For those interested in carnivals and Fiestas, they know that each individual one has its own story to tell, about its own particular region, and it is not just people beautifully dressed, and dancing in the streets, as fun loving and entertaining to the holidaymaker as this can prove to be.
What is often missed or not understood is the significance of the square, or the streets, or even their names in which these processions are held in.
Take Vilo do Bispo for example, shown in the linked list of destinations below:
The Portuguese were the first of the Europeans to make the first known contact with Japan, in the year 1543, when a Portuguese ship was blown off course, en route from China, and was forced to land at the island of Tanegashima, the 2nd largest of the Osumi Islands to the south of Japan.
Vilo do Bispo was twinned with the city of Nishinoomoto which is on the island of Tanegashima in February 1992, and to give a true and long lasting recognition to this historical fact, a square, named 'Tanegashima Square' was built and inaugurated in 1998, which lies between the cultural centre and the municipal building in Vilo do Bispo. The significance of the named 'Tanegashima Square'?
The Portuguese 'Praca de Tanegashima', is the 16th century Japanese term, being until recent times, 'translated into Japanese', meant any form of firearms, which they named as "Tanega-shima", due to their belief that this ' weapon', had been introduced to Japan from onboard that very Portuguese ship in the year AD1543.
How can one imagine the effect upon the whole civilised world it would have had, had Japan not been introduced firearms and all that goes with it until much later in history?
Is there a carnival/fiesta to mark this occasion? One can rest assured there is, buried amongst the 100's if not 1000's of such events in Portugal, so have fun searching for the area in which you choose to take your holiday in the Algarve.
Both the region's international airport is the Faro/Algarve Airport) FAO and the public university,(the University of the Algarve) are located; Tourism and related activities are extensive, and make up the bulk of the Algarve's summer economy.
Mardi Gras (normally in February) sees carnivals across the region with the most spectacular taking place in Loulé.
Liberation Day (April 25th) celebrates the end of a dictatorship in Portugal.
Medieval festivals are held in Silves, Lagos and Castro Marim.
Special Easter festivals take place in São Brás de Alportel and Loulé.
There is a famous Sardine Festival in Portimão and Seafood Festival in Olhão.
During the summer months we can expect open-air concerts, beach parties, jazz festivals and a whole host of other events in the Allgarve Summer Programme.
One can spend a fabulous Christmas and New Year in the Algarve, with New Year's Eve parties and fireworks in all the main tourist resorts.
One needs to examine each area thoroughly to get the full picture and understanding, as explained above in Vilo do Bispo
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