Sign in with Facebook"Alvor, A Lovely Place" Top 5 Page for this destination Alvor by Balam
Alvor Travel Guide: 155 reviews and 363 photos
Alvor is a small fishing village which is quickly being overcome with large hotels but despite the tourism growth it has been facing, you can still watch fishermen bring in their daily catch down at the old quay but now there is also a new marina and numerous up-to-date tourist facilities.
Ria de Alvor, one of the most important humid areas of the south of Portugal, is a natural sanctuary that deserves preservation and respect. This sensitive area of Portimão it’s used by migratory birds (like the capped heron, the long-billed tern, the falcon and the white stork) as a passing-through, rest and feeding location.
Probably the Carthaginians founded Alvor and its history is interesting. It is said by some that it was really the site of "Portus Hannibalis". The Romans gave it the name Ipses and it was considered an important port and was allowed to issue its own money. Its richness is confirmed by the ruins of a rich Roman villa located slightly inland from the now village. In the time of the Moors who first occupied the place in 716, they gave it the named of "Albur" and the town passed through both the Portuguese and Moors hands several times until 1250 when the Christians conquered it for the final time. King Dom João II, who is regarded as an outstanding Portuguese king, is recorded as dying in 1495 within the town walls from a prolonged illness. Most of the original town has been destroyed in the earthquakes of 1532 and 1755.
See the full view from our Balcony
Fishing is still alive in the village with a new fish market having been built a short walk down the promenade although the old fish market is still a place were the Old fisher men gather and some still sit and clean their catch there
you can still watch fishermen bring in their daily catch down at the old quay but now there is also a new marina and numerous up-to-date tourist facilities. The narrow streets of the old village have many attractive restaurants and, as expected in the land of fishermen, fish is the speciality dish.
Video of Alvor fishermen cleaning their catch
Alvor's narrow streets of the old village have many attractive restaurants from traditional village food to Indian food.
In the Picture the building at the end of the street is the old Fish Market and as expected in the land of fishermen, fish is the speciality dish.
Video of a walk down Alvors main st to the old fish Market
I have moved my Food, recipe and other general tips to my new Algarve page's
- Pros:Large beach nearby, lots of places to eat and drink.
- Cons:It is quite hilly.
- In a nutshell:A Picturesque Village with friendly people
Reviews (74)
A Small Place
Restaurants
(26)
This great little restaurant serves some really nice food, Mostly cooked on the indoor grill next to the window at the... more travel advice
Alcalar Megalithic Monuments
Things to Do
(22)
Alcalar is a group of megalithic funeral temples which were discovered in the nineteenth century but built and used over... more travel advice
A Nice 4 Stars
Hotels
(5)
The Pestana Dom Joao II is situated next to Alvor beach and is a really nice 4 star hotel. It has a nice restaurant and... more travel advice
A Nice Local Place
Restaurants
(26)
We called in here for the first time for breakfast, It's a lovely little Portuguese Cafe tucked between two more modern... more travel advice
-
Transportation (2)
See All Airport Transfers -
Local Customs (2)
See All The Cock of Barcelos -
Warnings Or Dangers (2)
See All Driving
-
Shopping (8)
See All Fancy a Read? -
Nightlife (7)
See All Come and see a star ? -
Been to Alvor?
Share your travels with the world!
Balam's Related Pages
-
Silves
Top 5 Page for this destination
-
Portimão
Top 5 Page for this destination
-
Lagos
Top 5 Page for this destination
-
Ferragudo
Top 5 Page for this destination
-
Sagres
Top 5 Page for this destination
-
Tavira
-
Praia da Rocha
Top 5 Page for this destination
-
Carvoeiro
Top 5 Page for this destination
-
Faro
-
Aljezur
-
Monchique
-
Lagoa
-
Albufeira
-
Cascais
-
Lisbon
-
Sintra
-
Cabo da Roca
-
Algarve
Top 5 Page for this destination
-
Distrito de Lisboa
-
Majorca Island
Alvor Travel Guide
Member Travel Pages
- "Alvor, A Lovely Place"
- "My favourite place in the World!"
- "Alvor - its quality not quantity"
- "Old fishing village"
- "Alvor, Portugal"
- "Alvor"
- "Alvor, Portugal - A very nice place"
- See All...
Badges & Stats in Alvor
- 74 Reviews
- 275 Photos
- 15 Forum posts
- 19 Comments
- 17,199PageViews
- See All Stats
- See All Badges (55)
Have you been to Alvor?
Share Your TravelsLatest Activity in Alvor
- Wrote a Review A Small Place in Alvor Restaurants
- Uploaded a Photo to "A Small Place"
- updated a Alvor Travel Page "Alvor, A Lovely Place"
- Replied to lauraann88's Travel Alvor Forum Forum Question "alvor nightlife"
- Uploaded a Video to Alvor
- Commented on juenbecks's Alvor Page
Top 10 Pages
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Manchester
Intro, 86 reviews, 324 photos, 9 travelogues
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Alvor
Intro, 74 reviews, 275 photos, 3 travelogues
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Wales
Intro, 62 reviews, 244 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Crete Island
Intro, 85 reviews, 210 photos, 1 travelogue
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Prefecture of Heraklion
Intro, 58 reviews, 145 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Bangor
Intro, 47 reviews, 147 photos, 4 travelogues
-
Cardiff
Intro, 35 reviews, 147 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Chester
Intro, 35 reviews, 130 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Rhodes (Island)
Intro, 57 reviews, 104 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Oldham
Intro, 44 reviews, 107 photos
Historical Travel
Castles and Palaces
ArcheologyLatest Alvor hotel reviews
- Prainha Club Alvor
- 49 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 21, 2012 - Clube Brisamar Alvor
- 142 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 22, 2012 - Quinta Nova Sun Club
- 142 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 22, 2012 - Clube Alvor Ria
- 9 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 26, 2012 - Yellow Alvor Hotel
- 156 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 30, 2012 - Pestana Dom Joao II
- 317 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 21, 2012 - Pestana Alvor Park Hotel
- 77 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 20, 2012 - Pestana Delfim Hotel
- 188 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2012 - Apartamentos Turisticos da Bemposta
- 2 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Sep 21, 2008 - Vilamor Apartments
- 18 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Sep 26, 2011 - Clube Alvorferias
- 183 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2012 - Vila Marachique
- 15 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Aug 23, 2011 - Alvor Jardim Aparthotel
- 3 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 6, 2007 - Casa De Alvor Hotel
- 11 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Oct 5, 2011 - Maralvor
- 23 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 8, 2012
Comments (19)
I don't remember if I visited Alvor. Good page.
Ciao!
Love the pic of the gardens, heron & stork xx
Certainly is a nice place. We have been many times over the years and will try your recommendations when there in august.
I agree about the Gypsies...same here....
Buganvillia. Tried this restaurant last week 20/06/10 , fantastic, could not rate it highly enough.
Such a nice town in spite of the pesky tourists and development. YOu did a very nice job of taking the pictures and making meaningful comments
Nice page! I guess I am naive because I had no idea other countries also celebrated Halloween! Love to spend a few weeks in a great place like this by the sea! Thanks again for the postcard!! Sylvia
hello , im off to alvor in a couple of weeks, i last visited about 5 years ago, are there still live music bars?
great pages on Alvor and Portugal, Thanks
had some very nice meals in your resturant. i have got some photos can i upload them?
1 - 10 of 19
View 9 More