Alcoutim
44 km north of Vila Real de Santo Antonio in the Algarve, is a picturesque border town of Alcoutim, located on the Guadiana River, across from its Spanish rival, Sanlucar de Guadiana.
Alcoutim has a long history as a river port dominated in turn by Greeks, Romans, and Moors.
The drive to Alcoutim alone is worth the detour as The Guadiana River provides a natural border between Spain and Portugal.
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| Town of Alcoutim |
Now a sleepy village with a population of around 3,000 inhabitants, Alcoutim survives on fishing, handicrafts, and a small but growing number of tourists, some of whom arrive by boat.
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The sleepy village of Alcoutim |
The best way to begin sightseeing at Alquotim is by exploring the 14th-century Moorish castle which is the main site in Alcoutim.
The castle walls afford stunning views of the vicinity and take in the Spanish village of Sanlúcar de Guadiana, set on the opposite bank of the river.
Castelo de Alcoutim, which has spectacular views down over the river and a small archaeological museum (Núcleo Museológico de Arqueologia) at the main gates, outlines the history of the castle including the battles that were fought at its walls.
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| Moorish castle |
There are regular ferry service shuttles between the two villages, and there is an alternative and absolutely exhilarating way to cross the river.
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| Praia Fluvial do Pego Fundo |
On the Spanish side, high above Sanlúcar, is the only cross-border zipline operator in the world. As for speeding from one country to another, you also cross a timezone - there is a one-hour time difference between Spain and Portugal.
