It’s not a delicacy everyone will enjoy but those who do will likely be heading to Castro Marim this weekend for the town’s popular snail festival, Festival Internacional do Caracol. Snails cooked in the traditional way – in boiling water with salt, garlic and oregano – and many new recipes will be on offer for visitors to enjoy from this Friday (July 20) until Sunday (July 22).
Visitors will be able to taste some of the best snail dishes made in the Algarve as well as delicacies from Spain, France and Morocco, thus the event’s “international” aspect.
The event is once again taking place at Colina do Revelim de Santo António and will also feature a vast entertainment programme, mouth-watering regional sweets and a sublime view of the Guadiana River and Sapal nature reserve.
This year, organisers also want to bring the event into the town of Castro Marim and are calling on local restaurants and eateries to join the festival with their own snail dishes.
Three establishments – Serafim, O Forte and O Sapal – have already joined and others are expected to follow.
Organised by Castro Marim council, the event hopes to establish the town as “the Algarve’s best destination to enjoy snail dishes” while also promoting traditional products, cuisine and Mediterranean culture.
