Cacela Velha - Unspoilt Algarve

Notable as one of the last unspoiled fishing villages still around in Algarve, Cacela Velha is a tiny place…

… but lovely to look upon, and well worth a visit if you’re staying in eastern Algarve, or even just visiting.

I had omitted it from my Barlavento tour, but I may have to fix that, because I believe it should be part of any itinerary that passes through the east of this beautiful region.

As well as functioning as a working fishing village, the place known as Cacela Velha has played its part in Algarve’s chequered history. You can still see the fort, which stood guard on the coast to warn of any invading forces. The edifice is now the headquarters for the local brigade of the GNR (National Guard), and was built on the remains of the original fort, which was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake that devastated quite a lot of Portugal and the Algarve.

The tiny village is quite picturesque and seems not to have been despoiled by the ravages of tourism. The calcada streets that lead through the tiny settlement, perched above the sea and sandbars speak of an age gone by. The igreja (church), the fortress walls and the traditional style of the houses give the visitor a flavour or what life looked like in Algarve quite some time back.

From outside the church, steps lead down to a sandy waterfront walk, fringed by cacti and greenery. At low tide, tiny crabs scuttle about whenever there are no human footfalls to be felt. Across the narrow waterway can be seen the sandbar beach.

Cacela Velha has a small ‘footprint’ as a settlement, which inevitably leads to some quaint juxtapositions, such as the small domicile attached to the cemetery wall, (with an apartment rental sign in the window and some April 2007 English vacationers, if my ears didn’t deceive me!)

There are even two restaurant/bar establishments for your delectation, both near the generous parking facility that graces the approach to Cacela Velha, and both offering reasonably-priced refreshments in a lovely setting (with indoor and outdoor tables on offer).

Cacela Velha is within the Ria Formosa Nature Park that extends along much of Algarve’s eastern seaboard, so thankfully it will not suffer from changes that have spoiled some of the region’s western reaches.

The locals are proud of their heritage, and I saw a wall-mounted notice by a pressure group dedicated to preserving the small harbour as it is, and opposing European Union dictats about how it should change. I’m with the locals on this one, and definitely opposed to the office-bound Euro-crats who have probably never visited Cacela Velha, but would mess it up, given half a chance.

Beach Life near Cacela Velha

In order to reach the beaches, one must drive further south east, following the signs. The nearest is Manta Rota, which is undergoing some development and getting a facelift (in early 2007). Most times I’ve visited, there has been plenty of space to spread out and enjoy some Jennifer/beachlife interfacing. The development might change that, so you may want to visit Manta Rota sooner, rather than later…

And if you visit Cacela Velha, do let everyone know the outcome by sharing your experience. Just go to the Your Algarve Best page and 'spill the beans' using the easy form provided.

In the meantime, subscribe to my monthly newsletter, Algarve Beach Life News, by clicking on the link below ("For Lovers of Algarve Beach Life") or on the button at top left ("Subscribe to ABLN") -- I'll keep you updated, every month, about what's new on the site, as it's added.

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