Algarve historian Peter Kingdon Booker will be presenting his cast of “Famous Algarvians” at the Municipal Library of Tavira on Friday, December 16 at 11am and at the Convento de São José in Lagoa on Tuesday, December 20 at 6pm.
In the mind of the North European, there are few famous Portuguese who do not play football. One thinks of Vasco da Gama or the Marquês de Pombal. Possibly Bartolomeu Dias and even Fernão Magalhães. It is difficult to think of others, and much more so to identify famous Algarvians.
But there is a clue in the street names of Algarvian towns, since their habit is to name streets after famous people, especially local people. One of the most widespread names is that of Loulé-born Duarte Pacheco (pictured), a man of immense influence on the whole of Portugal.
A poet of national importance is António Aleixo from Vila Real de Santo António, whose statue sits silently at his table in the street in Loulé. Others include the Padeira de Aljubarrota, four Presidents of the Republic, a Christian hero, a bandit, an architect and a pioneering aviator. There is a life-boatman and a much-loved and revered bishop.
Admission is free but contributions to help run the Algarve History Association, organisers of the talks, are welcome.
For more information, email [email protected]
