The Chapel of Santo António das Areias (Chapel of Saint Anthony of the Sands) stands inside the old fortress overlooking the beach, right in the centre of Armação de Pêra. Surrounded today by restaurants, cafés and busy streets, it is a small reminder of what the town looked like centuries ago.

The chapel dates back to the early 18th century and was built inside the Fortaleza de Santo António das Areias, which was constructed to help protect the local fishing community and coastline from attacks by pirates and corsairs.

Saint Anthony was the patron saint of the fort, which is where the chapel gets its name. It is also known as the Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos, and inside you can find images of both Saint Anthony and Our Lady of the Afflicted.

The history of the chapel is also connected to one of the most devastating events in Portugal's history. The earthquake and tsunami of 1755 caused serious destruction along the Algarve coast, including in Armação de Pêra. Historical information from the local parish describes how the sea reached the settlement, and the chapel was torn from its foundations.

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The chapel and fortress were later rebuilt, and the fort remains one of the historic landmarks of Armação de Pêra today. The fortress has been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1978.

The area around the chapel works like a small viewpoint, with the terrace and old fortress walls looking over the beach and sea. It is a lovely place to stop for a few minutes and get a great view along the long stretch of Armação de Pêra beach.