Snails are a “love it or hate it” kind of dish for many in Portugal
One of Portugal’s most traditional summer snacks, snails, will be the star of the show at Castro Marim’s ‘Festival Internacional do Caracol’ (International Snail Festival), taking place between Friday and Sunday (July 18-20) at Revelim de Santo António.
Snails are a “love it or hate it” kind of dish for many in Portugal. Typically eaten in late spring and summer, especially in southern Portugal (like the Algarve) and Lisbon, they are usually served boiled in a garlicky, herby broth, and are a popular snack in cafés and tascas (small, traditional eateries), often paired with a cold beer.
In Castro Marim, they are celebrated every summer in a festival that also features other traditional Portuguese dishes, as well as live music.
The event, which is free to visit, opens on all three days at 6pm and runs late into the night. “It aims to establish Castro Marim as the destination for the best snails in the Algarve, as well as bolster traditional products, cuisine and culture of the Mediterranean and breathe life into local businesses,” says the municipal council, which organises the event.
