Regional handicrafts are now a significant attraction in their own right. Although some pieces are purely decorative in nature, most crafted objects have their own very specific uses. Indeed, the local handicrafts highlight the tremendous creativity of the Algarve people, who were able to find both practical and graceful ways of using the region’s natural resources.
Of the various handicrafts, weaving stands to the fore and, to a greater or lesser extent, it still remains a highly contemporary practice throughout the Algarve. With all the blankets, rugs, table cloths, fine linens and brightly-coloured carpets on show, there is a wide range of woven products available, ensuring that your biggest problem will lie in choosing between them.
Arguably one of the most popular crafts, pottery has lost some of its traditional utilitarian value, but at the same time gained more decorative qualities, making the clay objects made in the Algarve quite irresistible and highly sought after.
Other objects, such as the charming dolls that recreate scenes from the daily life in the Algarve, articles made of wood, copper and wrought iron, decorative lace and baskets in every possible shape and form, and intended to be used for every imaginable purpose, may be purchased in the many specialist shops scattered all around the region.

Suggestions

Weaving

Bearing testimony to the traditional handicrafts of the Algarve uplands, and available in any craft shop...

Dolls from Martinlongo and Querença

Doll-making is a specific handicraft that requires painstaking attention to detail, yet nonetheless it helps to recreate the traditional daily life of Algarve...

Needle Lace and Bobbin Lace

There is a popular Portuguese saying that states “wherever there are nets, there’s lace”.

Copper and Wrought Iron

Wrought iron and beaten copper articles have a long tradition in the Algarve, still managing to survive as a craft thanks to the great dedication and efforts of some local craftsmen.

Wickerwor Basket-making and Palm-weaving

Two of the most characteristic Algarve handicrafts are empreita, which consists of the braiding of fine palm leaves rolled into the most diverse range of shapes...

Pottery Ceramics and Decorative Tiles

As perhaps the leading representative of the Algarve’s traditional handicrafts, pottery has managed to keep up with the times...

The Cork Route

The history of cork in Portugal is intrinsically linked to the area around São Brás de Alportel...

Wood

An essential raw material used for everything from building carts and boats to making furniture and kitchenware...

Algarve Car Hire