry the Navigator but destroyed by the English privateer Francis Drake in 1587. One of the most significant attractions of Fortaleza de Sagres is undoubtedly the rose of winds, a sundial that many think is contemporary to the infant and the nautical school founded in this Sagres. Place of deep historical and symbolic value, the monument offers visitors the opportunity to revisit the glorious period of the maritime discoveries and appreciate one of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

- Classified National Monument
- Open to the public (entrance fee)
- Time: from 09:30 to 17:30 / 20:00 in summer
- Closed: Monday, May 1st, 25th December

Lighthouse Cape St. Vincent (23km away)
This fortress was built in the 16th century in order to protect the coast from the frequent attacks by Moorish pirates. It stands on the site of an earlier medieval convent, which, legend has it, is supposed to have housed the mortal remains of São Vicente (St Vincent). It is a military construction with a polygonal floor plan, with a gateway crowned by the royal shield and which once had a drawbridge.

Inside the fortress can be seen the lighthouse of São Vicente which was built in 1904 and is still in operation today.

- Open to the public
- Classified as a Building of Public Interest

City of Lagos Walls (20km away)
The walls date back as far as the Roman period. They were rebuilt by the Arabs and considerably enlarged during the 16th century between the reigns of D. Manuel and Filipe I, because of the need to protect the growing city centre. The walls had huge strategic significance in the 15th and 16th centuries. They connect nine towers that were built for artillery and there are seven gates.

- Classified as a National Monument
- Open to the public

Beaches

-    Martinhal Beach (17km away)
-    Burgau Beach (10km away)
-    Cordoama Beach (14km away)
-    Luz Beach (12km away)

Golf

Boavista Golf Course in Lagos (16km)
Services: Driving Range, Chipping Greens, Snack Bar, Pro Shop and a golf academy.
Boavista Golf, opened in January 2002, was conceived by Howard Swan, the former President of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects and is a stunning course. It offers spectacular views of the city of Lagos, located nearby, as well as the Atlantic Coast and the Sierra de Monchique.

Espiche Golf Course (15km)
The Espiche Golf is located in an ecological reserve, providing a great golfing experience in a beautiful natural environment. Architect Peter Sauerman conceived the form field to integrate it harmoniously into the surrounding landscape. Golfers who value diversity, charm and challenge in the game can experience great satisfaction to appreciate the many subtleties of this course par 72. The player is required to use a variety of techniques and a smart game is both necessary and rewarded. The fairways cleverly designed make full use of the natural depressions and rolling hillsides, while brilliantly carved and located greens require the player to use the full range of approximation techniques. There are two starting points from the 1st and 10th tees, both located in the centre of the course, which also includes a clubhouse that has showers, lockers, elevator and accessibility for people with disabilities. This space is still designed for holding parties, birthdays, weddings, etc. The Espiche Golf has an exceptional responsibility in the way it its maintenance, with a history of environmental research and is committed to an ongoing process for sustainability.

Shows, Events and Markets:
-    Monthly Market St. Michael Baron: 1st Monday of each month
-    Market Budens: 1st Tuesday of each month
-    Market Raposeira: 1st Wednesday of each month
-    Vila do Bispo market: 1st Thursday of each month
-    Market Sagres: First Friday of each month
-    Festival of sweet potato / Lagos: end of November / beginning of December

Salema and its picturesque surroundings are full of hidden gems and old school charm, making it the perfect coastal escape from your busy everyday life. This endlessly charming little fishing village in western Algarve has it all: locally sourced seafood, kid-friendly beaches and a fabulous location just outside the National Park of Southwest Alentejo, in an area of unspoilt natural beauty completely different from that on the other end of the coast.

In the marina you can still spot local fishermen taking out their colourful little boats in the morning, and wandering around town you’ll come across great and homely restaurants where you can feast on their catch.

After a few long afternoons lounging on the secluded beaches, swimming in the sea and trying your windsurfing skills, you’ll learn that there isn’t much to do in Salema but taking it easy, and that’s just the way we like it.

ABOUT THE ALGARVE

Though most people tend to see the Algarve as all about the beaches and a holiday on the Med, there’s far much more to it than that. 

But while you’re enjoying one of our fantastic villas in Algarve, you may well want to take some time out from all that sun worship to explore everything else the region has to offer – so we’ve put together this handy travel guide to give you a little help and inspiration!

Download Our Algarve Travel Guide >>