Praia da Arrifana

Praia da Arrifana is a beach within the Municipality of Aljezur, in the Algarve, Portugal. The beach is on the western Seaboard in the north west of the Algarve. The beach is 6.0mi south south west of the village of Aljezur, and is 71.0mi north west, by road, from the regions capital of Faro. The beach of Praia da Arrifana is inside the Vicentine Coast Natural Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Praia da Arrifana has been designated a blue Flag beach (2012).DescriptionThe 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 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 ruinsOn 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 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.