Quelfes

Quelfes
The small village of Quelfes lies half way between Olhão and Moncarapacho.

Driving away from the coastline through the Estrada Nacional 398, you will find its typical whitewashed houses, surrounded by orchards and fig-trees.

Seen from a little distance, between the trees, several chimneys sculpted to ressemble lace hide terraces and belvederes.

The Mother Church is also whitewashed.

Extremely simple, it has a Renaisssance portal from the 16th century and a side door in the Gothic style, which shows well its age.

Inside, there are three large naves.

The main chapel exibits a 16th-century vault with ribs forming fleurons, and a Manueline arch decorated with grapes and vine leafs.

Near Quelfes (on the way to the small village of Brancanes), a bridge of Roman origin, several times rebuilt, attests its antiquity and is also an historical symbol: in 1808, Napoleon´s troops were defeated here in a battle which acted as an example to all the Algarve.