Albufeira is a charming old town whose name is derived from its Moorish name, al-Buħayra (the lagoon). It was once a Moorish stronghold and was one of the last towns to fall during the reign of Alfonso III. In 1755, the town was destroyed by the earthquake and the resulting tsunami's 10-meter waves.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, Albufeira survived primarily on the exports of fish and nuts, but in the 1960s the town began attracting tourists. Today, the local population of around 30,000 swells tenfold during the summer months. The two main areas of Albufeira are the Old Town and the Strip (Avenida Francisco Sá Carneiro) which is lined with bars, clubs, and restaurants and overrun with estrangeiros, mostly Brits. For this reason, it's best to visit in the off-season. A cliff tunnel, with a hotel perched above it, leads to a nice beach which, while crowded during the summer, is quite sheltered and good for swimming. One of Jennifer's favorite spots is the rock breakwater at the beach's western end.
[Scroll left/right to view gallery]
Comments