Jardim do Palácio de Estoi

In the hills behind Faro, the palace of Estoi rises above a garden of fountains, terraces and camellias. Built in the nineteenth century in a romantic mood, the palace and its grounds combine formal parterres with shaded walks, azulejo panels and views over the Algarve countryside.

History and character

The palace was built in the nineteenth century by a wealthy local family and decorated in a revival style, with gardens laid out in the Italian manner around the house. In recent decades the palace became a Pousada — a historic hotel — and its gardens were restored, keeping the atmosphere of a romantic estate in the Algarve hills.

What to see

• The terraced parterres with box hedging and fountains.
• The azulejo panels and tiles of the palace and its stairways.
• The camellias, palms and flowering shrubs of the garden.
• The views over the hills and the white villages of the Algarve.

Best time to visit

Winter and early spring bring the camellias into flower, and the mild Algarve climate makes the garden pleasant through most of the year. Mornings and late afternoons give the best light on the palace facade.

Nearby

Estoi is a short drive from the market town of São Brás de Alportel and from the waterfront market of Olhão.

Visiting

Estoi lies in the municipality of Faro, in the Algarve, reached by road. The palace is now a Pousada; visits to the palace and gardens follow the hotel’s conditions — check before your visit.

Information: pousadas.pt.

Image credit: Palácio de Estoi, Faro, by Bextrel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.