THE ALQUEVA REGION, PORTUGAL

ALQUEVA A CELESTIAL PEARL FOR STARGAZING

Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IDA. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of tourist activities based on this resource.

The region of the Great Lake Alqueva in Alentejo is a wonderful place to see the stars, constellations and distant galaxies such as the Milky Way. The unique characteristics of the night sky with a very low rate of light pollution, in the municipalities of Alandroal, Reguengos, Monsaraz, Mourão, Barrancos, Portel and Moura ensure the ideal conditions for an excellent observation of the dark sky. In Alqueva the sky has good atmospheric conditions for stargazing most of the year. Such skies are disappearing in Europe, where most of the population has no longer the privilege to observe an unpolluted sky.

Alqueva is a unique region very rich in cultural and natural heritage with, various visible megalithic remains whish suggest that our ancestors symbolically valued the landscape, relating it to the diversity of celestial movements, small picturesque villages and opportunities for to develop different tourist activities that could start during the day and extent during the night. The experiences implemented through an Alqueva Dark Sky Route allows tourists to undertake several night activities such as stargazing, bird watching, hiking, horseback riding, wildlife observation, canoeing, dinners on the lake shore, activities with children and even wine tasting.

Other photos by of this same region



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