Estói is a small town and a former community (about 3,600 inhabitants) in the county of Faro. In 2013 it merged together with the community Conceição into the União das Freguesias de Conceição e Estói.
Coordinates: 37° 6′ N, 7° 54′ W
The place is just off the N2, roughly 10 km north of Faro.
Life in town is tranquil. From many positions you have a beautiful panorama view up to the 11 km distant ocean.
Just a very special type of wall decoration.
Milreu
Roman ruins
In the 2nd and 1st century a. Chr. n. a Roman manor was established on the site with business section and villa. There was a wine-press house, a big oil mill and three cellar storerooms for oil.
In the course of the next nearly 500 years the buildings were being changed again and again. Thus were laid out a garden and bathrooms. The mosaics are surprisingly colourful even after nearly 2,000 years.
In the 16th century a Portuguese manor was built upon the foundations. Nowadays the original walls in the interior are exposed again and can be visited.
Two mausoleums belong to the site, one is designed for 10 cinerary urns, the other one was destined for a sarcophagus.
The museum is open all over the year. Except from: New Year, 1st of May and Christmas.
Opening hours:
May until Sept.: 10:30 to 13 h + 14 to 18:30 h
Oct. until April: 9:30 to 13 h + 14 to 17 h
Pousada Palacio de Estói
The palace was the idea of a Portuguese noble. The building owner passed away shortly after the beginning of the construction works in the year 1840. José Francisco da Silva, a wealthy pharmacist and civil governor from Beja, acquired the object in 1905 and finished the building in 1909. In gratitude he was appointed Visconde from Estói.
For a long time the garden was overgrown and the plaster crumbled from the walls. In 2006 one started to save the structure and to convert the palace into a deluxe hotel.
Today it belongs to the Pousadas de Portugal.
The garden and the palace can be visited for free.
Also the rooms inside can be visited freely. A café belongs to the hotel. Its prices are somewhat higher than in the pavement cafés. In return the obtained money is employed for the preservation of the site.
A plea:
Please do not disturb the hotel guests and the procedure of the hotel. Closed rooms should not be entered.
Igreja Matriz de Estoi
Igreja de São Martinho
The Igreja Matriz de Estoi was finished in the year 1554. Due to the heavy earthquake of 1755 it was damaged seriously and then has been reconstructed at the beginning of the 19th century under the direction of the bishop of the Algarve D. Francisco Gomes de Avelar.
The interior of the church is designed brightly. The altar is richly decorated. The utilised marble originates from the region.
In the side aisles are images of the saints and sacred objects.