Albufeira
one of the leading tourism getaway of the region.Albufeira's origins are unkown but evidence points that it was inhabited during prehistoric times. Starting out 2,000 years ago as a small, fortified town which the Romans called Baltrum.they left behind intense agricultural and commercial activities developements. Aqueducts were built, as were roads and bridges, ruins that still stand to this day. Eight centuries later the Moors conquerd it and renamed it Al-Buhera. Turneing it into a prosperous port trading with North Africa. The Knights of Santiago led the Christian re-conquest of the town in 1250, but without its trade links Albufeira fell upon hard times and this lasted for hundreds of years.
Suffering a succession of devastating earthquakes - in 1719, 1722 and worst of all in 1755 when the town was not only devastated by a series of earth tremors, but was also flooded by tidal waves.
not ending there it had finally settled after 1833 when it was besieged and burnt to the ground by a portuguese civil war(read history of algarve)
The architecture of the town ranges from narrow streets with pale white and sometimes tiled houses though to the very modern tourist developments.some areas offer unique splashesh of pinks, blues and yellows, morrocan styled buildings. dubbed legoland by the local inhabitants.
Once the sun sets the centre of Albufeira comes alive with bars, resturaunts and shops to suit most tastes from authentical Portuguese fare to Irish Pub and Sports Bar.
Albufeira is a good base to explore the region with many smaller and less well known beaches within a short drive.
aside from this there is also alot of history, you can find many historic relics, including ruined castle
posted by christian at 1:37 PM
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