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| Former gate to the Moorish castle |
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The small white building of the Archeological Museum of Albufeira, located near the Torre de Relógion in the upper town and founded only in 1999, is hosting a well presented and very informative collection of exhebits from the various periods of Albufeiras history. |
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The historical development of Albufeira |
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The earliest origins of Albufeira go back as far as pre-historic times; it was later occupied by the Romans, who called it Baltum. The name of Albufeira goes back to the times of the Moorish occupation Al-Buhera when it became an important trading port in the 8th. century. Today only the tiled information panel at the location of the former doorway to the Moorish castle reminds to that period.
Albufeira was finally taken from the Moors by the knights of the Order of Santiago (St. James) in the middle of the 13th. century. It was then a fishing village for many centuries and was granted its charter on 20th. August 1504 by D. Manuel I.
One of the cities most affected by natural disasters, it was partially destroyed by the 1755 earthquake.
From the 1960s, Albufeira began to be visited by tourists from all over the world, and became one of the biggest tourist centres of present times. |
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| Please feel invited to a virtual tour around the old part of Albufeira: |
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