Almonds everywhere!

Published on 4th February, 2025

The Algarve in early spring is delightful! Everywhere you go you can’t fail to see the beautiful almond trees with their delicate pink and white blossoms bringing the region to life.

Almond trees bloom throughout February and March. And almonds are everywhere here – with huge vats of the nuts on sale at every market and almond-based colourful sweets at pastry shops and cafés. But because most people head to the Algarve for its beaches in the summer, they miss out on their stunning beauty.

But why are there so many almond trees here?

Legend has it that when the Algarve was still called Al-Gharb and ruled by the Moors, a young king, Ibn-Almundim, fell in love with a blue-eyed, golden-haired Nordic princess, Gilda. They got married, made their home in the Varandas Palace in Silves and the king loved her very much. But gradually as each day passed, she became more depressed, and she would sigh and shed tears of longing for her homeland. The king vowed to find out how he could cure her sadness and according to the tale, an elder told him that the Nordic princess missed seeing the snow she was so used to in her home country. The king ordered that thousands of almond trees be planted outside the palace so that when they were in bloom, she would look out of her window and see the landscape covered in a blanket of white petals, giving the appearance of freshly fallen snow. The princess was cured of her sadness almost immediately.

So, what better time to escape the winter blues – visit the Algarve and let us help you choose your perfect Portugal property.

Contact our knowledgeable and professional team of multi-lingual Property Advisors here at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Portugal Property – part of one of the world’s most trusted and respected corporations. Email hello@PortugalProperty.com or call us on +351 308 800 878 or 0800 014 8201 free from the UK.

Published in: Guide to Portugal / Miscellaneous / Portuguese Life / Travel