The History & Culture of The Algarve
The Algarve has had a chequered past. It was occupied by the Moors between the 8th and 13th C. Subsequently the Portuguese became established at the forefront of world exploration and Henry the Navigator's famous compass is to be seen at Cape St. Vincent. Since then internal crises have buffeted the country, but the emergence of tourism has brought prosperity to the Algarve with widespread development in the Eastern part. Fortunately, a National Park has been created in the South West and it remains wild, beautiful and unspoilt. Fishing has been closely linked with the lives of the Algarvean people for centuries, and wherever you go you will see fishermen tending their nets and painting their boats. It is not surprising, therefore, that superb seafood is available everywhere. Inland, life continues much as it has done for generations with simple farming methods still to be seen The first people in the Algarve were traders and Estate stewards that established their colonies on the coasts. Good examples were the Phoenicians and the Carthaginians that existed for a long time solely from the resources of the coast.
One of the most important facts in the Algarve's history: the five centuries of Arab occupation, visible in the regions architecture (lattice chimneys and tiles, for example) and in many places' names beginning with 'Al'.
The Algarve was once part of the Roman province of Lusitânia, later becoming part of the Visigoths' jurisdiction. The Roman presence left tracks in Milreu, Faro, Boca do Rio and Vilamoura.
In 711, Tarik ibn Zyad passed the Estreito de Gibraltar and defeated the king of the Visigoths. In 712 Abd Al-Aziz Ben Mussa conquered the "Gharb Al Andaluz". Andaluz meant Vandal's Land and Al-Gharb, The West.
After many battles, the Algarve was reclaimed by the Christians. Since 1249, and until the Republic proclamation, the Portuguese monarchs were entitled "King of Portugal and of the Algarves". Portugal is a country with a rich culture, but you will find out that each region has its own particularities. This is certainly the case with the Algarve, where you can see people’s way of living through their arts and music and confirm how different they are from other Portuguese regions.
Nowadays, one can still see the Moorish influences and the legacy of five centuries of Arab rule. Just look for the narrow streets and chimneys with the most varied shapes and designs.
Also not to be missed are the flat baskets made of palm tree leafs, the ceramics, the typical hampers and the many churches and castles built in previous centuries. The local culture and many of its representing works are preserved in museums in the major coastal centres and in smaller inland towns.
Music and dance are the cultural expressions that best reflect the soul of a people.
In the Algarve the tourist flag is the “Corridinho” a cheerful version of folklore that, according to several testimonies, was born from the polka and from the mazurka. With the introduction of the accordion to these saloon dances on the end of the 19th century, players invented and reinvented the songs until the “corridinho” was born.
One of the most important facts in the Algarve's history: the five centuries of Arab occupation, visible in the regions architecture (lattice chimneys and tiles, for example) and in many places' names beginning with 'Al'.
The Algarve was once part of the Roman province of Lusitânia, later becoming part of the Visigoths' jurisdiction. The Roman presence left tracks in Milreu, Faro, Boca do Rio and Vilamoura.
In 711, Tarik ibn Zyad passed the Estreito de Gibraltar and defeated the king of the Visigoths. In 712 Abd Al-Aziz Ben Mussa conquered the "Gharb Al Andaluz". Andaluz meant Vandal's Land and Al-Gharb, The West.
After many battles, the Algarve was reclaimed by the Christians. Since 1249, and until the Republic proclamation, the Portuguese monarchs were entitled "King of Portugal and of the Algarves". Portugal is a country with a rich culture, but you will find out that each region has its own particularities. This is certainly the case with the Algarve, where you can see people’s way of living through their arts and music and confirm how different they are from other Portuguese regions.
Nowadays, one can still see the Moorish influences and the legacy of five centuries of Arab rule. Just look for the narrow streets and chimneys with the most varied shapes and designs.
Also not to be missed are the flat baskets made of palm tree leafs, the ceramics, the typical hampers and the many churches and castles built in previous centuries. The local culture and many of its representing works are preserved in museums in the major coastal centres and in smaller inland towns.
Music and dance are the cultural expressions that best reflect the soul of a people.
In the Algarve the tourist flag is the “Corridinho” a cheerful version of folklore that, according to several testimonies, was born from the polka and from the mazurka. With the introduction of the accordion to these saloon dances on the end of the 19th century, players invented and reinvented the songs until the “corridinho” was born.