Classified Islamic Monuments, Sites and Ensembles in the Algarve

The Islamic occupation of the Algarve during the Middle Ages left a strong legacy in many areas of Portuguese culture. We call this territorial domain Gharb al-Andalus. In addition to the intangible legacy, the material remains discovered throughout the region attest to the long permanence of Islamic occupation. Within these parameters, a large number of Islamic buildings have been classified as National Monuments and Buildings of Public Interest. However, many of these structures leave us in doubt as to the state of preservation and dissemination of the heritage to local communities. This book addresses this shortcoming in an informative way, with fact sheets on Islamic heritage in the Algarve. Safeguarding the built cultural heritage is a patent that should not be ignored and, hopefully, new initiatives to protect the legacy of our history and culture will be realised.