ALBUFEIRA In Roman times, Albufeira was known as Baltum, but was re- named Al-Buhera by the Moorish settlers in the 8th century. It was finally taken from the Moors in the middle of the 13th century by the Knights of the Order of Santiago. Like many Algarve towns, there were castle remains dating from Roman times, but most of those, along with the town, were destroyed in the 1755 earthquake. The most visible pointer to the that castle remains is the Torre do Relógio (clock tower), which was built on one of the old castle towers. On festive occasions, it shines like a beacon in the dark sky, as it is illuminated for celebrations. It also has a tiny but fascinating museum, which we thoroughly enjoyed Until the 1960s Albufeira was a small fishing village, but with the advent of tourism, substantial development turned it into a major
holiday resort. Even so, it retains much of its original charm, and in Old Town, it still holds the essence of the village it once was. Narrow cobbled streets wind up and around the hillsides, and typical single- storey houses line the roadside. There are two main beaches in Albufeira. Our hotel was positioned on the cliff top with panoramic views across one of these. The beautiful Algarve coastline extended as far as the eye could see. There is also a marina and harbor, which lies on the western outskirts of the town. I walked along the coastal path, which eventually became very narrow as it passed by homes where clothes hung outside and a friendly dog came out to greet me. The resort is packed with restaurants and bars, although many of these were closed as it was out of season, but we still found some enjoyable places to eat. Our favorite even had entertainment.
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