ZOOMARINE
37° 7′ 36" N, 8° 18′ 51" W
Zoomarine is a themed water park located in the southern region of Portugal, in the parish of Guia, Albufeira. It was chosen by the travel portal TripAdvisor, in 2013 and 2014, as the seventh best in Europe in its category. It receives an average of 500,000 visitors per year, according to data from the institution itself, reaching a record number of visits in one day in August 2014, with more than 8,300 people. In 2003, Zoomarine was the stage for much of the filming of the TVI soap opera Saber Amar, as the workplace of marine biologist Diana, a character played by Leonor Seixas. In the soap opera, the name of the park appeared as Zoomarinho, and dolphins and various elements of the park regularly participated in the filming.
It is considered the best family theme park in the Algarve region with several tourist attractions, such as dolphins, seals and sea lions, tropical birds, and birds of prey. It also offers leisure, entertainment and environmental education activities in a space of more than 18 hectares.
History
Background
Mundo Aquático - Parques Oceanográficas de Entretenimento Educativo SA, was founded in 1989, in the form of a limited liability company. In March 1997, it was transformed into a public limited company, with a capital increase to the current 7,750,000 euros. The company's main activity is the exploration of theme parks inspired by marine life with a strong component of animation, leisure and environmental education.
Over the years, Mundo Aquático has developed recognized work in the scientific field in cooperation with various entities, namely universities and foundations, having even participated in and organized several congresses and meetings.
Conservation and Education - Protection and Preservation of the Environment (Together We Protect)
Zoomarine develops projects within the scope of environmental education, making an effective, direct and/or indirect contribution to nature conservation, opened in 2002.
To publicize the work carried out in terms of conservation, science and education, Zoomarine launched the WeProtect project. Since then, and in close collaboration with the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests, a multidisciplinary zoological team has been dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and return to the natural environment of marine and aquatic animals.
Science and Innovation
In addition to the adoption of Husbandry protocols and educational programs, Zoomarine has been integrating, since very early on, several internationally renowned networks and associations that strive for high standards (benchmarking) in areas such as environmental education and animal welfare, conservation and investigation. For example, the "Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums", the "European Association of Zoos and Aquariums", the "Iberian Association of Zoos and Aquariums", the "International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine", the "European Association for Aquatic Mammals", the "International Marine Animal Trainers Association". It also collaborates with local and regional authorities in rescue and rescue actions for marine animals, providing them with shelter in the marine species rehabilitation center.
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GUIA (ALBUFEIRA)
37° 07' 35" N; 8° 18' 04" W
History
Oral tradition suggests that the name came from the erection of the hermitage to Nossa Senhora da Guia, where the Virgin appeared to the people. Ecclesiastical records from the Bishop of the Algarve indicate that owing to the sanctuary, the parish was created in 1617.
Geography
This old settlement is located on the flank of a short mount, the Cerro de São Sebastião, with expansion occurring in the second quarter of the 20th century. Among the more important localities of the parish are the settlements of Vale Parra, Vale Rabelho, Montes Juntos, Vale Verde, Cortelhas, Vale da Ursa, Tavagueira and Álamos. 4.6 kilometers to the north of the town of Guia by road is the town of Algoz, in the neighboring municipality of Silves. The coast is 5 kilometers away and the nearest beaches are Lourenço and Galé.
Economy
The population of the civil parish has maintained an agricultural tradition, based on a rural society, producing fig, carob, almond, vineyards, wheat, barley and rye, in addition to a wide assortment of fresh vegetables. Guia is also home to Algarve Shopping, a large shopping center with a hypermarket (Continente), shops of a variety of nationally and internationally renowned brands, restaurants and a 9-screen cinema. The civil parish of Guia is home to Zoomarine a theme park with the primary aim; of educating about the seas and the wildlife within them. Guia is known for its numerous chicken piri-piri restaurants, and is known locally and nationally as "The Capital of Chicken"; the very first chicken piri-piri was supposedly grilled here in 1974, by José Carlos Ramires, whose eponymous restaurant is still open today. Situated on the N125 (the main east-to-west road on the Algarve except for the A22 Motorway) the town is a busy but nevertheless attractive place.
Architecture
Military
Old Tower (Torre Velha), following the June 1548 attack by Muslim forces along the coast of Albufeira, which resulted in the slavery of six rural peasants, the need to defend the Algarve coast resulted in the construction of temporary sentries. In the second half of the 16th century, during the reign of King John III, the tower was constructed to monitor coastal defenses. Today, the tower is integrated into a tourist lodging, called Torre Velha;
Religious
Church of São Sebastião (Igreja de São Sebastião), a single-nave church and sacristy constructed from a 17th-century chapel, in which was recently (2011) discovered mural paintings from the period;
Church of Nossa Senhora da Visitação (Igreja Paroquial da Guia/Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Visitação), the parochial church of Guia, consisting of a longitudinally-planned rectangular nave, chancel, sacristy and lateral chapels encircled by azulejos along its floor-level walls;
Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Guia (Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Guia), constructed in the 15th century, the simple hermitage is covered in floor-level azulejo, and almost destroyed by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake
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