Welcome to the Algarve.
Gorgeous beaches, warm water and glorious sunshine year-round: the dream holiday destination.
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
Dom Afonso III, in 1292.
However, the distance that was difficult to cover back in the 13th
Century is no longer an obstacle thanks to Faro International Airport
or the extension of the IP1 motorway that runs the entire length
of the Algarve from the Spanish border to Lagos in the west.
The last stretch of Lisbon-Algarve motorway that will link with
the IP1 motorway near Albufeira was opened on schedule in August
2002, making 290 km journey to the capital possible in well under
three hours.
The Algarve is a favourite destination for Europeans seeking to
exchange the stress and fast pace of modern urban living in their
own countries for a more relaxed and healthy lifestyle abroad.
So why not visit this charming region, which offers over 3000 hours
of sunshine a year and idyllic temperatures (average temperature
in winter of 14ºC and 24ºC in Summer, rarely going below
12ºC during Winter and reaching as high as 28ºC or 30ºC
in July and August), which are ideal for playing golf and other
sports.
The standard of living is high and costs are relatively low compared
to northern Europe.
The Algarve boasts some of the best-unspoiled beaches in Portugal,
a perfect setting for water sports, sailing, big game fishing and
other maritime activities.
The majority of the finest championship golf courses are concentrated
in this region, which attracts a steady influx of golfers all year
round.
There is no shortage of sporting and leisure activities for the
non-golfer such as tennis, horse-riding, bird watching, walking,
swimming fishing, sailing, jet skiing and micro light flying. There
are also a growing number of well-equipped gyms and health and beauty
salons.
In today’s world safety is perhaps one of the most important
considerations: the crime rate is comparatively low in the Algarve,
as in most regions of Portugal.
Portuguese is the seventh most widely spoken language but it is
not easy to learn. Much to the relief of European visitors, most
of the younger Portuguese and those in business or the tourist industry,
have an excellent command of English, which is now the second language
in schools.
For many, the Algarve is Europe’s answer to paradise.
