Algarve turns to cultural tourism
After gaining a great reputation as one of Europe’s best seaside destinations, with its sunny shores by the quiet and endless Atlantic Ocean, Algarve turns to cultural tourism to gain more respectability and prominence in the so-called world of tourist circuits.
Tourist circuits are the second most popular travel option for tourist all over the world – a guided tour that takes them through several countries and their most prominent cities in search of cultural attractions, museums and monuments to photograph. Portugal is – predictably enough – usually paired with Spain for such tours, and the cities that are most commonly visited are Lisbon and Porto, while the Algarve is usually targeted by crowds of “fun in the sun” enthusiasts, who come to enjoy the littoral.
Well, Algarve is more than a simple seaside resort full of bars and clubs and mindless entertainment and is now adamant to show that to the world! This is what Desiderio Silva, President of the Regiao de Turismo do Algarve (RTA) and Alexandra Gonçalves, the Regional Cultural Manager plan to prove, as they plan new ways to promote the Mediterranean cuisine (recently listed as part of the Intangible UNESCO Heritage), the influence of the Muslim element in the local architecture and culture, as well as the rich Portuguese history during the Age of Discoveries.
RTA plans to launch several exciting projects, among which “Descubriter – Rota Europeia dos Descobrimentos”, which brings the Algarve and Andaluzia together in an effort to promote the navigation regional legacy. Another project is “UMAYYAD”, meant to create a cultural itinerary that includes all the important Arab points of interest along the Mediterranean basin. The Hebrew culture also left its mark by the shores of the Algarve, and the “Rede de Judiarias de Portugal” is interested exactly in bringing the Jewish heritage to light.
Travel throughout Portugal by rental car and discover how the Algarve turns to cultural tourism.
