Located on the border with Spain, the entire municipality of Alcoutim only has a population of about 4,000 residents. The actual town of Alcoutim is just across the Guadiana River from Sanlucar de Guadiana, a Spanish town. Alcoutim is also one of the few municipalities in the Algarve without any ocean coastline.
Alcoutim is the picture of pastoral tranquility. Just gazing up the winding ribbon of river that meanders through the mountains, or seeing the cascade of whitewashed houses that line the hillsides, or the gentle bobbing of colorful fishing boats or elegant sails of pleasure craft on the river as they’re anchored at the shore; Alcoutim’s charm and atmosphere are preserved in time.
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Like the countryside around it, the town of Alcoutim has also seemingly been preserved in time. This traditional Algarvian hill town has retained all of the charm and sense of history that is famous in this area. The oldest part of the town is home to narrow streets that climb the steep hills and are lined with centuries old houses that have stood testament to the passing of time.
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An ancient castle stands as an imposing guard over this quaint town. The remains of the castle are evidence suggesting that the castle was built in the 14th century to defend the border of this hotly contested strategic location on the river. Inside the remains of the castle can be found a museum that showcases the archeological finds discovered when this area was excavated. The towers of this castle are open to visitation and provide stunning panoramic views of the area.
Like all ancient Algarvian towns, Alcoutim is also home to an equally ancient church. Originally built around 1538, this particular church was built on the foundations of a pre-existing medieval church. While the church has been rebuilt several times over the course of time it has retained much of the old-world charm and preserves many fine examples of architecture common to the 16th century.
Even though much about Alcoutim has stood for hundreds of years, the town is not without its modern amenities. This combination of old and new is allowing the area to come under close study and serious consideration by those who wish to purchase property in the Algarve. The availability of open land allows purchasers to build to suit, while property values in and around the town remain constant and not as dear as those in the main tourist areas of the region. These factors combined are making Alcoutim a viable option for many buyers for whom living on the beach is not a necessity.