The tiny Algarve village of Parises comes alive for the holiday season
When people think of the Algarve, all too often it’s just about the clichés of resorts, beaches, golf, and water parks that come to mind. But there is a whole other beautiful land up in the unspoiled hills of the Algarve’s interior. There are places that tourists never see and can’t imagine. Even most natives or residents of Portugal do not explore these magical hidden gems.
This week, my wife and I drove 17 km north from the iconic city of São Bras de Alportel, on a curvy, meandering mountain road to a tiny village called Parises. We were wowed by stunning landscape vistas, and soon … we were immersed in a dreamy Christmas fantasy.
Parises village is hosting a “Green Christmas”. All of her 21 inhabitants (ages 11 to 93) have worked together to create an enchanting environment to celebrate the season. Using locally sourced wood, flowers, stalks, branches, fabrics, ribbons, paint, and antiques, they have decorated the entire village for the holidays.
“We call it a Green Christmas because all of the decorations are handmade from natural materials, by the people of Parises,” said Sónia Martins, tourism director for the municipality of São Bras de Alportel. “Our goal is to share the beauty of this area, and revitalize the community.”
The Parises Green Christmas project is the brainchild and passion of Sónia, whose work and dedication has inspired the townsfolk to reinvent themselves. She has also joyfully fostered a beautiful interpretive center in Parises, which opened in 2023.
The center colorfully illustrates the rich history and traditions of Algarve agrarian life. In addition to the village decorations, the Natal Village hosts many activities including musical events, dancing, craft and cooking workshops, a market, and a community dinner. It’s a very full schedule for such a small place.
There is great beauty in preserving the noble past of life here and keeping their little village thriving. As people age and their young move to cities, many such places are becoming a forgotten relic of the past. A village like this feels remote, but it isn’t really that far away, and even offers public transportation. There is reality in this fantasy, and what makes it real is the sense of community.
For my wife and I, this is at the center of why we moved to Portugal. It’s a fast-changing world out there. We don’t want to stop progress, but many “improvements” of the modern world have left behind things that have so much value. To find a strong sense of community in the little village of Parises was really a delight.
The Village of Natal in Parises continues through to January 6. For more information, consult the https://www.facebook.com/CasadaSerraSaoBrasAlportelFacebook page.
Words and photos by ERIC ROTH
|| features@portugalresident.com
Eric Roth is a lifelong photojournalist who has recently emigrated from Boston, USA to the Algarve. He loves nature and wildlife. 926 742 687 | ericrothphoto@gmail.com
