Albufeira is a Portuguese city in the Algarve region, in the district of Faro, located on the Atlantic Ocean. The city is the seat of the municipality of the same name. Over the years, it has transformed from a fishing town into a holiday resort. It is a significant cultural centre of the Algarve region, and most of the coastal events take place here.
- The Old Town is a magical labyrinth of narrow streets with historic tenement houses. You can walk these streets endlessly. And it is best to do it first thing in the morning, when the city is just waking up to life. You don’t even have to have a specific plan, you just have to walk, observe and absorb the atmosphere. The white tenement houses with colorful shutters and colorful doors really look wonderful. In addition, each window sill is decorated with fresh flowers and sometimes even typical Portuguese mosaics.
- In the center of the Old Town is the main church in the city – Igreja Matriz. It was built in the 18th century in the neoclassical style. From the outside, attention is drawn to 3 huge windows with stone frames and arches. Inside, we will see the main nave with 4 altars. On the main altar, we can admire the sculpture of the patron saint of Albufeira, Nossa Senhora da Conceição. This 17th-century sculpture is 2 meters and 40 centimeters high.
- The Old Town is also home to the Archaeological Museum (Museu Municipal de Arqueologia). The museum is dedicated to the history of the Algarve, and in particular the history of Albufeira. The museum is divided into 4 periods: prehistory, the Roman period, the Arab period and the present. It contains artifacts found in the surrounding area by local archaeologists. It is a small museum, but history buffs will definitely appreciate it.
- Praia dos Pescadores is the Fishermen’s Beach, because many years ago, fishermen used to moor their boats on this beach. After all, the residents of Albufeira used to be mainly engaged in fishing. Today, there are no fishing boats there, and the beach has become a favorite tourist destination. It’s no wonder, after all, Praia dos Pescadores lies at the foot of the Old Town. So, relaxing on the beach, you can admire the view of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Old Town on the other. The beach is really nice and wide. You can rent an umbrella and sun loungers. There are many restaurants and cafes around.
- From Praia dos Pescadores you can go to a viewpoint called Miradouro do Pau da Bandeira. The viewpoint is located right above the beach and you can get to the top by escalator. From the viewpoint there is a beautiful view of the beach and the Old Town. You can sit on a bench there and admire the view. Apparently the sunsets from there are breathtaking. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to see them there.
- There is a large port outside the city centre. It is mainly a port for private and excursion boats. At the port you can buy a boat trip to nearby islands, caves or dolphins. There are really many options and it is worth asking the employees of the excursion agencies for details.
- The Praia de Falesia beach is 6 km long. It is characterized by clean, soft sand, clear water and majestic red cliffs. In many rankings, this beach appears in the top of the most beautiful beaches in the world. And there is really not an ounce of exaggeration in this. The sunsets there are simply fabulous. It is best to watch them not from the beach itself but from the top of the cliff. Then the setting sun, sand, ocean and cliffs appear in the frame.
