A Presentation by Peter Kingdon Booker

In the mind of the North European, there are few famous Portuguese who do not play football. One thinks of Vasco da Gama, or the Marquês de Pombal. Possibly Bartolomeu Dias and even Fernão Magalhães (Magellan). It is difficult to think of others, and much more so to identify famous Algarvians. But there is a clue in the street names of Algarvian towns, since their habit is to name streets after famous people, especially local people. One of the most widespread names is that of Loulé born Duarte Pacheco, a man of immense influence on the whole of Portugal. A poet of national importance is António Aleixo from Vila Real, whose statue sits silently at his table in the street in Loulé. Others include the Padeira de Aljubarrota, four Presidents of the Republic, a Christian hero, a bandit, an architect and a pioneering aviator. There is a lifeboatman and a much loved and revered bishop. Join Peter for a survey of local famous people.