Armação de Pêra
- Written by Come to Portugal
Armação de Pêra falls under the district of Silves Parish. It was famous for its fishing industry in the days when tuna was plentiful, but fishing boats still come in daily and unload their catch on the fishermen’s beach. Sometimes it is possible to buy fresh fish and crab direct from the fishermen or watch the auction (Loto) next to the red cross building. Its days as a small fishing village are long gone and it became a town in 1996 catering to thousands of summer visitors. History lingers, however, most noticeable perhaps in its fort along the seafront with the original coat of arms still prominent on the fort entrance. Until 2009 part of it was used as the main police station and the old jail was still in use.
In 2010 Armação de Pêra benefitted from a €9 million investment along its seafront which pedestrianised its wide promenade, thus giving good wheelchair access to most places, but sadly not the tourist office. Traditional and modern craft fairs with handmade jewellery, stained glass, pottery and the like are often held in the old Casino café that dates from the 1930s and is now part art gallery and local tourist office as well as a function hall. Just outside is an area for free wi-fi and a brand new play area for children with soft safety flooring. If you take note of the coloured cobblestones laid in the pavement, you will see playing cards and dice following the theme of the old casino building, which later change to fish and fishing nets near the Holiday Inn Hotel.
Hot summer nights are pulsating with excitement as thousands of tourists, the majority of them Portuguese from the north of the country, stroll the promenade enjoying the free music and street entertainment. Dozens of restaurants and bars keep long hours to accommodate them, but it is still possible to find traditional and less expensive restaurants away from the seafront. There are not many English-style pubs or clubs as in other resorts, such as Albufeira, and it is still possible to find realistic prices with a coffee right on the seafront only costing €1 as well as a small beer. Many restaurants offer a tourist menu with the starter, main course and sweet along with wine for around €10 as was still the case in 2011.
Although now ringed with high-rise apartment buildings, the old town (by the fishermen's beach) retains its simple character. And while there are any number of foreign visitors, the atmosphere is very much that of a Portuguese holiday town. with plenty of window shopping opportunities, a good number of supermarkets, a large daily fresh fish and fruit and veg market as well as a street market every Saturday and Wednesday and any number of practical shops in addition to ones for tourist and beach goods.
Overall, it is a great town for walking as it is flat and now with a long pedestrian area. Its love of modern art can be seen on its many roundabouts along the main road for vehicles.
