Culture of Albufeira. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Old Town will be surely the most interesting part of the city in terms of excursions and sightseeing. This part of the city is full of numerous notable historic buildings. In 1775 the majority of the buildings erected here were completely destroyed by the earthquake, but some buildings have survived to the present day.

Cathedral of St. Anne is definitely the most striking architectural landmark of the city. The cathedral was built in the beginning of the 18th century. The main religious attribute of the church’s chapel is a huge wooden altar, which is decorated with intricate carvings and paintings. According to one version, two prominent masters of that time - João Batista and Francis Xavier – have worked over the creation of the altar. You will also see a beautiful sculpture near the altar. The sculpture depicts the crucifixion of Christ and it has been brought here immediately after the construction of the church. The look of the cathedral is a no less delightful than the interior of its halls. It's amazing how such a delicate and elegant building could have survived till our days in such a good state.

You should also not forget to visit the old building of the Municipality, which is now converted into Archaeological Museum. Among the archaeological finds present at the museum you will find ancient manuscripts, household items and tools that once have belonged to the first settlers of the ancient city. While walking along the city’s streets, you can see numerous notable mansions and beautiful monuments, each of which has its own unique history. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The city’s suburban areas are also full of various attractions. Fans of exciting excursions will be interested in visiting the ancient village of Paderne, the territory of which is the location of an ancient fortress Castelo de Almoáda built in the 12th century. The entrance to this open-air museum is absolutely free. Zoo Marine Park is a wonderful place to get acquainted with inhabitants of the local fauna. In addition to cages with animals visitors of the park are welcome to enjoy several rides and play areas for children.

There are several museums in Albufeira which should be on the list of must-visit places of all tourists. Among them, first of all, we have the Museu Municipal de Arqueologia, which by assessment is worth a visit. It is a small and comfortable museum where you can find information about the city’s past. A big surprise awaits art lovers on the top floor of the building – an art gallery is sited here. The Museu de Arte Sacra de Albufeira will certainly appeal to those who are into sacred art. Besides the fact that it contains interesting exhibits, the building itself is a kind of work of art. The Galeria de Arte Pintor Samora Barros is also worth visiting.

Cerro da Vila is a kind of open-air museum and a place where you can spend more than one day enjoying the views of the ruins and learning the history. These are ruins that bring to mind the Roman times in the history of the city. There is also a small exhibition where the findings from this place are displayed. The beautiful mosaic floors are particularly striking and they can truly be considered real works of art. There is a pier nearby from which yachts sail off and which offer beautiful views of the sea.

The Torre do Relógio is interesting from all points of view. This landmark is located in the Old Town and is kind of its remarkable decoration. Sometime ago, there was a hospital in the area and the tower was a part of the hospital complex. You can find it by the clock at the top. It is considered “a place known by everyone” and therefore lovers or friends often arrange to meet up here. Another tower, Torre da Medronheira, served as a fortification protecting the city from pirate attacks. It is also a warning tower. The tower was built in the 18th century.

As tourists make their way to the already mentioned village, they come across another work of art – the Ponte Medieval de Paderne Bridge. Passing by, you cannot help but feel the history everywhere around you and, in fact, it is due to the bridge which played a very important role in the history of the city. You can see a beautiful rural house and a water mill. If you go around the bridge, you will be able to take a walk around the area which will make the most pleasant impressions on you. The same feelings will be brought by a walk around Lagoa dos Salgados – a picturesque place where it is such a pleasure to watch the sun set. You can also see some representatives of the animal world – for example, flamingos, herons.

Sacred monuments are remarkable in the city too. The Capela dos Ossos stands out next to which ambiguous feelings can occur. The truth is that the chapel is built from nothing but human bones. Despite the fact that the temple is tiny, it fascinates and attracts everyone by this feature and the lovers of “sad romance” and mystics have for long set their hearts on this place. This is a kind of hidden treasure that is worth discovering only by those who are not afraid of such places. Another church – the Capela da Nossa Senhora da Rocha – is a very nice place that appeals to tourists with its romantic atmosphere. By the way, an interesting story is connected with the church, which you need to hear.