| During August Bank Holiday weekend, the
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| | and pluck! The show that they put on is
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| castle at Castro Marim on the Algarve,
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| | truly memorable and they like to include
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| Portugal, returns to the medieval ages,
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| | visitors in the proceedings; so if you
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| recreating all the pomp and circumstance
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| | attend watch out, you may well become
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| of that era in a spectacular four-day
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| | part of the show!
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| festival.
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| | As with most of the Algarve, there are
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| Although it's only 40 miles from Faro
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| | plenty of quality fish restaurants in
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| airport, Castro Marim is considered off
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| | Castro Marim and many friendly bars,
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| the beaten tourist track. Overlooked by
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| | making it a great place to visit if you
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| the impressive historic Castle, the town
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| | wish to chill out. The residents are very
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| of Castro Marim was originally founded by
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| | friendly and welcoming and you will revel
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| the Romans as a seaport. However, it is
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| | in their hospitality. But, if you fancy
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| now some three miles from the coast and
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| | combining your festival experience with a
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| the land in between now largely features
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| | few days lazing on the beach, you'd be
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| a salt marsh nature reserve. The historic
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| | better off travelling to one of the
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| castle, where most of the festival takes
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| | Algarve's better-known resorts, such as
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| place, stands above the tranquil,
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| | Albufeira or Villanova further west. You
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| whitewashed town and is a memorable place
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| | may even wish to drive farther afield and
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| to visit - either to watch the festival
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| | take in the historic capital of Lisbon,
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| or as part of a longer break in Portugal.
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| | further up the northern coast of
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| The Feira Medieval de Castro Marim starts
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| | Portugal.
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| with a fanciful parade through the
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| | Thankfully, cheap car hire in Portugal is
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| streets led by the king and queen, who
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| | plentiful and easy to organise; many car
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| are accompanied by their colourful Court
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| | rental companies will let you pick up
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| consisting of noblemen, ladies,
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| | your car at Faro airport when you arrive,
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| musicians, stilt-walkers, jesters and a
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| | from where the Algarve is your oyster.
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| handful of knights in shining armour.
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| | Indeed, car rental in Portugal is even
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| Once the noisy procession is complete the
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| | more essential if you are organising your
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| fun starts, featuring jousting
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| | own holiday break, as you won't want to
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| tournaments and street theatre
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| | rely on public transport. It can be hit
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| performances based loosely on the
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| | or miss on the Algarve and the freedom to
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| medieval ages. You have to hand it to the
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| | travel wherever you want if very
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| locals: dressing up in full armour at the
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| | important in a country that has so much
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| height of summer takes some resilience
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| | to offer.
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