Algarve gems

Estói Palace Gardens

Estoi

A pink Rococo revival palace above Faro whose terraced gardens, azulejos and orange trees feel made for slow afternoons. The Palácio de Estói was a nineteenth century nobleman's fantasy and is now a pousada, but the gardens remain open to visitors and are the real prize: balustraded terraces, blue and white azulejo panels, statues, palms and a fountain stair that catches the light at dusk. It sits just off Estói's village square, so you can pair it with coffee at a local café or with the Roman ruins at Milreu, ten minutes away on foot. Weekday mornings outside holiday season are near silent. Enter through the garden gate rather than the hotel reception and take the terraces from the bottom up for the best reveal.