Cacela Velha

Cacela Velha is a small whitewashed hamlet set on a hill above the Ria Formosa, in the eastern Algarve. From its churchyard and fortress walls the view opens over the lagoons and sandbanks of the ria, and at its feet lies one of the most beautiful beaches of the Algarve — reached by crossing the sand and shallows of the natural park.

The village

The history of Cacela Velha goes back through the centuries of the Islamic period, when this coast was part of the territory of the Algarve — the settlement was already a stronghold and trading place between the sea and the Guadiana. What visitors see today is a quiet village gathered around the church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção and the fortress that overlooks the bar of the ria.

What to see

• The church and churchyard, with their famous view over the Ria Formosa.
• The walls of the fortress above the bar of the ria.
• Praia de Cacela Velha, with its calm waters and dunes.
• The landscapes of the ria, with its islands and birdlife.

Visiting

Cacela Velha is a short drive from Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António. The beach lies below the village and is reached by a walk across the sand of the ria, whose water level follows the tide; in the bathing season there is also transport by boat. The ria is a protected area, so visitors should keep to the paths and respect the rules of the natural park.

Nearby

The historic town of Tavira and the islands of the Ria Formosa are the natural complement of a visit to Cacela.

Information: cm-vrsa.pt.

Image credit: Cacela Velha, by Xabier Cañas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.