Moncarapacho

Full-time traveler and digital nomad Feikje Meeuwsen wrote a blog a few years ago on her website 'de Reis er naar toe' about our village Moncarapacho in the Algarve, Portugal. At first glance, she found our village to be full of things to do or see. Just

walk through it once, beautiful church, lots of dilapidated houses, cup of coffee on the central square. Then you've seen it all, she thought. It wasn't until she and her husband spent more than 3 months wintering in Moncarapacho that Feikje discovered how much she liked the place. Get to know Moncarapacho through Feikje's eyes:

THREE CHURCHES TOGETHER From the terrace on the central square, you can see the facade of the Igreja Da Misericórdia (= Church of Mercy). And the long side of the square is bordered by the blind wall of the Igreja Matriz de Moncarapacho (= the mother church of Moncarapacho). The other name of this church is 'Igreja Matriz da Nossa Senhora de Graça' (= Church of our Lady of Grace). I would have liked to have a look inside both churches, but unfortunately they were closed due to corona.

The central square of Moncarapacho The first time you have a drink on the terrace, you will jump out of your chair in fright on the hour (and probably the second and subsequent times too). That is when the church bell strikes, and loudly too. At 12 noon, you will have to be patient before you can continue your possible conversation.

And keep in mind that the clock always strikes the hours twice in a row... so remember what you wanted to say a little longer.

Igreja da Misericórdia / Church of Mercy

Detail of the special facade of the mother church, with angels and demonic figures

INTERIOR ERMIDA DE SANTO CRISTO Just behind the central square you have the Ermida de Santo Cristo (= Chapel of the Holy Christ). Fortunately I was able to see it from the inside. The chapel was built in the 17th century and the interior is typically Portuguese: the walls are completely covered with azulejos. Very special!

Interior Ermida (or Capela) de Santo Cristo

MUSEUM OF MONCARAPACHO Next to the Ermida de Santo Cristo is the Museum of Moncarapacho . With a surprising collection! On the ground floor it ranges from archaeological finds from the time of the Romans, Visigoths and Arabs to objects 'from grandmother's time' and everything in between. Together they give an image of the history of Moncarapacho through the centuries. We were guided by a woman who barely spoke English, but with patience and mutual goodwill we eventually understood everything she said and her explanations made the visit extra worthwhile.

On the left the chapel of Santo Cristo and on the right the Museum of Moncarapacho NEAPOLITAN CHRISTMAS CRIBE On the upper floor of the museum is an exhibition of religious statues and vestments from the 17th and 18th centuries. And the highlight of the museum: an 18th century Neapolitan nativity scene. One of the oldest in Europe. With lifelike figures of shepherds and kings, but also of 'ordinary' people in everyday scenes. Funny thing is that all the figures wear clothes from the period in which they were made. For these sights alone, you should visit Moncarapacho in my opinion!

Upper floor with Neapolitan nativity scene of the Museum of Moncarapacho (taken with permission)

CHIMNEYS AND COATINGS

It was only after reading the blog article Cornices in the Algarve that I started looking up in Moncarapacho. Something you should do in all the villages and towns you visit! And yes, here in Moncarapacho too the most special cornices! In addition to the characteristic chimneys that you see everywhere in the Algarve.
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DOOR KNOB AND TILES
In Moncarapacho and the surrounding villages and towns you see door knockers in the shape of hands on many front doors. Typically Portuguese then… but they come from France. They were made there in the 19th century and have become very popular as an elegant French accessory in Portugal and Spain.

AZULEJOS

Portugal is known for its azulejos, or wall tiles. In Moncarapacho too, there are houses that are completely covered with tiles on the outside. You also see many tile tableaus on the facades, most of them with a religious scene.
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THE MARKETS OF MONCARAPACHO
Every first Sunday of the month there is a big market in Moncarapacho. With clothes, fresh vegetables and fruit, craft products, but also chickens, pigeons, parrots and parakeets, and with the necessary food stalls with terraces. In August there is a larger agricultural market that lasts four days. With music, local food and dance.

And there is also a daily market in the somewhat hidden market hall behind two local cafes. Here the villagers buy their fresh vegetables and fish, and chat with a cup of coffee.

Chickens and pigeons for sale at the monthly market in Moncarapacho

CARNIVAL
A very important and popular event in Moncarapacho is the carnival, with the oldest traditional parade in the Algarve (over 120 years). We hope to come back to experience it!

THE HISTORY OF MONCARAPACHO
In the region where present-day Moncarapacho is located, people have lived since the Neolithic period, or the New Stone Age, from around 11,000 BC. From the 4th century BC, Celtic tribes entered the Algarve. And from the 2nd century BC, the Romans, the Visigoths (from the 5th century AD) and the Arabs (from the 8th century AD) successively occupied the area.

ROMAN REMAINS

At Moncarapacho you can still walk along the remains of a Roman road. A section of the road runs past the Monterosa olive farm . From Moncarapacho you will automatically get there if you follow the 'Roman Roads' walking route. Present-day Faro (near Moncarapacho) was a large and important trading city for the Romans. In Estoi – just above Faro and 10 km west of Moncarapacho – you can visit the Roman excavation of Milreu – a luxurious Roman villa with temple.

Remains of a Roman road just outside the centre of Moncarapacho

The architecture of Moncarapacho and many other villages and towns in the Algarve clearly shows the Arabic (Moorish) influence.

GIFT FOR JOÃO AFONSO FROM THE KING
The first official document with the name Moncarapacho dates from 1368. It states that King Dom Fernando gives a vineyard and fig orchard to João Afonso. On the websites where I read this, it does not say who João Afonso is, but while googling I found that King Dom Fernando was married to the sister of the nobleman João Afonso. So they were brothers-in-law.

AUTONOMOUS VILLAGE SINCE THE 15TH CENTURY
In the first half of the 15th century, the inhabitants of Moncarapacho built the Igreja Matriz ('Mother Church') and Moncarapacho officially became an autonomous village. In the 16th century, the number of inhabitants grew strongly and the centre got more or less the structure that it still has today. Some houses still have elements from that time. But most of the houses that are still standing in the centre were built around 1900. And if you walk or cycle into the village from the south, you will pass through a modern new housing estate, which looks like it is only a few years old at most.

THE AUTHENTIC ALGARVE
Moncarapacho is a quiet, but very cozy village in the eastern Algarve. The village and the region are not overrun by tourists. Yet there are enough campsites and B&Bs in and around the village. In the area you can go for beautiful walks and bike rides. And it is only 6 km from the sea and beach and the nature reserve Ria Formosa. So I would say: go there! 😉

Boutique Guesthouse-Moncarapacho, open in 2025 Do you also want to enjoy our cozy village Moncarapacho? The wonderful climate, the Mediterranean environment? Then come to our Boutique Guesthouse-Moncarapacho from 2025. Bem vindo!