January 2013
The annual Querença Smoked Sausage Festival on 27 January celebrates the patron saint of animals, Saint Luís, with plenty of live music, stalls and a religious procession, all fuelled by a range of particularly fine smoked sausages.

December 2012
There are always impressive Christmas lights along Faro's main streets from early December. Olhanense football team from Olhão take on Gil Vicente on 16th (scolhanense.com). Christmas Eve is traditionally celebrated with a meal of bacalhau (dried cod), while the New Year is welcomed in with concerts and midnight fireworks.

January 2013
Around 11km north of Faro lies the important Roman site of Milreu. Excavations are ongoing, but you can look around several buildings, some displaying beautiful fish mosaics (igespar.ip).

December 2012
Faro's Sé may not be the most beautiful cathedral in Portugal, but it's still an impressive structure. Climb up the clock tower and you'll enjoy the town's best views, which extend over the tiled roofs of the Cidade Velha to the sea beyond (Largo da Sé, tel: 289 806 632).

April 2013
For the energetic, the recently opened Rota Vicentina is a fantastic marked walking trail that skirts the western edge of the Algarve, ending at Sagres. The whole route is over 340km, but each stage is less than 25km. www.rotavicentina.com

January 2013
The Algarve is rightly famed for its fantastic coastline, but head inland to Alcoutim and you won't be disappointed. This highly picturesque border village facing Spain across the Rio Guadiana boasts a gem of a castle and some fine local walks.