Albufeira

Albufeira is a city with great potential, and with several areas of interest. Discover, with the use of a bike, the existing mobility that you can achieve in this region, observe the culture that is still present or enjoy the excelent contact with Nature that you can have in just a small distance of the Albufeira urban center.

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Some points of interest:


Praia dos Pescadores Pontoon

This pontoon in of the favorite spots for fishermen and is a great place for diving in the sea, and also has a great view of the beach.

Pintor Samora Barros Art Gallery
Former power station, the building is located in Largo Eng.º Duarte Pacheco and is dated from the beginning of the century, 1926.
In 1988, was reabilitated and transformed in a Art Gallery. It has two floors and exterior arches, which allow the Natural illumination of all the building. Of its facade, highlight the tiles and exterior grounds, designed by the albufeirense painter, Samora Barros.
Schedule: Daily from 10h30 to 17h00
Except Sundays and Holidays.

St. Sebastião Church and Museum of Sacred Art
The St. Sebastião Church was built in the middle of the eighteenth century, and is located in the Miguel Bombarda Square. It only has one nave and highlights the baroque style of it's outer door. It mantains in the inside a a wooden altar of the second half of the eighteenth century. and different images of saints.



Main Church
The Nossa Senhora da Conceição Main Church was built in the eighteenth century, and was consecrated in the 15th July of 1800 by the Algarve bishop, Francisco Gomes de Avelar. It is located in the Igreja Nova Street and substituted the old Church that was razed by the 1755 earthquake. It is neoclassical and it's plant has a single nave with four side chapels, baptismal chapel, choir, two pulpits and two side rooms. Upon the facade is the Cross of Avis. Stands in the high altar a painting attributed to the albufeirense painter Samora Barros that serves as background to the image of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, patron saint of Albufeira.



Sant'Ana Church
The Sant'Ana Church was built inthe eighteenth century, and is located in the Jacinto d´Ayet Square. In the chancel is an altarpiece attributed to the masters Francisco Xavier Guedelha and João Baptista. Also stands inside an altarpiece of Nossa Senhora das Dores and an image of the crucified Christ carved in wood.

St. Vicente Statue

St. Vicente of Albufeira is a monument in memory to Frei Vicente of Santo António, a great man born in Albufeira in 1590. It is located in the Jacinto d'Ayet Square.

Municipal Archeology Museum (Old City Hall)
The Municipal Alcheology Museum of Albufeira is located in the old city area, in the building in wich until the 80s decade worked as City Hall. Inside has several study and conservation rooms, and a library. The exhibits range from its remotest origins to the seventeenth century, and are divided into four main centers, pre-history, Roman period, the Islamic period and the modern age. Noteworthy are the architectural remains found in the Roman town of Retorta and the Necropolis of Morgado da Lameira.


Music Conservatory (Old Hospital) and Archaeological Center
The conservatory was founded in 1996, and has already realized tens of concerts in several places in Portugal and in foreign countries. It started it pedagogical activity with the opening of the Music and dance Schools of Albufeira. The courses offered by the School of Music have Pedagogical Parallelism at the level of Basic Courses of the Ministry of Education, where you can learn: singing, guitar, violin, piano, among others. Next to the conservatory is the Archaeological Center and is also possible to see the excavations that are being conducted on this site.

Santa Casa da Misericórdia
According to the oral tradition of some authors, its foundation dates back to the year of 1499. It is considered as one of the brotherhoods imposed by the Queen D. Leonor, by the fact that Albufeira is the only county in the Algarve that belonged to the Order of Aviz. It's vocation for social assistance, makes the Santa Casa da Misericordia de Albufeira an important institution in helping the disadvantaged. It has 20 valence distributed by Homes for the Elderly, Day Care, support for the disabled, among others.



Algarve Shopping
Come and Discover the shopping center from Guia, where you can find the best products and clothing of the most known brands, in addition to other possibilities that only a shopping center allows.





Cantor Cellar

 Located near the Algarve Shopping, this cellar was built to produce the wine Vida Nova and Onda Nova, from three surrounding farms: the Quinta do Moinho, the Quinta do Miradouro and the Quinta Vale do Sobreiro. The goal it to produce the best wine that this region has to offer, combining techniques of traditional production and others more modern and innovative.

