Cabo de São Vicente. Praia da Arrifana Praia da Arrifana is a seashell-shaped Blue Flag beach on the Atlantic Ocean Sandstone cliffs surround the beach and cut the worst of the wind, which creates ideal conditions for scuba-diving and surfing, since the waves are not as high as neighboring beaches nor as strong. The beach rents out wetsuits, surfboards, and bodyboards and surfing lessons are available on-site. It is the location of the annual Sunset Fest and Fisherman's Festival and has hosted several regional surfing competitions. The fishing port lies at the north end of the beach, and the Needle Stone (Pedra da Agulha) is visible from the south end. Ribât de Arrifana The Ribât de Arrifana is a 12th-century Moorish fortress just north of Arrifana. It is thought to have been built at the beginning of Ibn Qasi's push for the spread of Sufism in Gharb al-Andalus, now known as Iberia, and likely housed warrior monks who aimed to defend Sufism, of which a core principle is universal love. The fortress was likely abandoned around 1151 upon the assassination of Ibn Qasi. Use from other groups, perhaps as a defense against pirates, fluctuated throughout the years; it was damaged multiple times, including by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, and finally abandoned altogether by the 19th century. In 2001, it was rediscovered by archaeologists. These excavations uncovered mosques, a minaret, a madrasa, a necropolis, and a prayer wall facing the religious site of Mecca. Scholars of medieval Islam's control of and lasting influence in Europe regard the Ribât as "one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 21st century." In 2007, Aljezur did minor renovations that made it safe enough to accommodate visitors; the Ribât was then made a national monument in 2013. In 2021, José Gonçalves, mayor of Aljezur, signed into action a plan that would make the Ribât de Arrifana an archaeological site. Funding for the current development and future projects comes in part from the Aga Khan Foundation, an organization affiliated with Islam. The center is expected to open in 2025. References Villages in Portugal Villages in the Algarve Fishing communities in Portugal