Percurso Cultural de São Bartolomeu de Messines (Cultural Route) | Silves
A peaceful audio guided route by the village. The local history and culture are very visible in the architecture (churches, houses), in the traditional museum and in the house-museum of the poet João de Deus.
Location
Region: Algarve; Municipality: Silves; Civil Parish: São Bartolomeu de Messines.
Accessible by car
Approach via the A2 or IC1 and then take the São Bartolomeu de Messines exit and follow the EN 264 towards Algoz. To do so, take the EN 124 towards Silves. From Silves, take the EN 124 towards São Bartolomeu de Messines until you reach a roundabout with signs to Algoz. Once you turn onto the Algoz road (the EN 264), take the first on the right immediately after the roundabout.
Accessible by train
Stop at São Bartolomeu de Messines train station, which is west of the town itself.
Starting Point
Next to the Nossa Senhora da Saúde Chapel. ( N37°15'3.00" W8°17'15.84")
Finishing point
Next to the Nossa Senhora da Saúde Chapel.
Type of route
Circular
Location
Region: Algarve; Municipality: Silves; Civil Parish: São Bartolomeu de Messines.
Accessible by car
Approach via the A2 or IC1 and then take the São Bartolomeu de Messines exit and follow the EN 264 towards Algoz. To do so, take the EN 124 towards Silves. From Silves, take the EN 124 towards São Bartolomeu de Messines until you reach a roundabout with signs to Algoz. Once you turn onto the Algoz road (the EN 264), take the first on the right immediately after the roundabout.
Accessible by train
Stop at São Bartolomeu de Messines train station, which is west of the town itself.
Starting Point
Next to the Nossa Senhora da Saúde Chapel. ( N37°15'3.00" W8°17'15.84")
Finishing point
Next to the Nossa Senhora da Saúde Chapel.
Type of route
Circular
Minimum Altitude
124 m
Maximum Altitude
165 m
Length
2.40 km
Time required
1h-1h30 (approx.)
Cumulative elevation gain
64 m
Cumulative elevation loss
64 m
Minimum Altitude
124 m
Maximum Altitude
165 m
Length
2.40 km
Time required
1h-1h30 (approx.)
Cumulative elevation gain
64 m
Cumulative elevation loss
64 m
Description of Itinerary

Download the audioguide before you start the walk.

  • MP3 file: 47 Mb
  • MP4 file: 89 Mb

 

          

Start off facing the Nossa Senhora da Saúde Chapel and go down the stairs on your left, towards the village. When you reach an area of open ground, follow the dirt track on the left. Follow the GR13 – Via Algarviana signs alongside the railway line.

Turn right, onto a trail that runs alongside the railway line and which will take you to the road. Be careful on this part of the track as it is slippery.

Once you reach the road, turn right and you’ll find the S. B. Messines Costume and Traditions Museum. Turn left towards the centre and then follow the road towards the market.

As you follow the road along, it’ll get narrower and you’ll find yourself at the Main Church. With your back to the main façade, go down the stairs and walk a further 40 m until you reach a narrow street on the right. Go down the street and under the arch until you reach Largo João de Deus.

Turn right, past the archway again, head right and then take the first right until you’re back at the S. B. Messines Main Church.

At the end of the street, turn left and head to the João de Deus House Museum. Keep following the road past the House Museum, on the left of the church. After about 130 m, turn onto Rua do Norte. At the end of the road, turn right onto Rua do Penedo and carry on down the narrow lanes. Go down the stairs carved into the sandstone and keep going straight ahead.

At the junction at the bottom, follow the signs to the chapel. Walk towards Rua de S. Sebastião and turn left at the end into Largo de S. Sebastião and the chapel itself. Keep going along the street, leading you past the Chapel, where you’ll find Point 1, which tells you the street name.

Go down the stairs to your left. Back on the tarmacked road, turn right and then take the first left. At the end of the street, turn left towards the market.

Head down Rua Dr. António Cabrita Carneiro, which is opposite the market, to find Point 2.

Turn right at the roundabout at the end of the road, following the road past some open ground. At the end of the street, you’ll find yourself back at Messines Costume and Traditions Museum; go past the museum and turn left onto a trail that runs alongside the railway line. Follow the GR13 – Via Algarviana signs back up the stairs to the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Saúde.

 

 

What will I see?

Flora

  • Carob Tree - Ceratona siliqua
  • Almond Tree - Prunus dulcis
  • Fig Tree - Ficus carica
  • Common Myrtle - Myrtus communis
  • Olive Tree - Olea europaea
  • Wrinkled Rockrose - Cistus crispus
  • French Lavender - Lavandula luisieri
  • Sage-leaved Rock-rose - Cistus salvifolius
  • Cork Oak - Quercus suber

Architecture and monuments

  • Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Saúde
  • Main Church of São Bartolomeu de Messines
  • João de Deus House Museum
  • Chapel of S. Sebastião
  • Typical architecture
  • The birthplace of João de Deus

 

 USEFUL INFORMATION

  • Along the route you will be instructed to pause the audio guide until you reach a certain location;
  • Even if not instructed to do so, you should pause the audio guide if you have not yet reached the location being described, as there may discrepancies between the audio timings and the time it takes you to get to certain locations.
Useful contact information
  • Silves Town Hall: (+351) 282 440 800
  • São Bartolomeu de Messines Civil Parish Council: (+351) 282 339 136
  • Almargem Association: (+351) 289 412 959
  • São Bartolomeu de Messines Health Centre: (+351) 282 339 252
  • São Bartolomeu de Messines Volunteer Firefighters: (+351) 282 339 633
  • National Republican Guard – São Bartolomeu de Messines: (+351) 282 339 246
  • If you see a fire, call: 117
  • In the event of an emergency, call: 112
Downloads
Leaflet with Map
MP3 (47 Mb, audio): Percurso Cultural de S. Bartolomeu de Messines
MP4 (89 Mb, audio+video, for Smartphone - 720x406): Percurso Cultural de S. Bartolomeu de Messines
Track GPX: Percurso Cultural de São Bartolomeu de Messines
Track KML: Percurso Cultural de São Bartolomeu de Messines