Together with wine production, also offers guided tours of the vineyards and winery, with whine tastes, and the opportunity to buy wine and a variety of merchandise.
Sir Cliff Richard, , met and fell in love with the Algarve for over 40 years. His dream of planting a vineyard in his property Quinta do Moinho, was the inspiration for wines Vida Nova, and he is involved in the production of the whine. When he is in Portugal is usual to see him with his hands dirty in the vines or even stepping on grapes in the Cellar.

Wells
In all the region of the Algarve can be found old wells where the population used to get water to several ends, and Albufeira is no exception. In our map we show some locations of old wells, some of those still working.




Cemeteries
In this region cemeteries you can see the present culture in the Algarve, where christianism is predominat.






Albufeira Marina
Considered the most secure and sheltered Marina of Portugal and inserted in a touristic high quality complex, where green spaces are predominant and only 29% of the area of implantation is destined to construction, the Marina of Albufeira includes in its project hotels, restaurants, bars, stores, pools, apartaments, housing, diversion center and leisure.
Located in the center of the Algarve, the Marina of Albufeira marks a diference, namely in terms of arquitectonical functional conception, in relation to previous designed projects.
The marina itself has a entrance channel, with 25 meters wide, an area for tall ships with 1,6 hectares, and an area for medium vessels with 5 hectares.
Symbol of quality and environmental respect, the Albufeira Marina is also distinguished with the Blue Flag, being met all educational, informational, ambiental management, safety, services and water quality criteria.

Fishermen Port
Formerly located where is now known the pescadores beach, the Fishing Port was transfered to near the Albufeira Marina to improve the fishermen condition that here work. See the mores and the traditional methods of this region fishermen here in the Fishing Port.




Birdwatching
The region of Salgados in Albufeira County is a great spot to Birdwatching, and the lovers of this modality have the possibility to discover the exotic species of this area through the birdwatching Posts that exist in here.






Nossa Senhora da Guia Chapel
Baroque style, the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Guia preserved inside a gilded baroque altarpiece, in which can be foundthe image of Nossa Senhora da Guia. It is considered has the most representative baroque witness in the Algarve and one of the most important monuments of artistic valuein the Municipality of Albufeira.



Guia Main Church

The Guia Main Church, small village of the Municipality of Albufeira, is a building constructed in the seventeenth century. In it's interior houses pictures of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. From the Seventeenth-century stand images of St. Antonio and the Christ crucified, and from the eighteenth-century images of Nossa Senhora do Rosário, Nossa Senhora das Dores and the chancel an altarpiece with the image of Nossa Senhora da Visitação..

St. Sebastião Chapel
Built, possibly, in the beggining of the seventeenth century, this chapel was severely damaged in the 1755 earthquake, and was totally rebuilt after 3 years.
The Chapel is dedicated to St. Sebastião, that, according to the legend, was a determinant saint to extinguish the Black Death.




Guia
This village located near Albufeira has several points of interest, being some of the most known the Algarve Shoppingm, Zoomarine and the Main Church. This region is also know by it's gastronomy, namely the chickens of Guia that bring every year thousands of persons to this place.




Zoomarine
An oceanographic park with educational nature. With a filosophy based in conservation and environmental education, the park was inaugurated at 03 august 1991. In it's different shows we find numerous species of animals such as dolphins, seals, sharks, turtles, exotic birds, etc. It has an aquarium and a reabilitation center for Maritime Species, and also all sorts of services, such as restaurants, stores and different atractions.

City Hall
Located in front of the Fire Department, the City Hall building is located between the Courthouse and the Auditorium/Municipal Gallery.






Municipal Market
In the Municipal Market you can find the best products of this region at the best prices.









Radiomodelism Track
The Radiomodelism track receives several competitions counting for National and Regional Championships of this modality and the Albufeira Track is one of the main stages at national level.





Fixed Transit School
The Albufeira Transit School in working since January 2002 and aims to become an important infrastructure in the Education
and valorization of the youngsters from this Municipality and from all the Algarve.
Road accidents involving children are a major problem. To combat it is important to foster in children from an early age, attitudes to safety and defensive behaviors on the road.
Decrease accidents on Portuguese roads is an objective to be achieved through education of users who attend this school. For more information click here.

Albufeira Multiuses Space

The AMS - Albufeira Multiuses Space, appears in a space that was a commercial unit and also a fruit and fish market.

