In addition to the most famous tourist destinations, there is a deeper and more hidden Algarve, full of history, culture and traditions that go back centuries. One of the region’s greatest treasures are the windmills and açoteias, elements that form part of the region’s rural heritage and continue to tell the stories of a time when rural life was dominated by agriculture and hard work in the fields.
Get ready to marvel at the beauty and simplicity of these elements and understand their importance in the context of the region’s rural history and culture.
Windmills
The windmills of the Algarve are one of the most characteristic images of the region’s interior. Although the Algarve is widely known for its seaside towns such as Faro, Lagos or Albufeira, the inland villages are where the windmills stand out, serving as true guardians of the region’s historical and cultural memory.
Origins and History of Windmills in the Algarve
The history of windmills dates back to Arab times, when the method of milling grain was introduced to the Iberian Peninsula. The wind was a natural source of energy used to turn grain into flour, essential for the production of bread, a staple of the Algarve diet.
During the medieval period, windmills spread throughout the Algarve region, especially in the higher areas exposed to the wind, such as the Monchique mountains and the Algarve barrocal. These structures were initially built to meet local agricultural needs, helping to process the cereals grown on the region’s vast plains.
However, the importance of windmills in the Algarve goes beyond their utilitarian function. They have become symbols of resilience and adaptation to the arid and hot environment of the region’s interior. Built mainly of stone, with a system of blades that turn with the wind, windmills are the embodiment of popular ingenuity.
The Architecture and Operation of Windmills
The windmills in the Algarve have a unique construction that distinguishes them from other similar structures in different regions of the world. Most are made of stone, with wooden roofs covered in red ceramic tiles. The big difference with mills in other parts of the country is the way they work. The large, robust blades are driven by the wind, which allows the grinding mechanism to work naturally, without the need for external energy sources.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, mills were essential for rural families, who depended on the flour produced in these mills for their daily sustenance. For decades, mills were at the heart of rural life in the Algarve. However, with the introduction of more modern milling methods and advances in technology, many mills are no longer used for this purpose.
Today, many of these mills have been restored and are available to visit, offering tourists the chance to relive a piece of Algarve history. Some villages, such as Monchique, Aljezur and São Brás de Alportel, still have working mills and offer guided tours to explain the history and traditional milling process.
Windmill Route
For those who like to walk and explore the interior of the Algarve, there is an excellent opportunity to get to know several windmills through a historical and cultural route. The Windmills Route, which runs through several inland villages, is a way of travelling back in time and understanding the importance of these monuments to rural life.
Some of the must-see stops on the route include the Moinho de Vento de Aljezur, one of the most famous and well-preserved, the Moinho do Cufo in Monchique, which is one of the few windmills still in operation, and the Moinho de Vento de São Brás de Alportel, where you can see the recovery and restoration of the old structures.
Açoteias
Along with windmills, açoteias are another symbol of rural life in the Algarve. The word açoteia is used to describe a small platform or patio situated on top of a house, which traditionally served to dry foodstuffs such as grains, fruit and vegetables, but also for other utilitarian purposes such as drying straw or hay. The açoteias are, in fact, a clever adaptation to the Algarve’s hot, dry climate.
How Hoardings Influenced Local Architecture
The use of açoteias dates back to the medieval period and was a fundamental practice in the villages of the Algarve, particularly in the mountains and in the areas furthest from the coast. As well as being used to dry agricultural produce, they also had a social function, as they were places where people gathered at the end of the day, exchanged stories and spent time as a family.
The construction of a roof terrace was a meticulous and painstaking job, involving the creation of a simple but efficient structure out of stone and wood. Houses with açoteias were usually one or two storeys, and the ceramic vaults that covered the openings ensured that the food dried effectively in the sun.
Today, some Algarve villages still retain the traditional architecture of the açoteias, and some houses have been restored to preserve this characteristic element of the cultural landscape. The açoteias are not only interesting from an architectural point of view, but they also have great cultural value, as they bear witness to a simple and sustainable way of life.
The Açoteias Route
Like the windmills, the açoteias can also be explored along tourist routes. Some villages such as Monchique, São Brás de Alportel and Aljezur have kept their mills and other traditional features, offering visitors the chance to discover a piece of history from rural life in the Algarve. In many cases, guided tours are an excellent way to learn more about the functionality and uses of the terraces, and to see the architectural variations from village to village.
The Algarve’s windmills and açoteias are much more than just old buildings. They represent the effort and ingenuity of the Algarve’s people to adapt to the climate and the territory, and serve as testimonies to a way of life that no longer exists, but which still leaves a deep mark on the landscape and the region’s collective memory.
Visiting the windmills and açoteias is a way of exploring a more authentic and unknown Algarve, far from the tourist hustle and bustle, but deeply immersed in the culture and history of the region. By preserving these buildings, the Algarve continues to keep its rural memory alive and to teach new generations the importance of respecting the past while building the future.
So when you take a tour of the Algarve’s windmills and açoteias, you’re not only exploring a fascinating territory, but you’re also contributing to the preservation of the heritage that makes the region a unique and special place. Come and discover the Algarve that few people know about, where rural heritage and history intertwine with the stunning landscapes that make this region an unmissable destination.
