WELCOME TO THE ALGARVE

Situated on the extreme South of Portugal, this part of the territory was the last to be conquered from the Moors by the Portuguese king in 1292. Traces of the Moorish presence are still seen in its unique architecture - terraces, chimneys and whitewashed houses.

However, the distance that was difficult to cover back in the 13th century is no longer an obstacle thanks to the modern Lisbon-Albufeira-Castro Marim road (IP1) or Faro international airport. So why not visit this charming region, with its idyllic .

Temperatures which are ideal for playing golf and other sports. In the northern part of the Algarve, the hills of Espinhação de Cão, Monchique and Caldeirão shelter the coast from strong winds. This brightly coloured region, with its fig trees, orange groves and almond trees in blossom, is also the most verdant and fertile. The southern coastline consists of a long stretch of fabulous sandy beaches, broken up by extraordinary rugged cliffs and fantastic grottoes.

Gaily painted boats in fishing ports gracefully bob up and down.  Sparkling white-washed houses with distinctive Moorish chimneys are dotted everywhere.  In spring the entire region is carpeted with white almond blossom.

The Algarve has something to offer everyone, tempting golf courses on which international tournaments are played, superb tennis and riding, and every watersport you can think of.  There’s an excellent choice of holiday apartments and villas, and hotels which also provide first-rate business and conference facilities.  Walk through the busy local markets to choose from traditionally- made handicrafts such as matgrass baskets and rugs, beautiful hand-painted pottery and tiles, beaten copperware and intricate bobbin-lace.  At night visit one of the many glittering casinos or clubs, or simply sit outside beneath the stars and sample some freshly-caught seafood.

There is much, much more to the Algarve than sun and sea. You can discover the remains of Roman towns, admire cool tiled churches and explore narrow winding side streets.  Faro, international gateway to the region, offers lively cafes, smart shops, cobblestoned streets and grand houses with wrought-iron balconies.  In the Cidade Velha - Old Town - you can browse around the 13th Century Cathedral and Bishop’s Palace.

Moving west, the area around Almancil is best known for its prestigious holiday resorts.  The tiny São Lourenço Church in the village, with its spectacular Baroque tiled ceiling, is thought to be one of the finest in Portugal.  At the popular resort of Albufeira you can still see fishermen sitting on the beach beside their colourful boats mending nets.  Inland lies Lagoa - famous for its wines, Silves - with its red sandstone castle and battlements standing proudly against a background of mountains, and Caldas de Monchique - a quaint Roman spa town. Lagos, on the coast, was one of the earliest settlements where Prince Henry the Navigator built his ships for the voyages of discovery.

Further west lies the dramatic windswept promontory of Sagres - known for its fort, now an emblematic and cultural place, and for being the departure point of Portuguese navigators - and of Cabo de São Vicente, once thought, as it stood on the very edge of the world, to he a meeting place of the gods.

To the east of Faro stretches the Ria Formosa, a nature reserve with a peaceful bird sanctuary.  The beaches along this part of the coast are flatter, wider and more deserted.  Olhão is a 17th Century town built in Moorish style and known for its lively indoor fish market.  Further east is one of the Algarve’s most elegant towns: Tavira.

All year round, the Algarve enjoys the best climate in Europe. With only a short period of rainfall (it normally rains between November and March) and long hours of sunshine (the highest in Europe), the Algarve region is blessed with the perfect weather for tourism.

During the summer months, temperatures are quite high, which greatly favours the so-called "Beach Tourism". The Algarve is a veritable paradise for bathers. It is a region endowed with beaches of fine white sand all along its extensive coastline and a calm sea with water temperatures of around 22°C in the summer period.

Due to its relief and geographical position, the Algarve is influenced climatically by the European continent, North Africa, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean. The maximum temperatures in the Algarve vary, throughout the year, between 15ºC and 31°C and the temperature never falls below zero in the winter. This is why tourists from Northern European countries increasingly seek out the Algarve, where they can enjoy long hours of sunshine.

(Text provided by the PortugueseTourism Information Department)