The AMS allows the usufruct of a esthetically pleasant, environmently sane and efficient regarding to it's potentialities. A space por everyone that can be used in it's different strands.



Albufeira Municipal Stadium
Founded in 1925, the Municipal Stadium of Albufeira is the home to the city club, the Imortal Desportivo Clube.

Pigeon Village

Location where are housed hundreds of pigeons and where some events are organized with them.

Albufeira Municipal Swimming Pools
Here all the swimming practicants can stay in shape while in the Algarve.








Albufeira Sports Pavillion
Consisting of two floors, the Albufeira Sports Pavillion has an area of aproximatelly 6000m2 and contemplates a gaming field that allow the practice of all the indoor modalities. The Pavillion also includes several multipurpose rooms, a gym equiped to high competition athletes and the future Evaluation and Functional Recovery Center of Athletes, where the sportsmen of the county (of all ages), can monitor and treat their physical condition.

Radical Park- Skate and BMX
The Albufeira Radical Park is considered the biggest skating park of the country. This equipment, inserted in Parque da Alfarrobeira (north of the Municipal Stadium) was designed and pojected with the main goal of creating the adequate infra-structures to the practice with Skate, BMX Freestyle and Inline Skating, in the strands that are most practiced in Portugal, such as, Street and Ramp, and with different dificulty degrees. It will also have a initiation area, with quarter pipes, flat banks and a learning zone.

Roundabouts
Who goes to Albufeira normally uses to follow orientation towards each place through the roundabouts of the main avenue, so we show you the images of the most important ones that you will find in the avenue.

Dolphins Roundabout







Discoveries Roundabout








Watches Roundabout









Worms Roundabout








Globe Roundabout

Vilamoura - Quinta do Lago - Faro

In this route you can see all the interesting points that exist in Faro, Vilamoura e Quinta do Lago.

Excellent to whom likes to cycle and is staying in some of this localities, and also have at your disposal a route that allows you a excellent mobility between cities through a bike without great effort and with the possibility to see the cultural and nature part of this region along the route. You also have the possibility to go to the Algarve Stadium by bike.

Maps

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Birdwatching Spots

The Ria Formosa area is great to the birdwatching praticants because you can find here several bird species that use to inhabit ni this region.
For more informations about birdwatching in the Algarve click here.






Algarve Stadium

With this map you can reach the Algarve Stadium with almost no effort by bike, while you go on roads with few movement and interacting with Nature.

Faro

Come visit Faro and discover the rich historic side  that this city, capital of the Algarve, has to offer, with the help of a bike.  

In our map you can find the most important historic spots of the city using roads with low traffic ideal for the use of bikes. Visit the downtown of Faro or if you prefer go the Faro Beach (located near the airport)to contact with nature, 

Maps:


See Faro in a bigger map

Catch the train to Faro and see the culture of the Capital of the Algarve.

Interesting Points

Municipal Theatre

In the Municipal Theatre of Faro, near the Forum Algarve, you can find several shows in diferent areas, such as Theatre, Dance, Music, Cinema and New Circus.











Ria Formosa

The Ria Formosa is a protected area designated as Natural Park, and covers the municipalities of Loulé, Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António, covering an area of about 18,400 acres along 60 miles from the river Ancão to the beach of Manta Rota. Here you can find a huge quantity of wildlife and allows you to be in direct contact with Nature.




St. Luís Chapel

St Luís Chapel is a "remarkable" building of Faro.

Small temple located in St. Luís Square, in front of the soccer stadium with the same name, it was built in the seventeenth century as the seat of a small rural coterie (though today the city has already integrated it in the local urban fabric).




Shopping Street

The Shopping Street is located in Faro downtown, near the marina, and here you can find good restaurants, snack bars and several stores with several  shops with several items. 

Faro Marina

In the Marina of Faro you can enjoy a relaxing tour next to the boats that are here, you can catch the boat to the nearby islands(Culatra, Farol...), you'll find several touristic animation agencies that allow tours in the Ria Formosa or you can  take a cultural tour of this part of the city.

Vila Arch

One of the ex-libris of Faro, was ordered to build by the bishop Dom Francisco Gomes de Avelar, in the place where once was a medieval gate,  and was constructed by the italian architect Francisco Xavier Fabri.
The arch marks the entrance of the Vila Adentro, the historic centre of the city, and in it you can see a niche with the image of St. Tomás de Aquino.

