My Visual Travel Experience: The Algarve, Portugal

In 2012, during our two week long trip to Portugal, my wife and I spent three days in the Algarve, in the southern part of the country. The region is known for its sandy beaches, and its beautiful Mediterranean atmosphere, with its whitewashed buildings, its pretty churches, and its vibrant streets and markets. We rented a car and drove down from Lisbon to the town of Albufeira. Albufeira lies about 250 km south of Lisbon, and the journey took barely two and a half hours. My wife was very particular about my going within the speed limit, but the highway was so good that it was very tempting to go faster. I waited for her to doze off, and then I went at speeds well beyond the speed limit, though I was careful. Years later, I paid the price for it, when I got heavy fines for exceeding the speed limit in the Netherlands. Now I never exceed the speed limit, having learned the hard way!

We made Albufeira our base for three days and it was a wonderful, leisurely stay in this charming, vibrant Mediterranean town. We explored the town, walked along its pedestrian streets, checked out the markets, swam in the sea, lay by the beach, visited a few pretty churches, and ate delicios food at restaurants. My wife loves sea food, so that was a special treat for her. On one of the days, we also drove down to the town of Faro, 40 km to the east of Albufeira. Faro didn't have the same vibrant feel as Albufeira, but it had a magnificent cathedral, which made the trip well worth it.

The Algarve is a region in the south of Portugal, known for its sandy beaches. It has a population of about 450,000 and an area of almost 5,000 sq km. The town of Faro, having a population of about 65,000 (2011), is the region’s administrative centre. Albufeira, with a population of about 15,000, is perhaps the region’s favourite tourist destination. Tourism is a major source of revenue for the Algarve.  In the peak holiday season, a lot of seasonal residents come and the population increases significantly because many wealthy Portugese have their summer homes in the Algarve. The Algarve is also a favourite retirement place.

Southern Portugal was under Roman control in the 2nd century. Many Roman ruins can still be seen. Around the year 500, the Visigoths occupied the region. The Visigothic Kingdom was established in 542 with Toledo as its capital. In 552, the Algarve was occupied by the Byzantine Empire, but from 571 to 711, it was a part of the Visigothic Kingdom again. The Moors then occupied the region, with Silves as its capital. In the 13th century, the Kingdom of Portugal took control from the Moors. King Afonso III became known as the King of Portugal and the Algarve. Between 1595 and 1808, the Algarve was a semiautonomous region of Portugal. In 1910, the First Portugese Republic was established and that marked the end of the Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarve.

Albufeira was badly damaged in the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake. 10 meter high waves descended on the town and most of the town’s buildings were destroyed. The town was painstakingly restored after that.

Old Town Square is filled with restaurants and shops. The centre of the large, attractive square is lied with trees.

Old Town Square

Trees in the centre of Old Town Square

Albefeira’s sandy Beach is very popular with swimmers and sun bathers. The beach is lined with beach umbrellas for sun bathers.

Albufeira's Beach

Rua 5 da Outubro is one of the town’s main streets, full of shops and restaurants catering to the flock of tourists. At the end of the street, there is a tunnel that leads up to the beach.

Rua 5 da Outubro

The Clock Tower was built in the 19th century. At the top, it has an iron crown. The clock tower is illuminated during religious celebrations.

Clock Tower

Igreja Matriz was consecrated in 1800. It replaced another church destroyed in 1755. The old church was a converted former mosque.  The neo classical church has a single nave and four chapels.

Igreja Matriz

High Altar, Igreja Matriz

Sao Sebastiao is one of the town’s main churches. It has a whitewashed exterior and a dome. The church dates back to the early 18th century. The church also has a museum of religious art.

Sao Sebastiao

St Domingos, Sao Sebastiao

Medieval Virgin and Child, Sao Sebastiao

Faro is the administrative seat of the Algarve. Lagos was the administrative seat of the Algarve from 1577 to 1755, but in the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake, Lagos was badly damaged and hence the shift to Faro, which escaped the devastating earthquake.

Arco da Vila is the medieval City Gate, and has a bell tower with a clock. It dates back to 1812. It was a part of the old Moorish city walls.

Arco da Vila

Se de Faro is the Cathedral of Faro. The cathedral replaced an old cathedral, consecrated in the 13th century, and destroyed by the Earl of Essex in 1596. The cathedral is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Se de Faro

High Altar, Se de Faro

Crucifixion Altar, Se de Faro

Virgin and Child Altar, Se de Faro

Altar, Se de Faro

Bell Tower, Se de Faro

Largo da Faro is a large square outside Se de Faro. The square has several historical buildings, and statues.

Largo da Faro

Dom Francisco Gomes Statue, Largo da Se

Afonso III Statue, Largo da Se

The Algarve was a pleasant, relaxing break from an otherwise fairly hectic trip to Portugal, where we also covered Lisbon, Sintra, Fatima, Porto, Duoro Valley, Amarante and Bom Jesus Do Monte. The trip resulted in disaster on the last day of the Portugal leg of our trip, as we were robbed off our passports, money and other valuables by a gang of thieves on a train in Lisbon. However, we still look back with very pleasant memories from the rest of the trip.