Alvor In Portugal - An Alvor Guide
By Peter Nutter

In Alvor in the Algarve there are a number of holiday complexes from which the tourists enjoy visiting the area and its attractions. The village is well located facing a natural lagoon opening onto the sea. There is a choice of a long open sandy beach or a number of small coves tucked under the cliffs.

Alvor's ancient coastal village is now a very popular holiday location, the enclosed narrow streets ensure development is kept to a minimum. Most streets now boast bars with live music and different types of restaurants, however leading off from these there are still traces of the older fishing village. Alvor retains much of the charm of a picturesque fishing village, with streets of white houses and colorful boats.

The original 16th Century Parish Church was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755 and still has a prime example in its main doorway of the great craftsmanship of the Manueline era of architecture. It was the only building that more or less survived from the earthquake.

It is believed the Carthaginians founded Alvor, its history is very interesting. The Romans gave it the name Ipses and it was considered an important port and was allowed to issue its own money. Alvor's long history is clear from the discovery on Vila Velha hill (overlooking the Ria de Alvor) of a Neolithic village retaining traces of subsequent Roman occupation.

The Portuguese army led by King Sancho 1 conquered Alvor in 1189, with the help of Crusades en route to the Holy Land. Retaken by the Moors (During the period of Moorish rule, Alvor was a thriving port) in 1191, it was only returned to Christian dominion in 1250, at the time of the campaigns that resulted in the conquest of the whole of the Algarve.

In the time of the Moors (who first occupied the area in 716) they gave Alvor the named of "Albur" and the village passed through both the Portuguese and Moors hands several times until 1250 when the Christians conquered it for the final time. The town walls were rebuilt in 1300 and Alvor was made a town by King Joćo II, who died there in 1495. It shared in the prosperity of the 15th and 16th centuries but most of the original village and its castle was destroyed in the earthquakes of 1532 and 1755.

The Algarve is literally 3 hours drive from east to west. So once a car is hired the world literally is your oyster. The new A22 provides a two-lane road that enables you to take things at your own pace, and stretches nearly the whole width of the Algarve.

To find out more about Alvor and its surroundings please visit Alvor in the Algarve, Portugal

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