One of the more sparsely-populated councils. The old Faro-Lisbon road runs north from the friendly town of São Brás, a twisting hill route with spectacular views, running across the Serra di Caldeirão. Come here for a taste of the pre-tourist Algarve life, and incidentally some of the best country food and of course medronho.

Of the typically Algarvean villages in the broad radius around Loulé, the largest and one of the most beautifully situated on the almond-covered, south-facing slopes is SÃO BRÁS DE ALPORTEL. The town is overlooked by one of the Algarve's two pousadas (the other being at Sagres). Below São Brás, ESTÓI is famous for its Milreu Roman ruins and its curious 18th-century palácio. The centrepiece of the nearby village of SANTA BÁRBARA DE NEXE is its 15th-century Gothic church.