In the heart of the Serra do Caldeirão, in São Brás de Alportel, the village of Parises has been reborn as a magical Green Christmas Village, celebrating the holiday season with natural decorations and a special program for the whole family.
In an initiative promoted by the City Council, with the support of the Parish Council and the commitment of the inhabitants of the mountain villages, volunteers, and friends, the village was transformed into a charming setting, using only natural and reused materials, without plastic or artificial effects. This work, the result of weeks of dedication in the Christmas Workshop, can be enjoyed until Three Kings Day, January 6th.
The magic of Christmas arrived at the end of the 8th with the turning on of the lights and the performance of a new musical group that brought together four friends to “Dar de Vaia”, with some of the melodies that are part of everyone's memories.
The highlight of the program takes place on December 14th and 15th, with a weekend full of activities, magic and Christmas flavors for the whole family. To live this unique experience, just go up to the Serra, to Parises, located 18 km north of São Brás de Alportel, via EM 1202.
The decorations of the Green Christmas Village reflect the colors, textures, and aromas of the Algarve mountains, a tribute to nature and local creativity. From the moment the village opened with the lighting of the Christmas lights last Sunday, December 8th, accompanied by a toast of chocolate-making coffee prepared over a wood fire, Parises invites everyone to participate in special moments that warm the heart.
The activities of the next Saturday, December 14th, begins at 10:30 am with the lighting of the Village Fire and the opening of the Village Market, at Casa da Serra, a museum space that delights children and adults alike. During the morning, you can learn how to make a traditional wood-fired bean dinner at the Flavor Workshop, a collaboration with the Serra do Caldeirão Brotherhood, while the Christmas Workshop will create a natural mouse. Mrs. Serafina will teach you how to fry yeasted filhós (fried doughnuts), before the various cultural and musical events that promise to liven up the village in the afternoon. At the end of the day, you can enjoy chocolate-making coffee and hot chocolate, both made over a wood fire. At 6:30 pm, the Community Dinner will take place, an opportunity to share flavors and socialize, in collaboration with the Serra do Caldeirão Gastronomic Brotherhood.
Node SundayOn December 15th, the Village Fire will be lit again at 10:30 am, also marking the reopening of the Village Market. In the morning, the Christmas Workshop will teach how to build a Christmas Star with riverside reeds, an activity integrated into the Aldeias de Portugal program. Lunch, at 1:00 pm, will be a mountain-style açorda (bread stew). In the afternoon, you can participate in the preparation of fried biscuits and golden slices at the Flavors Workshop, while the entertainment continues with a performance by the São Brás de Alportel Children's Choir in the Parises Chapel, which is well worth a visit, and traditional dances by the Rancho Típico Sambrasense.
Parises is also part of the Route of the Nativity Scenes of São Brás de Alportel, with a traditional Algarve nativity scene on display in the village chapel, a stone nativity scene installed at the bus stop, and another traditional nativity scene at the Parises Community Center, all available for visits until January 6th.
In addition to the Christmas spirit, Parises offers authentic experiences at any time of year, such as hiking and off-road trails, stunning landscapes and the warm welcome of Serra House, an interpretive center that preserves the history, traditions and local heritage of Serra do Caldeirão.
The Green Christmas Village, in harmony with nature and Algarve traditions, is an unmissable opportunity to experience a sustainable and enchanting Christmas.
