Mexilhoeira Grande remains a small village where the population originally worked in agriculture. However, people now tend to travel to nearer towns and cities to work in the tourism industry.
Whether you are planning to live and work in the Algarve, retire or invest, the region has something for all.
Mexilhoeira Grande is well placed in the western Algarve, being close to three International Schools; Barlavento International Primary School, Vale Verde in Burgau and Nobel in Lagoa, Faro airport, public and private hospitals, and also a motorway network connecting the Algarve to the rest of Portugal and Spain.
Whilst infrastructure is important, so too is lifestyle and in the Algarve, you can enjoy whatever pace of life you prefer. The region offers year-round cultural events, an international racetrack, major golfing tournaments and much more for visitors and residents alike. With many of the Algarve’s beaches winning the Blue Flag the coast is an important asset for residents and a major tourist attraction.
Mexilhoeira Grande has a year-round international community living in its environs. For those enjoying sports there are tennis clubs, various golf courses a short drive away, cycling routes, diving centres, dance groups, various gyms and centres to enjoy yoga, tai chi etc plus great local areas for bird watching and the opportunity to enjoy walking trails. For those who prefer less energetic activities there are local choirs, amateur dramatic groups, bands and much more to keep you busy.
Most faiths are represented in the region offering the opportunity to worship locally.
Restaurants and bars
There are a variety of places to eat and drink in Mexilhoeira Grande with the coast not far away offering more restaurants and cafés.
To download a guide to the Algarve’s wine, click here
For a Cataplana recipe book click here
For traditional Portuguese recipes download here
Shopping
There are quite a few local shops in Mexilhoeira Grande however Portimão, just 10kms away, is very well provided with supermarkets stocking a wide range of products including those for many dietary requirements.
There are two shopping malls a short drive away, one in Portimão and Algarve Shopping in Guia (near Albufeira), both to the east, where shoppers will find all their favourite stores. With plenty of seats in the sun, restaurants and cafés and a multi-screen cinema located in Algarve Shopping, the late-night shopping means you can work or relax throughout the day.
Events
Throughout the year there are many fairs, festivals and shows, too many to list however, for up-to-date information on current events click here
History
Mexilhoeira Grande is very close to various places of historic interest, from prehistoric and Roman times.
The Megalithic monuments in Alcalar were most likely constructed between 3000 to 1600 BC. They consist of several burial mounds/tombs placed on a hilltop, along a limestone coastal strip, close to the end of the Torre river. There are also signs of a community living in the area, with strategic settlement and artefacts revealing how they lived.
At Quinta da Abicada ruins of a Roman settlement, believed to be from the 1st century, were found and excavated in 1917. It has since been classed as a national monument and the mosaic floors are of particular interest.
The parish church, Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção, was built between 1520 and 1540. It has artistic styles from the Manueline and Renaissance eras and is open only for Mass.
If you are feeling in need of an active history lesson, an interesting trail to follow in the Algarve is the Umayyad Route, the path which the Arabs travelled throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Europe starting in the 8th century through to the 13th.
For more information on places of interest in the area click here for Lagos and click here for Portimão