Has curiosity, notice the top of the edification, where the storks like to do their nestings.

St. Pedro Church

The primitive Chapel, ordered to build by the Mariners, was totally rebuilt in the middle of the XVI century. Affected by the earthquacke of 1755, was proceded to it's reconstruction. On the façade, the porch is framed by two pairs of Ionic columns that support the cornice topped with a niche with a statue of St. Pedro. Inside, has three naves and head composed of the chancel and two side chapels.

Sé Cathedral of Faro

The Sé Cathedral of Faro, also known as Sé Church or Santa Maria Church, is a "remarkable" building of Faro located in Sé Square.

It was built after the Christian reconquest in 1251 by the Archbishop of Braga D. Joao Viegas. It was later handed over to the Order of St. James.

In 1577 became headquarters of the of the episcopal seat of the Diocese of the Algarve, and a few years later (1596) was been looted and burned by the British troops of the Earl of Essex.

Rebuilt after these events, the earthquakes of 1722 and 1755 motivated other works. The unfinished bell signals the busy life of the building).

In the interior, stands the organ and the carving, while in the exterior should be noted the excellent view, over the city and the estuary, that is possible to have from the top of the bell tower. 

D. Afonso III Statue and Municipal Museum

This was the first museum created in the Algarve. In 1894, in the 5th centenary of the birth of Infant D. henrique, the City Hall of Faro inaugurated the Archaeological Museum and Lapidated the Statue of this infant.

In 1914, the estate was transferred to the church of the former Convent of Santo António dos Capuchos and remained there until 1969. The archaeological remains are the most significant, with pieces of prehistory and the Roman and medieval times.Other collection of high quality are the paintings from the XVI to XIX centuries. It is composed mainly of religious specimens that formerly belonged to religious temples in the Algarve.
In November 2005, the Municipal Museum of Faro received the Award for Best Portuguese Museum during the three years 2003-05, awarded by the Portuguese Association of Museology.


Castle

What is left of the Castle, is part of a defensive structure of the city, that has roman origin and was posteriorly reinforced by the arabs.
The castle seems to have been rebuilt, after the cristian reconquest of the Peninsula, over the Alcazaba that has muslim origin.

In 1596, Faro suffers an attack of the british forces, and is sacked and burned, having to be the target of reconstruction work over several years and in the seventeenth century, more works are done to adapt the castle and city walls for the use of artillery.
In the eighteenth century, the castle was headquarters of the Artillery Regiment of the Kingdom of the Algarve and in the late nineteenth century, was leased to a company that turned it into a alcohol factory.

The changes made to function as a factory, much misrepresented the castle, which was also a victim of the opening of a street through the walls, the current Castle Street.

Carmo Church

The Nossa Senhora do Carmo Church or Carmo Church is a "remarkable" building of Faro, located in Carmo Square.
It was founded in 1713 by Bishop D.António Pereira da Silva, but the responsible for the initial project was the priest Frei Manuel da Conceição, of Lisbon. the middle of the century the building underwent major renovation and additions, having been destroyed the original facade.The new layout was designed by master mason Diogo Gonçalves, in 1747. The works extended until 1878 (namely with the construction of the facade towers).

In the Interior you can see the sacristy decoration, the "acervo de imaginária da Procissão do Triunfo" and a Bones Chapel.


Live Science Center of Faro

A center where the visitor is invited to participate and discover the real and virtual world, through a exposition about the sun,  navigation in CyberSpace, planet observation and Mediatheque.

Schedule:

• Monday to Sunday
• Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays from 15h00 to 19h00
• Tuesday to Friday from 10h00 to 17h00


Arch Gallery

Open since 1990/1991 along with the Trem Municipal Gallery, hosts temporary exibitions of national contemporary artists.

Currently operates as one of the poles of the Municipal Museum of Faro, hosting the Toy Museum Center, consisting of a extensive collection of old toys, recently acquired by the municipality.

Schedule:
Summer - Monday and Saturday 14H30 to 18H00 / Tuesday to Friday 10H00 to 18H00;
Winter - Monday and Saturday 14H00 to 17H30 / Tuesday to Friday 09H30 to 17H30;

Promotional Videos

Historic City

Interest Areas

Faro Cathedral