Old Town, Albufeira

The crazy construction that disfigured Algarve, has (thanks God!) spared the central area of old Albufeira.

Now, cleaned and organized for touristy exhibition, the central Albufeira looks good, and, for some minutes, allows us to forget the insanity of exploitation seeking for euros (or dollars, or... just money!) that grew around it.

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While many things are changing in the coast and even in Albufeira, the city's centre has been preserved, and still keeps the look of the good old days, when it was no more than a fishing village where a few sun seekers came in summer. Well done recuperation and embellishing work and the lively business common in touristy hubs don't spoil the place.

Everything is possible and available at short distance.

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In the midst of all the tourism frenzy, Albufeira has a suprisingly nice old part of town that is really charming.
It´s located a stonethrow from the tourist center and has nice little narrow streets with typical algarvian houses.
It´s a nice little corner in a town that i generally think lacks charm in most other parts of town.

The Old Town has the lively Jardim Square as the focus for tourists. Intereesting one man shows abound , and probabaly change throughout the season several times. This double act involved the fellow lifting his imaginary strings as the girl, playing his mannequin, moved in perfect sync. Unususal !

We liked the old town of Albufeira very much. Winding cobbled streets, pavement cafes and restaurants. A place where when you turn another corner you want to explore more.

As I said there is also a part known as the 'strip' more modern, for the younger element, discos. noisey at night. We never actually walked up the strip, we were told about it by some visitors we met, they didnt like it so we gave it a miss.

I expect that most of us have seen these Living Statues, but they never cease to amaze me, the way these people can stand so still, and for so long. And, it was very hot too! The one in the picture here, with Mary, seemed just like the one we saw last year in Torremolinos, but who knows?

One thing for sure is that the fascinate the children - until they suddenly move, and so do the kiddies, LOL!! Take a picture, and give them a Euro or whatever. It's always nice.

I really liked this one, with the iron frame on the top, inside the little streets on the old town. When I first saw it we were driving, well we were lost trying to get our way through the city with no luck lol

You’ll recognise the main church, or parish church, by its tall bell tower. It’s however a simple church with a single nave: it was opened in 1800 on the place where the old parish church once stood before being destroyed by the 1755 earthquake. The church is built in neo-classical style - and its most interesting sight in the interior is a painting by the local artist Samora Barros of Albufeira. This painting decorates the church’s high altar. It’s in Rua da Igreja Nova

The name Albufeira is of Arabic origin: "Al-buhera" means in fact "the Sea Castle". In town there was once, therefore, a castle - and it’s possible that the entire town was walled. Very little of it remains… a small part of the wall. It’s located at the Rua Joaquim Pedro Samora. Further away - and continuing along the same road - you’ll find 2 plaques made of tiles, marking the place where two of the walled-town’s doors were located.

Take a drive up to the hills above the town to have a look around. The views of the sea from the hills around the town are very nice and there are some beautiful sunsets to be had here. By looking out to see you can see why the early Portuguese people had wanted to explore the world.