Almádena
Almádena is a village located in Portugal's western Algarve. Administratively, it is part of the civil parish (freguesia) of Luz, (popularly known as Praia da Luz), and the municipality (municipio) of Lagos.
Etymology
According to certain authorities, the toponym 'Almádena' has an Arabic origin, like many place names in the area. The word is assumed to derive from the Arabic word for minaret (al-madin).[1]
Location
The village is located in the fertile Vale de Barão. It lies 3 km north of the fishing village of Burgau and 4 km from Luz itself, just outside of the boundary of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park.
Buildings
Almádena resembles many rural villages in the Algarve. Its housing stock mainly consists of small white houses with traditional chimneys, a domestic architectural style influenced by the Moorish occupation of the area up to the thirteenth century. There is a small market for farmers' produce and a community centre in the heart of the village.
Nearby buildings of interest include:
- Quinta das Alagoas: A fifteenth century fortified farmhouse, now converted into accommodation
- Quinta Romana: Allegedly a 'Roman Farm' but more likely of sixteenth century origin
External links
- Pictures of Almádena: Places in the South West Algarve
References
- ↑ De Sousa, João (1830) Vestigios da lingoa arabica em Portugal p53
Coordinates: 37°06′N 8°46′W / 37.100°N 8.767°W