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| Albufeira |
Traditional Treats |
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| Albufeira. "It's brash,
commercialised and crowded" says Michelin's Guide to the Algarve.
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But, it admits in the same breath, "it also boasts some of
the best beaches on the coast and, for the 18-30 something crowd,
the best nightlife too"
Albufeira stirs the passions. Like it or loathe
it, the town perched high on the sandstone cliffs, offers something
to suit every age, taste and budget.
For youngsters whose raison d'etre is to party, party, party
until the wee small hours, its bustling streets with open air cafes and
bars galore are definitely seventh heaven.
For older folk, the wide choice of boutiques, beachfront
cafes, back street restaurants and bracing beach walks by day make it an
equally enticing option.
It is fair to say that while Albufeira is not so
pleasing on the eye - its rash of bland high-rise blocks reflect a legacy
of bad planning in the 70's- it is definitely the undisputed holiday
capital of the Algarve.
And, with the possible exception of January, it positively
swings all-year-round. |
Lovers of the more
traditional Albufeira should make their way to the top of the hill
and the streets of Rua Nova, Rua da Igreja Velha
an Rua do Cemiterio - all offering good vantage points for
surveying the town beach.
The Museum of Sacred Art housed in the former Igreja de
Sao Sebastio (Church of St Sebastian) and A Tralha, a lovely old
antique shop a few yards away, are also worth visiting.
Undoubtedly the heart of the town is the
pedestrianised square of Largo E Duatre Pacheco. In the
summer, it positively throngs with people milling about.
Sometimes there is international music, at other times there are
stalls nearby selling tourist goods.
It's all very jolly but it's extremely touristic and
crowded and probaply not very representative of the real Algarve!
If it's real markets you want, visit the colourful
daily fish market (it also sells fruit, vegetables and flowers).
When you've had enough of the hustle and bustle of the
town, escape west to Sao Rafael, Coleha and Castelo. These beaches
are just as good as Albufeira's but a good deal quieter.
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| Cliffhanger |
Night
Owls |
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The best way to approach
the town - and get a bird's eye view of the coast - is to take
the easy cliff-top walk from CPO.
Taking about half an hour, the route hugs the shore,
with a short but not too taxing diversion up onto the rocks, before
it drops down again onto Albufeira's long expanse of beach.
Generations of CPO'ers have opted to take this
route, and many have been caught out by the change in tides as they
come to and from the town!
The other alternative is to hop aboard the CPO
minibus - buy your ticket from the information desk - and let
the driver whisk you into town in a matter of minutes. |
Many
people make the mistake of failing to visit Albufeira in the
evening.
Particularly at weekends, the bars and restaurants
really come into their own well into the wee small hours, many
spilling out onto the terraces in the summer months.
There are discos and restaurants bars galore, as well as relaxing
pavement cafes to while away the night.
Restaurants rival those of the Strip, their chefs
concocting all manner of international dishes.
Of course the beauty of Albufeira is not only its
stunning location, but its easy accessibility from Clube Praia da
Oura.
So whether you decide to take the cliff top walk or the
minibus, you are assured of a great day (or night) out! |
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| Travel
file |
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| All
Portuguese towns have a designated tourist office.
Telephone 00 351 289 800 400 for general information
all-year-round. |
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