Alvor Over Time

Alvor is a very old village that roots from a Roman Riverport known as Portus Hannibalis that dates back 436 years Before Christ. It was a very active trading area that eventually got taken over by the Arabs in 716 A.C. and named Albur - meaning fortified (that eventually evolved to Alvor). The Arabs built an impressive calstle here that is referenced in many writings and was later conquered back by the Portuguese King D. Sancho I in 1250. Alvor kept being a very important mark in Algarve, with rich commerce and famous for the fish and heavily armed castle for years to come. 

In 1775 the big earthquake followed by a tsunami destroyed most of the village and left little of the castle, most of the population died or fled and the village never regained its former status and thus remained as a small fishing village until tourism started blossoming in the Algarve. 

You can still find some ancient Roman and even pre roman remains in Acalar, a bit further in land, in the archeological sight accompanied by a small museum that documents the findings.

Nowadays Alvor became a very touristic spot, although the streets and the village itself didn't change much the old houses were filled with restaurants, bars and touristic facilities, you can still see remains of what it once was and find fisherman returning to the port with their boats after a still very traditional fishing day, the fisherman huts where the equipment is kept and fish prepared and you can even buy fresh fish directly from them if you want to.

Nothing better than to eat a good grilled fish or sea shell rice in one of the tasty traditional restaurants, take a walk around the village and you can still see some remains of it's very ancient history and appreciate the beauty of a place that almost stopped in time.