In 2008 Algarve commemorates  the second centenary of the rebellion against the Napoleonic army.

In 1807, the first French invasion of Portugal occurred, commanded by General Junot. This was the only invasion that directly affected the Algarve.

On 29 November 1807, a day before the arrival of the French soldiers in Lisbon, the Royal Family followed by about 15.000 people, amongst them noblemen and retainers, went to Brazil, under the protection of the British Navy, This legal and political manoeuvre symbolically preserved Portuguese independence.

This is the only European case where a royal family was transferred from its motherland to a colony. The impact of this event was enormous for Brazil. It would subsequently create the opportunity for it to quietly assume its independence.

However, the French occupation would cause bloodshed in Portugal until the summer of 1808.

The Portuguese King, D. João VI, later confirmed that the first successful revolt, which had set the people of the Algarve on fire against the Napoleonic Army, occurred in the small Algarvian village of Olhão. Three days later, a revolt in Faro broke out, soon becoming an uncontrollable situation.

The Supreme Council in Faro, which was created after these revolts, decided that it would be an Olhão boat (a “caíque”) to take the good news to the Royal Family in Brazil.

Due to the fact that, in 2008, it will be 200 years since these events occurred, a small group consisting of sailing men, APOS (Association for Defense of Cultural and Enviromental Heritage of Olhão), ANC (National Association of Cruises) and the City Council intend to commemorate the event by a sailing voyage to Brazil.

It will be an interesting and unique chance to promote the Algarve as tourist destination with its rich history and culture, far beyond the typical two-worded “beach and sun”.

The great fascination of this voyage is that it will include a replica of the original boat, currently the property of the City Council of Olhão. There are other ideas under consideration such as the participation of an ancient caravel (a replica of the boats in which Portuguese discoverers sailed around the world in XVI century).

Departure will be in July and arrival in Brazil in September 2008.