Quarteira (
or ) is a Portuguese
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authority ...
, in the municipality (''
concelho
Concelho () is the Portuguese-language term for municipality, referring to the territorial subdivision in local government. In comparison, the word ''município'' () refers to the organs of State. This differentiation is still in use in Portugal a ...
'') of
Loulé
Loulé () is a city and municipality in the region of Algarve, district of Faro, Portugal. In 2011, the population of the entire municipality was 70,622 inhabitants, in an area of approximately . The municipality has two principal cities: Loulé ...
in the
Algarve
The Algarve (, , ; from ) is the southernmost NUTS II region of continental Portugal. It has an area of with 467,495 permanent inhabitants and incorporates 16 municipalities ( ''concelhos'' or ''municípios'' in Portuguese).
The region has it ...
.
[Detail Regional Map, Algarve-Southern Portugal, ] The population in 2011 was 21,798,
[Instituto Nacional de Estatística]
/ref> in an area of 38.16 km².
History
The settlement of the region dates back to, at least, the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula (at one time confused with the village of Carteia). There are still other authors who suggest that settlement of the region may have begun in the era of Phoenician or Carthaginian traders.[
For several centuries, Quarteira was a modest fishing village, situated on the edge of a beach, encircled by pines.][ King Denis authorized a ]foral
200px, Foral of Castro Verde - Portugal
The word ''foral'' ({{IPA-pt, fuˈɾaɫ, eu, plural: ''forais'') is a noun derived from the Portuguese word ''foro'', ultimately from Latin ''forum'', equivalent to Spanish ''fuero'', Galician ''foro'', Ca ...
(''charter'') for the settlement on 15 November 1297.[
In the 15th century, King ]John I of Portugal
John I ( pt, João uˈɐ̃w̃ 11 April 1357 – 14 August 1433), also called John of Aviz, was King of Portugal from 1385 until his death in 1433. He is recognized chiefly for his role in Portugal's victory in a succession war with Casti ...
ordered the first cultivation of sugar cane in continental Portugal.[
Created in 1916, the civil parish quickly became known for its beaches, fishing and its forests of pine.][
Quarteira was elevated to the status of ''cidade'' (''city'') on 13 May 1999.][
]
Geography
Quarteira is a coastal civil parish, located along the southern extent of the Algarve fronting Albufeira Municipality
Albufeira () is a List of cities in Portugal, city and seat of its own Concelho, municipality in Faro District, the district of Faro, in the southernmost Portugal, Portuguese region of Algarve. The municipality population in 2021 was 44,158, in a ...
to the west (in the parish of Olhos de Água Olhos de Água is a former ''freguesia'' ("civil parish"), located in the municipality of Albufeira
Albufeira () is a city and seat of its own municipality in the district of Faro, in the southernmost Portuguese region of Algarve. The municipa ...
). In addition, the local area authority is bordered in the east by Almancil, northeast by São Clemente, north by São Sebastião and Boliqueime
Boliqueime is a Portuguese village and ''freguesia'' ("civil parish"), located in the municipality of Loulé, in the region of Algarve. The population in 2011 was 4,973, in an area of 46.21 km². The urbanized core of the village is about 50& ...
.
From the Atlantic coast, the frontier with its neighbours extends northwest along the ''Ribeira de Algibre'', before following the M526 municipal roadway to the Estrada Nacional EN125 in Maritenda. From here, the border travels southeast along the EN125 until just after the N396 motorway, where it then divides along a ravine southwest towards the Atlantic Ocean, alongside the Royal Golf Course. The coast includes of normally-classified Blue Flag beach
The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that a beach, marina, or sustainable boating tourism operator meets its standards.
The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE, which is a not-for-profit non-gov ...
.
Economy
Golf remains a symbol for this parish, municipality, and region, with five distinct golf courses contributing to the economy, particularly during the off-season.[
In relation to this sport, the parish is home to ]Vilamoura
Vilamoura is a coastal resort in the Loulé municipality in Algarve, Portugal. It is one of the three corners of Algarve's Golden Triangle. Vilamoura comprises one of the largest single tourist complexes in Europe and with about 2,000 hectares ...
, Europe's largest private tourist facility.[ In addition, the region accommodates various tourists with two hundred hotels and residences, including casinos, bars and discos.][
]
Architecture
Archaeological
* Roman ruins of Cerro da Vila ()
Civic
* Apartment Complex Avenida de Sagres, 147/149 ()
* Apartment Complex Quarteira I ()
* Apartment Complex Rua de São Tomé e Príncipe, 26/36 ()
* Fiscal Guard Post of Quarteira ()
* Lighthouse of Vilamoura ()
* Loulé-Praia de Quarteira Railway Station ()
* Maritime Delegation of Quarteira ()
* Residence Cada do Mirante ()
* Residence Gonçalves ()
* Residence Villa Sol e Mar ()
* Residence Casa Martins Laginha ()
* Restaurante-Residencial Toca do Coelho/Hotel D. José
Military
* Fort of Armação ()
Religious
* Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição ()
* Church of São Pedro do Mar ()
* Church of Vilamoura ()
Culture
Among other festivities attracting tourism to the region is the ''Marchas Populares
The Marchas Populares (''Popular Marches'') are a Portuguese tradition that dates back to 1932, when the first event took place in the capital city of Lisbon, under the direction of Leitão de Barros. It is one of several events that take place in ...
'' in June.[
]
Town Twinning
Twin towns — Sister cities
The following place is Sister City
A sister city or a twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties.
While there are early examples of inter ...
to Quarteira :
* Vilamoura
Vilamoura is a coastal resort in the Loulé municipality in Algarve, Portugal. It is one of the three corners of Algarve's Golden Triangle. Vilamoura comprises one of the largest single tourist complexes in Europe and with about 2,000 hectares ...
, Portugal
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quarteira
Freguesias of Loulé
Seaside resorts in Portugal
Towns of the Algarve