|
It has to be said that the Portuguese are much more interested in developing the Algarve for golf and sunshine than they are a region of historic beauty. But as a golfer who loves the sun and history I am not sure if I can knock them for that as, after all, history is there if you set your mind to finding it.
We stayed in the purpose built golfing resort of Vilamoura, west of Faro. It has 55,000 beds within its luxury hotels and a harbour that is well stocked with expensive boats. Don't let the size put you off, as Vilamoura has been created with the finest of taste. The Celts first settled here in 700BC, followed by the Romans in 210BC, who called it Cinneticum. By 200AD Christianity had arrived and it never went away.
Silves, lying half way between Faro and the western tip of the Algarve, is packed with history thanks to its Moorish Castle. Built in 711 by the Berbers and the Arabs (Moors) and inhabited by them for nearly 500 years, it was the centre of Al Garb, now known as the Algarve. In 1189 Silves came under siege by the Third Crusade and the 'infidels' were ousted by the Portuguese King Sancho I with a good deal of help from passing crusaders, some of whom were English.
Over to the far east is Tavira, a sweet little fishing town once famous for its tuna hunt, although the fish are long since gone. It has a Roman bridge at the far end of town. In 1383 King Juan of Spain thought he'd have a bit of Portugal and marched on Tavira but the locals were having none of it and together with the Portuguese army they fought it out for two years until they eventually sent the Spanish packing. The leader of the Portuguese army was rewarded by being made King Joao I (John). He married John of Gaunt's daughter Philippa, thus starting the relationship between England and Portugal that still exists today.
Right at the other end of the Algarve on the western tip is Sagres. Now a quiet little fishing village but in 1418 Henry the Navigator (son of Joao I) set up his famous school of navigation there and he sponsored several important voyages of discovery. The fort at Sagres out on the Cape of St Vincent has suffered at the hands of modern government. Some idiot thought it useful to cover it with concrete so that it might be protected, and then to add insult to injury pulled down the tower to make way for a museum! Anyway, you can still see a wind compass and get an idea of what it once looked like.
Further along the Cape is the lighthouse which has one of the most powerful beams in the whole of Europe. With its 3,000 watt bulbs it can be seen from over 90km away. From here you can see dozens of freighters rounding the cape. In 1498 Vasco de Gama set sail from this spot for India and started the spice trade that helped make Portugal mighty.
|
|
