Estoi
- Written by Come to Portugal
Estoi lies on the border of the central and eastern Algarve in the Serra do Caldeirão foot hills. The town has much to offer and is well worth the inland trip. It is best known for its Estoi Palace (nicknamed the Pink Palace) and for its nearby Roman ruins. When entering Estoi from the west you will pass the Milreu ruins. Originally an agricultural settlement in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, it was transformed into a luxurious house with a large bathing complex in the 3rd century. It eventually served as a sanctuary up until the 6th century.
The centre of Estoi has an impressive church, with a mixture of styles - Corinthian columns on the main door entrance, Roman influence on the front, and a Moorish style bell tower. At the bottom of the stone steps that lead to the church entrance, is a running spring that comes out of three stone pipes into a solid stone trough with a similar one opposite with a tiled information plaque. Off the small square are bars and restaurants which lead to a cobbled street which goes on to an impressive arched gateway that is part of the Palace. This is also a good spot to view the typical charm of a Algarvean town of whitewashed houses going up hill, cobbled steps, and colourful bougainvilleas.
Estoi is not just well known for its palace, it holds huge events just off a side road from the main church. In May and August large equestrian shows go on well into the night (as they normally start during the cooler evenings hours) with horse-drawn carriages and buggies. The town takes on a medieval feel as the fair is lit by flaming torches. Bullfights are sometimes held, but these are declining in popularity.
Estoi 'palace' was built at the end of the 18th century by a local aristocrat from the Carvalhal family. Considered to be a fine example of Neo-Classical architecture, the interior has a French and Itailian feel with painted cherubs and furniture from the Louis XVI style. The palace remained in the Carvalhal family until 1893, when it was sold to a wealthy chemist and landowner from central Portugal. The new owner had the palace restored and augmented by Portugal's pre-eminent architect of the time, who did such a good job it earned the owner the title of Viscount of Estói in 1906. The palace passed down through the family until, in 1987, the Municipal Council of Faro purchased it. Now it is a luxury pousada hotel, but the gardens and some rooms of the palace are open to visitors.
The exit road around the outer walls of the palace gardens takes one past the town’s public laundry with its tiled roof. This has been restored with hand painted tiles depicting its former use.
