Municipality of Loulé

Centrally located and with a good access network, the municipality of Loulé, the largest in the region, stretches from the coast to the mountains, offering visitors a variety of landscape and cultural contrasts.

On the coast, in addition to its long golden sandy beaches, quality tourist complexes and the best golf destination, the Marina of Vilamoura, which has won several international awards, stands out.

A former Islamic urban centre, part of Portugal since 1249, the town received a charter in 1266 and was elevated to a city in 1988. Loulé offers its visitors a valuable cultural heritage in the Historic Centre of Loulé surrounded by the castle walls, where we highlight the Islamic Baths, the Municipal Museum, the Art Gallery of the Convento do Espírito Santo, the São Clemente Parish Church, the Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Conceição and the Arab-inspired Municipal Market.

Throughout the municipality there are also several churches of interest to visit, including the Church of S. Lourenço in Almancil, the Church of N. Sª da Assunção in Alte, the Gothic Portal of the Convent of Graça and the Portal and Cross pillory of the Church of Misericórdia in Loulé, among others. In Vilamoura, the Roman ruins of Cerro da Vila stand out.

Loulé, once considered one of the richest cities in terms of handicrafts, is currently developing the Loulé Criativo project, an initiative of the municipality that is committed to enhancing the identity of the territory and whose driving force is creativity and innovation, supporting the training and activity of artisans and professionals in the creative sector, through its network of workshops and creative experiences, so that traditional arts can be revitalised and included in the value chain for the sustained economic and social development of the municipality.