not been to this area but here is an area on my list when we next return

Hello zygurat789, If you like the odd castle then here are a few we have been to.
Silves just back from Portimao you can get there by boat/bus or car old moorish capital of the Algarve last time we were there were digging the inside of the castle up.
Aljezur on the west coast is another Moorish town with lots of intrest and a 10th century castle.
Castro Marim east side of the Algarve over looking Spain there is another castle from the 13th century used by the Knights of Christ and if you want to you can travel from here up the road by the river Guadiana to Alcoutim to see yet another Castle from here you can look over the river and see a Spanish castle looking back at you from a big hill.
Near Estoi at the back of Faro is a place called Milreu a Roman complex from the 1st and 2nd century.
Don't forget to go to Faro lots of history here even a capel of the bones.

Dave

I was looking for things a lot earlier than this say neanderthal to Roman.

Well perhaps you would be better going to Malta or Grease they have lots of it there.

Not at all Portugal was, supposedly, the last Neanderthal outpost and we have found Roman excavations just fenced off.