Discover the broad sweep of the rich cultural and historical legacy, bestowed upon the region by civilizations such as the Moors and the Romans. Such memories can be traced through the monuments, traditions, architecture and, of course, all the habits and customs of the people of the Algarve, with their well-deserved reputation for warm welcomes and fine hospitality.
The golden age of the Portuguese Discovery Voyages placed the Algarve at the centre of some key events in those great
adventures that opened up new worlds to the West.
Setting sail from Lagos and
Sagres were the caravels of Prince Henry the Navigator and explorers such as Gil Eanes, a renowned Algarvian honored
for his daring feats.
With its landscape enriched by such
history, the Algarve has progressed in modern times, subtly preserving this
fine blend of different forms of knowledge and culture.
Influenced by a diverse range of
cultures, the Algarve has blended the habits of its people with the customs
imported from many far off destinations. Such an approach has resulted in the rich Algarve art and handicraft. The studios and
workshops of artists and craftsmen produce the wide variety of articles that you
will find on display in craft shops across the region. They feature all the
truly impressive regional range of articles made of copper, wrought iron, wood,
cork, ceramic, tile and clay, in addition to all the basketwork, delightful
examples of bone lace, coverlets, and rag or jute dolls – the famous
Martinlongo dolls.
In architecture, the lacework-patterned
chimneys, fascias and roof terraces serve as testimony to the heritage of
popular artistic styles.
Music and dancing merge in local folklore traditions
and express all that is most authentic in Algarve culture. The ‘baile mandado’ with
its spoken steps, the twirling ‘baile de roda’ and the contagious pace of the ‘corridinho’
are some of the most popular dances in the Algarve, enjoyed by both local
people and visitors alike.
Festivals and religious celebrations are
public expressions of the bonds that still bind modern Algarve to its roots.
Throughout the region, ancient traditions are still celebrated in recognition of the fruits of
both the land and the sea. The Fisherman’s Festival in Albufeira, with its
century-old traditional games, is an event held in honor of the men that sail
out from these shores.
The Seafood Festival in Olhão and the Sardine Festival
in Portimão are two of the leading gastronomic events that further evoke the
ties with the sea and the longstanding fishing traditions of the Algarve people.
The Mãe Soberana (Sovereign Mother)
Festival in Loulé and the Hallelujah Festival – including the procession of
Flowered Torches – in São Brás de Alportel are two of the largest religious
festivals in the Algarve and fill the streets with processions and religious
music.
The Nights of the Enchanted Moorish
Maiden in Cacela Velha, the Mediaeval Days in Castro Marim and the 16th-century
Fair held in Lagos recreate scenes and events from times long gone.
Discover! Enjoy.
No comments:
Post a Comment