Praia da Arrifana

Praia da Arrifana
Beach
Location of Praia da Arrifana in Portugal
Flag Symbol
Country	Portugal
State	Faro District
Region	Algarve
District	Western Algarve
Municipality	Aljezur
Location	37°17′34″N 8°51′54″W / 37.29278°N 8.86500°W / 37.29278; -8.86500Coordinates: 37°17′34″N 8°51′54″W / 37.29278°N 8.86500°W / 37.29278; -8.86500
Length	0.0500 km (0 mi), South West to North East
Width	0.0030 km (0 mi), North West to South East
Material	pale Gold fine sand
Praia da Arrifana

Praia da Arrifana is a beach within the Municipality of Aljezur, in the Algarve, Portugal.^[1] The beach is on the western Seaboard in the north west of the Algarve. The beach is 6.0 miles (9.7 km) south south west of the village of Aljezur, and is 71.0 miles (114.3 km) north west, by road, from the regions capital of Faro. The beach of Praia da Arrifana is inside the Vicentine Coast Natural Park,^[2] an area of outstanding natural beauty. Praia da Arrifana has been designated a blue Flag^[3] beach (2012).

Description

The sand on Praia da Arrifana is of pale golden fine sand and is approximately 500 meters long. The beach is backed by tall cliffs which afford the beach some protection from the ravages of the Atlantic Ocean. Even so, this is a very popular beach for surfing^[4] and body surfing. The beach is accessed by a boardwalk steps, down to the beach from the village. At the bottom of the village there is a concrete slope which provides easy access for wheelchair users and for boats etc. On the north west side of the bay there is the small fishing village of Arrifana and its small fishing harbour.

Castle Arrifana ruins

On the northern headland above the beach are the ruins of Castle Arrifana (Information Leaflet). The 12th century ruins are thought to once have been the residence of Abu-l-Qasim Ahmad ibn al-Husayn ibn Qasi who was a prince of the first independent Kingdom of Algarve. The prince came to this fortification away from the then capital of Silves to devote himself to writing, thought and contemplation. Recent archaeological research^[5] has discovered the ruins of several buildings on this site in two areas. The buildings discovered include three mosques, with their Qibla and Mihrab. In the first area there are the remains of a mosque with another adjoing mosque. In the second area are further structures of an unknown use.

Facilities

During the summer season the beach is patrolled by lifeguards. There are toilets and showers close to the car park. There is also a public telephone. In the village Arrifana there are several good restaurants and bars, such as "Restaurante Oceano", "O Paulo" , "Brisamar", 'Restaurant Praia Arrifana Restaurant Fortaleza.

Getting there

From the town of Lagos take the RN 120 road north towards Sines, Just before the village of Aljezur turn left, signposted to Vale da Telha, Praia do monte Clérigo and a brown sign posted to Praia da Arrifana. At the top of the hill turn left and follow the road round to the Praia da Arrifana.

Gallery

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  Castle Arrifana

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  Map of the Vicentine Coast Natural Park

References

Beaches of the Algarve Algarve (West to East) Praia de Odeceixe Mar Praia das Adegas Praia da Baía dos Tiros Praia da Quebrada Praia de Samouqueira Praia do Vale dos Homens Praia da Carriagem Praia da Amoreira Praia de Monte Clérigo Praia da Pipa Praia da Arrifana Praia do Penedo Praia do Canal Praia de Vale Figueira Praia da Bordeira Praia do Amado Praia da Murracão Praia da Mirouca Praia de Mouranitos Praia da Barriga Praia da Cordoama Praia do Castelejo Praia da Ponta Ruiva Praia do Telheiro Praia de Beliche Enseada do Beliche Praia do Tonel Praia da Mareta Praia da Baleeira Praia do Martinhal Praia da Torre Praia da Ingrina Praia do Zavial Praia das Furnas Praia da Figueira Praia da Salema Praia da Boca do Rio Praia de Almadena Praia do Burgau Praia da Luz Praia de Porto de Mós Praia do Canavial Praia da Balanca Praia da Boneca Praia Camilo Praia Dona Ana Praia do Pinhão Praia dos Estudantes Praia da Batata Meia Praia Praia dos Três Irmãos (Prainha) Praia do Barranco das Canas Praia do Vau Praia dos Coreanos Praia do Amado Praia Três Castelos Praia da Rocha Praia Grande Praia do Molhe Praia do Pintadinho Praia do Vale da Azinhaga Praia dos Carneiros Praia do Carvoeiro Praia de Vale Centeanes Praia do Carvalho Praia de Benagil Praia da Marinha Praia de Albandeira Praia Nova Praia da Senhora da Rocha Praia da Cova Redonda Praia de Vale do Olival Praia de Armação de Pêra Praia Grande (Albufeira) Praia dos Salgados Praia da Galé Praia de Manuel Lourenço Praia do Evaristo Praia do Castelo Praia da Coelha Praia de São Rafael Praia dos Arrifes Praia do Túnel (Peneco) Praia dos Pescadores Praia do Inatel Praia dos Alemães Praia dos Aveiros Praia da Oura Praia Santa Eulália Praia da Balaia Praia Maria Luísa Praia dos Olhos de Água Praia das Belharucas Praia da Falésia Praia da Rocha Baixinha Praia de Vilamoura Praia de Quarteira Praia do Almargem Praia de Loulé Velho Praia do Trafel Praia de Vale do Lobo Praia Garrão Poente (Duno) Praia Garrão (Nascente) Praia do Ancão Praia da Quinta do Lago Praia de Faro (Mar) Praia de Faro (Ria) Praia da Barreta Praia do Farol Praia de Angares Praia da Ilha da Culatra Praia da Ilha da Armona Praia da Fuseta (Mar) Praia da Fuseta (Ria) Praia do Homem Nu Praia do Barril Praia da Terra Estreita Praia da Ilha de Tavira Praia de Cabanas de Tavira Praia do Lacém Praia de Cacela Velha Praia da Manta Rota Praia da Lota Praia da Alagoa Praia Verde Praia do Cabeço Praia de Monte Gordo Praia de Santo António Pego Fundo (interior)