Dark Sky Alqueva - The First Starlight Tourism Destination in the World

This time lapse sequence shows the beauty of the night sky as a world heritage of the human kind, making the perfect connection with Earth elements from the vantage point of Alqueva region, in Alentejo Portugal. A place that was created to preserve the darkness of the sky that only our ancestors had access few hundred years ago. The “Dark Sky® Alqueva“ () reserve, was created also thinking in the two thirds of the worlds population that never had the opportunity to observe with their naked eyes, the stunning views of our own impressive presence of the Milky Way against a starry sky of about 4500 stars, suspended in each half of our celestial sphere! Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight Foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of