Zepeda-McMillan | Portugal

Albufeira: www.albufeira.com great site with lots of information.

Albufeira is the name of the town where Tom and I will be getting married. It is in the southern section of Portugal in a region called the Algarve. Here is some information on the Algarve and Albufeira from Virtual Portugal: www.portugalvirtual.pt/_tourism/algarve/

First and foremost, Albufeira is famed for its beaches, for the countless shades and tones of its rocks and cliffs. This is a place where people live to the rhythim of the great holiday destinations, sunbathing during the day and at sunset flocking to enjoy the restaurants, bars and discos that enliven the night-time hours. Just a few miles inland and everything changes. The green of the countryside is dotted with almond, fig, orange and pine trees and decorated chimneys stand out against the ochre of tiled roofs.

Bucolic villages invite you to experience a way of life rooted in the tranquility of nature, to add another dimension to your holidays. Nightlife, sunshine, beaches and lots and lots of animation are just some of the guaranteed features of Albufeira. Here the life has the rhythm of a tourist metropolis and, as the sun goes down, meet the sun lovers at the many discos, restaurants and bars. Sports are also a good reason to come and stay in Albufeira. Tennis, golf, water sports and much more make the delights of the most demanding sportsmen.

Beaches

Albufeira boasts beaches where the sand is fine and the sea a turquoise blue sheltered by cliffs which are canvasses painted with a whimsical palette of natural hues. It is for its beaches that Albufeira is internationally renowned, because all of them are different... and they are all equally enchanting. Gale - An expanse of sand that stretches for miles, between cliffs. It is equipped with a wide variety of tourist facilities. In the direction of Albufeira there are two small beaches that are quiet and little visited. Castelo - A cove c protected he ruck formations. Great natural beauty. Coelha - A small beach between colourful cliffs. São Rafael and Vigia - Beaches of great beauty seperated be rocks. Tourist facilities. Nearby Ponte Pequena and Ninho das Andorinhas are fascinating rock formations Baleeira - A broad crescent of sand opposite Albufeira Albufeira- A long strip of sand with the city surrounding it like an amphitheatre, it is made up of three beaches: Peneco, Pescadores and Inatel. Oura, Balaia, Maria Luísa and Olhos de Agua - A series of beaches each sheltered BY colourful cliffs. Tourist and sports facilities Falesia - Endless miles of beaches fringed by the green pines and the many reddish colours Of the surrounding cliffs. Tourist and sports facilities available.

Golf

Salgados
Salgados is already one of the symbols of the Portuguese golf. In fact, the proximity of the sea and the variety of lakes make this a very interesting test of golfing skills.

Pine Cliffs (where we are getting married)
This nine hole course is one of the country's most original golf courses, built in a pine wood at the edge of spectacular cliffs, overlooking the beautiful beaches of the Algarve and the Atlantic beyond.

Balaia Golf Village
Based on a 9-hole (all par 3) loop, the Balaia Golf Village is an ideal course for beginners or for perfecting distance control.

Places of Interest

Guia - A village with a long history which has grown rapidly in recent decades.
Main Church - A country church built in the 17th century, it contains a simply carved high altar and It atues from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Guia (Our lady of the Good Journey) - A typical baroque buildings with a lively facade (16th/17th centuries) Not far away at the mouth of the Espiche creeck, is Lagoa dos Salgados. With its typical lakeland vegetation, this is an excellent spot for watching migratory birds.

Pademe - Pademe has its origins in the remote past and may have begun life with the arrival of settlers who had been living in the nearby castle. Located in a scenic position on a gentle hill, its old white houses stand out from the surrounding countryside. One of the houses in the village has an interesting decorated chimney dating from the 18th century.
Main Church - The original building in the Manueline style (16th century) has been altered by \ successive periods of reconstruction. The interior consists of three naves. The arch of the main chapel is decorated with human figures and has monogrammed columns at the sides.
Castle - Situated a little over a mile front Pademe it is built on a spur of rock around which flows the Quarteira creek. It is Arab in origin and was inhabited until the 14th century. Inside are found the ruins of the hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Our Lady of Assumption).