Algarve Castle, Silves, Monchique & Foia

Plunge into the bountiful natural beauty that defines the Algarve region as you visit charming hillside villages, discover a medieval castle, exult in sky-high vistas from the region’s peak and shop in a town celebrated for its mineral-rich hot springs. You’ll drive inland through a ruggedly scenic landscape dotted with whitewashed houses and almond trees to Silves, the region’s former Moorish capital, which boasts a commanding Gothic cathedral and the 11th-century red sandstone Castelo de Silves, an astonishing structure featuring square turrets and seemingly impenetrable ramparts.

Relax over a traditional lunch in the market town of Monchique, where rolling hills are blanketed by forests of chestnut, pine and cork oak trees. Revel in breathtaking vistas from atop the apex of the Algarve, Mount Fóia, which on a clear day affords remarkable sights of the rocky coastline. You’ll stop in Caldas de Monchique, where the steaming thermal waters that bubble up through the mountains are believed to relieve respiratory and bone conditions. Linger at the shops and perhaps purchase a bottle of this famed water, a memorable token of your extraordinary experience.