the beach... the sea and other Albufeira, Portugal Things to Do Tips

quietness... by the beach

The real sight for people coming to Albufeira - or Algarve in general - is the sea... amazing, clean and crystal-clear... at times blue, at times green! The beaches are amazing, too... ochre in colour - but with the right sunlight they look as if they are made of gold... and endless. I went in Amrch - and they were really empty - beautiful - quiet (and yes, the water was too cold to swim!). I have the feeling - however - that in the high season, when it gets really crowded - much of this natural charm is lost.

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Address: albufeira
Directions: along the coast

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Things To Do: once upon a time... there was a castle

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Written by call_me_rhia

on Mar 4, 2004

what's left of the castle walls

The name Albufeira is of Arabic origin: "Al-buhera" means in fact "the Sea Castle". In town there was once, therefore, a castle - and it’s possible that the entire town was walled. Very little of it remains… a small part of the wall. It’s located at the Rua Joaquim Pedro Samora. Further away - and continuing along the same road - you’ll find 2 plaques made of tiles, marking the place where two of the walled-town’s doors were located.

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Address: albufeira
Directions: in the old town

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Things To Do: Misericordia Chapel

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Written by call_me_rhia

on Mar 4, 2004

once a mosque - now a chapel

This little chapel, hidden among white houses, used to be – during the moorish invasion, a little mosque. When the Moors were chased away it became the Governor’s chapel and subsequently - in 1499 - it was restored and became the "Capela da Misericórdia". It doesn’t look so old from the outside, however, and this is due to the fact that most of the exterior had been demolished in 1755 by a big earthquake. When it was re-restored part of it were rebuilt in gothic style. Inside you can see a carved wooden altar piece supporting an image of Our Lady of the Visitation and of the Dead Father and also the tomb of Rui Dias who was probably the first Governor of the Castle.

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Address: albufeira
Directions: in the old town

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Things To Do: The clock tower

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Written by call_me_rhia

on Mar 4, 2004

detail of the bell tower

It’s the first thing that caught my eye when entering Albufeira: I looked up and saw this strange wrought-iron structure on top of a bell tower. I later learned that it is considered the symbol of the city: it’s in Rua Bernardino de Sousa. Is it a church? I’m not sure. It surely looks like one… however I know that once the building used to be the country jail. Was it then turned into a church? I very much doubt so

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Address: albufeira
Directions: in the old town

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Things To Do: the main church

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Written by call_me_rhia

on Mar 4, 2004

a view of the church and bell tower

You’ll recognise the main church, or parish church, by its tall bell tower. It’s however a simple church with a single nave: it was opened in 1800 on the place where the old parish church once stood before being destroyed by the 1755 earthquake. The church is built in neo-classical style - and its most interesting sight in the interior is a painting by the local artist Samora Barros of Albufeira. This painting decorates the church’s high altar. It’s in Rua da Igreja Nova

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Address: albufeira
Directions: in the old town

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Things To Do: Sant’Ana Church

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Written by call_me_rhia

on Mar 4, 2004

the cute little church of st. Ana

This little church is my favourite of all the churches in Albufeira: it’s tiny but its decorations make it of outstanding beauty. The ceiling’s intricate pattern is really charming - and it seems that the idea of the cupola and surrounding pinnacles belong to popular architecture. I guess that there’s something of a Moorish influence, too, in the white-washed cupola. It was built in the 18th century and it is located in the Largo Jacinto d’Ayet square.

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Address: albufeira
Directions: in the old town

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Things To Do: S. Sebastiao Church

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Written by call_me_rhia

on Mar 4, 2004

S. Sebastiao Church