Albufeira, Municipality in Algarve, Portugal
Albufeira is a municipality in the Algarve region of southern Portugal, stretching between coast and inland areas. The old town sits on a hill above the sea, while newer neighborhoods and the marina spread along the bay.
Arab rulers gave the settlement its name during medieval times after a nearby lagoon. King Manuel I granted the town municipal rights in 1504, making it an independent administrative center.
Fishermen pull their boats onto the beach and sell their catch early in the morning directly to locals and chefs. The town's name still recalls the period of Moorish rule during medieval times.
The municipality divides into four civil parishes with different coastal and inland locations. The summer months bring very large numbers of holidaymakers, so visiting outside the peak season offers quieter conditions.
The population multiplies during the warm months when visitors arrive from all over Europe. Some streets in the center fill so densely in the evening that moving through them becomes difficult.
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