The town of Estoi is a typical sleepy Algarve settlement where the pace of life is decidedly slow and relaxed. Estoi is a warren of cobbled streets lined with whitewashed houses. Before heading off to the nearby attractions, it's worth spending a few moments sitting outside one of the many cafes of Estoi, absorbing the atmosphere and watching the world go by. There is no rush. Recently Estoi changed its name from Estói, and one gets the feeling that nothing else has changed for centuries.

Igreja Matriz de Estoi

The main church of Estoi sits in the town centre. The church dates back to the 15th century. The church was badly damaged during the devastating earthquake of 1755 that ravished so much of southern Portugal. Thereafter, Igreja Matriz de Estoi was hastately rebuilt. The church attained its neoclassical appearance in the 19th century under the leadership of the Italian architect Francisco Xavier Fabri. Other examples of his work are in nearby towns, most notably the Arco de Vila in Faro. The interior retains its older grandeur. Legend has it the wooden altarpiece is carved from the reclaimed timbers of local fishing boats.
8005-411 Estoi, Portugal. | 37° 05' 39.2" N | 07° 53' 42.0" W

The Palácio de Estoi is located a short walk from the village's main square and is the main attraction of Estoi. Building work on the palace at Estoi began in the 1840s, only to be put on hold twenty years later following the death of the owner. José Francisco da Silva, a local entrepreneur, purchased the half-built estate and in 1906, construction was completed. The Palácio de Estoi is a fine example of romantic architecture with its fine pink rococo façade and gardens reminiscent of Versailles. The sheer opulence of the completed palace caught the attention of King D. Carlos I, who bestowed upon José Francisco da Silva the title of Visconde de Estoi in 1926. Successive generations failed to maintain the palace and grounds and they fell into ruin. The Municipality of Faro, who purchased it in 1987, rescued the estate. A period of restoration soon followed. The Palácio de Estoi opened as a pousada (luxury hotel) in May 2009. Certain rooms, the café and gardens are open to the public for free.

The interior has a rococo-style décor, with frescoes, ornate carvings, wood panelling, elaborate stucco ceilings, and gilded furniture. The gardens lie on three tiers connected by grand staircases decorated in vibrant blue azulejo tiles, with a hidden grotto on the lower level decorated with mosaics from nearby Milreu. The gardens are decorated with statues, fountains, exotic trees, a small orchard and an azulejo staircase. The views from the top terrace are breathtaking.

6 Rua de São Jose, 8005-469, Faro, Portugal. | 37° 05' 48.2" N | 07° 53' 44.3" W
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To the west of Estoi, is the ruined Roman villa of Milreu, which offers an insight into life in the Algarve between the first and fourth centuries AD. Excavations of the sight started in 1877 and have unearthed an extensive Roman villa with annexed buildings. It's believed the villa was a summer home for Roman aristocrats. Amongst the finds are a set of fine mosaics that once lined a bathhouse dating from the first century. There are the remains of a frigidarium (cold water plunge pool), an apodyterium (changing rooms) and an underfloor heating system. The nautical theme of the mosaics suggests the adjoining temple was dedicated to a sea god. This temple later served as a christian church and then a mosque during the Moorish occupation. On the grounds there is a small informative museum helping you to make sense of the site. Other items from Milreu are on display in Faro's Municipal museum.

€2.00 | May - September: 10h00 - 18h00, October - April: 09h00 - 17h00
8005-411 Estoi, Portugal. | 37° 05' 41.7" N | 07° 54' 16.6" W
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