Albufeira comes from Arabic Al-Buhera, which means "Castle of the Sea", name that can
connected to the fact that its proximity to the sea or the lagoon formed in the downtown
In the first decades of the twentieth century there was a marked increase in exports
fish and nuts. The village then had five factories employing 700 to 800 people,
especially fishermen.
However, from the 1930s to the 1950s, there were times of decay,fishing facilities were
ruined, factories closed, vessels disappeared and many houses were abandoned.
The population has been halved and fishing hassubsistence.
In the early 1960s, Albufeira awoke to the tourism, when it was sought by national
tourists, but it was mainly with the English which prospered.
The coast is of cliffs cut by beaches of markedly Mediterranean climate: summers
dry winters and mild winters, with reduced rainfall, especially the months
of October to March and with an average annual temperature around 17.5ºC
One of the main tourist regions of the country, Albufeira almost lacks presentation.
Tourism is the most important activity of the municipality of Albufeira.
In the 1960s a real economic expansion began in the Municipality.
With the arrival of international tourism, Albufeira became part of the main
tourist routes. Today, Albufeira is undoubtedly one of the most important
tourist centers of the country .