Arrifana (Aljezur)

Village in Algarve, Portugal

Arrifana (ɐʁiˈfɐnɐ) is a small parish and fishing village in the Faro District's Aljezur Municipality in the Barlavento Algarvio region of Portugal. Arrifana, from the Arabic word Arihana, means myrtle, a plant that grows in the area. Due to the difficulty of reaching barnacle populations, which live where the surf meets the rocks, the Portuguese consider barnacle harvesting among the most dangerous jobs in the world. Other dishes include octopus in olive oil, fish stew, fried Moray eels, and octopus with sweet potatoes.

Since 2005, Arrifana has been home to the Arrifana Sunset Festival, which features live music and craft and food stalls, and takes places along the Arrifana Beach. Previous musical performances include Gabriel o Pensador, Reeps One, Mishka, Tiago Bettencourt, True Vibenation, Caravana Sun, Ben Howard, and Peyoti for President. Music genres include reggae, rock, hip hop, ska, funk, and electronic music. The event takes place in late July and is hosted by the Arrifana Fisherman's Association.

Rota Vicentina is a mapped trail with two routes, one of which is the Historical Way, which crosses through Arrifana and has twice (2016 and 2020) been certified with the "Leading Quality Trails—Best of Europe" label. The trail is 263 km long and consists of thirteen legs each up to 25 km long The beach rents out wetsuits, surfboards, and bodyboards and surfing lessons are available on site. The fishing port lies at the north end of the beach, and the Needle Stone (Pedra da Agulha) is visible from the south end. 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, The fortress was likely abandoned around 1151 upon the assassination of Ibn Qasi. 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.