The Algarve in bloom
We are at that time of the year when it gets dark early, the fog says good morning almost every morning and when the sun deigns to appear, it does so with subtle rays that are not in the business of giving off too much heat.
Street trees, recently shrouded in Christmas lights, are now naked and defenseless against the harsh winter.
Nevertheless, in the Algarve, white and pink are beginning to be seen, flooding this region of southern Portugal with color. And it is that, between January and March, takes place almond blossom , offering a most beautiful natural spectacle.
This is one of the most anticipated events of the year, which this season comes with an attractive novelty: the celebration of the first Almond Blossom Festival, which will take place during the first weekend of February.
"The Algarve Spring"
THE ALGARVE IN FLOWER
All of the Algarve, and especially the Barrocal region (a large agricultural area in the form of a horizontal line between the mountains and the beach in the south of the region), has already begun to dress in his best clothes: a dress dotted with impressionist brushstrokes in shades of pink and white.
Why are there so many hectares of this tree in the south of Portugal? According to legend, in the times when the Algarve was Al-Gharb, there was a caliph called Ibn-Almundim.
His wife, Gilda, was a young Nordic princess, who felt very sad because she missed the snowy landscapes of her homeland. Ibn Almundim wanted to make her happy and so he had thousands of almond trees planted. Thus, once a year, the surroundings of the castle would be dyed white, like the region that his beloved longed for.
But nothing is further from reality, because the real reason for the existence of this crop It is due to the benevolent climate of the area, the conditions of the land and the profitability of its fruit. In fact, in many Algarve municipalities there are plans to continue planting almond trees.
The Algarve Barrocal is full of almond fields
A SHOW IN WHITE AND PINK
Every year, hundreds of visitors come here to enjoy this festival of nature that is accompanied by different proposals for all audiences: hiking trails, cultural visits, gastronomy and, for the first time this year, the first Festival das Amendoeiras em Flor.
The Recreational, Cultural and Sports Association of Friends of Alta Mora, a small mountain town belonging to the municipality of Castro Marim , strives every year for locals and visitors to enjoy the flowering and on this occasion they wanted to go one step further and prepare a festival to match.
The expected festival will take place on February 1 and 2 and aims to discover to the public the most natural and traditional side of the Algarve: that of the mountain villages that, far from tourism and the big cities, remain frozen in time.
Every year, between January and March, the Algarve changes color
THE PROGRAMING
During the first weekend of February, coinciding with the Almond Blossom Festival, they have scheduled several routes on foot in the surroundings to discover the mountain orography: the streams that run through the valleys, the mountains and, of course, the almond trees.
In addition, visitors will be able to buy typical products such as goat cheese in the local market; participate in traditional games; enjoy the theater, fados and folk concerts; and attend gastronomic workshops. All this under the umbrella of the 365 Algarve cultural program.
Nature, gastronomy and culture come together in the first Festival of the Almendros el Flor
A WALK AMONG ALMOND TREES IN BLOSSOM
The trails that surround the small town of Alta Mora also allow you to freely explore the nature of the region. One of the most important is the PR8, known as Camino de los Almendros.
The PR8 is a circular route of about 11 kilometers that connects Cruz de Alta Mora, Soalheira, Caldeirão, Pernadeira, Funchosa de Baixo and de Cima.
The walk along this wonderful path allows you to contemplate the fields of almond trees in bloom, the mountainous landscapes, the rockroses and the fig trees and the illustrious inhabitants of the area: rabbits, partridges, hares and wild boars.
The long-awaited festival will take place on February 1 and 2
TIME TO EAT –AND DRINK–
Algarve gastronomy has been closely linked to the landscape since time immemorial. Of course, the almond _(amêndoa) _, is a fundamental ingredient in the cuisine of the south of the country and it is present in all kinds of recipes, although it stands out above all in the confectionery section.
You cannot leave the Algarve without having tried some –or all– of the delicious sweets made with almonds such as azevia (a kind of sweet traditional Christmas pastry that has almonds, sweet potato and pumpkin) .
They are also famous queijinhos de figo (which mixes two of the basic ingredients of the area, figs and almonds), the bolinhos; and the morgadinho, with almond and angel hair.
In the spirits section, one of the most popular in the Algarve region is undoubtedly the amarginha, which incorporates high doses of the bitter variety of this fruit and is served after coffee.
Blooming almond trees await us in the Algarve, who's up?
An attractive proposal to enjoy the south of Portugal in winter