Ap T2 for Holidays in Albufeira/Algarve/Portugal

Albufeira :
Albufeira, with its beautiful coastline and interesting mix of ancient and modern, forms part of the district of Faro in the Algarve, on the south coast of Portugal. Apart from frequently being described as the ‘Capital of Tourism’ in Portugal, Albufeira is an area steeped in history and tradition, with vestiges of human occupation since the remote Neolithic and Bronze ages. It was originally named ‘Baltum’ during early occupation by the Romans, and there still remain vestiges of aqueducts, roads and bridges built by them. Commerce with the North African coast led to a gradual influx of the Moors. The name Albufeira comes from the Arab “Al-Buhera”, which means “Castle of the Sea”. The Christian conquest of the region began at the end of the 12th Century and in 1504 King D. Manuel I awarded Charter to the Town of Albufeira on the 20th of August – date of the annual municipal holiday.

The horrendous earthquake of 1755 resulted in a tidal flood that destroyed most of the buildings, leaving very little intact. Rebuilding took time and decades passed before Albufeira began to recuperate from this enormous tragedy.

In the middle of the 19th Century, the fishing industry did much to revive the economy of the town - export of fish and dried fruit formed the principal source of income. Then tourism began to flourish from the 1960’s, bringing a breath of fresh air to the local economy, but Albufeira remained a simple picturesque fishing village until it became a City in 1986. From then on, it has been expanding and evolving, as a result of the growth in the tourist industry. The borough of Albufeira receives a considerable percentage of the 5 million tourists who visit the Algarve annually and what used to be contained within a frenetic summer season now extends throughout the year, for visitors of all ages and from all over the world.

In order to cope with this growth, Albufeira had no choice but to extend its historical urban boundaries into the surrounding countryside in order to build the quality accommodation and luxury services that 21st Century tourists require. Montechoro, Areias de São João, the famous Oura ‘Strip’, and the beautiful coastline stretching beyond Olhos d’Agua soon became new centres of attraction for visitors to the east of the Old Town Centre, whilst completion of the Marina extended the town’s urban development westwards to incorporate the miles of golden sandy beaches of Galé and the beautiful ecological golf course at Salgados.


Because of its multiple attractions, such as the friendly charm of its people, the glorious countryside and local cuisine, its beautiful beaches, the lively and social nightlife, varied water sports and golf courses, and the world-famous dolphinarium at Zoo Marine, as well as its extraordinary climate with more than 3000 hours of sunshine per year, more and more tourists are persuaded to select Albufeira as their favourite resort. It has now become one of the most desired holiday destinations in Europe.