Albufeira with its terrace tiers of white-washed houses directly above the steep coast was first mentioned during the Roman period and referred to as "Al-Buera" by the Moors. Its Moorish character has been preserved in the old town. Later, it became a fishing village and has now turned into an internationally well-known tourist centre. You will find cafés, restaurants, souvenir shops and boutiques in the downtown area, paved with "calçadas", where cars are off limits.           click to enlarge the images           Artists of every description take turns in presenting their works, the repertoires of the street musicians range from Fado presentations on mild summer nights to "Morna", a special mixture of blues and tango from the Cape Verde Islands, fado and Brazilian rhythms. During the main season, the young generation gathers here late in the evening, music bursts from countless pubs and bars, and disco-dancing lasts until morning hours.