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The Algarve comprises 5.411 square kilometers, with approx. 155 kilometres of beautiful coastline along the southern length of the country. The population is around 395,000 permanent inhabitants, which swells to over a million people at the height of the summer. The region's administrative centre is Faro, controlling 16 Municipalities in the region.
The length of the south-facing coastline is approx. 155 kilometres and stretches about 52 kilometres to the north on the west.
A single-track railway line runs from Lagos to Vila Real do Santo António that also links to the line running to Lisbon and the north and there is a good fast service with modern first class carriages, air conditioned for comfort.
The old EN125 main road runs along the entire coast and has now been largely replaced by the new parallel A22 motorway (also known as the "Via do Infante"), starting at the border of Spain which stretches west to Lagos. Close to Albufeira it joins with the motorway to Lisbon. This motorway will take the visitor from the Spanish boarder at Vila Real de Santo António in the east to the historic town of Lagos in the west in a little under two hours of driving, thus making the whole Algarve very easily accessible.
Faro International Airport is conveniently located on the coast of the central Algarve, making it a short driving time from any point along the Algarve.
The Western Algarve covers the region from Sagres , Europe's southernmost point, to Albufeira. This region has been well developed over the years and is home to many expatriates who chose this region partly for its beautiful coastline, made up of cliffs, caves and lagoons, with lots of intimate sandy coves. Some of the earliest championship golf courses, such as the Penina, are located in this area.
There is much seafaring historical interest in this region, too, Lagos being the port from which some of the famous Portuguese maritime explorers set sail in search of new lands. This charming old city now boasts a new Marina and surrounding property developments.
The town of Portimão lies on the River Arade, with popular waterside restaurants famous for their grilled sardines.
The historical city of Silves features river-front properties and a beautiful castle which is open to visitors. The highest point of the Algarve is Monchique , a beautiful and unspoilt area which boasts its own fresh water spring and a spa, where many visitors go to "take the waters" and be treated for their ailments.
Top The Central Algarve covers the region from Albufeira to Faro. Once a small fishing village, Albufeira has grown enormously. The Fisherman's Beach (Praia dos Pescadores), is very popular with holidaymakers, who enjoy the added charm of the traditional fishing boats which still operate from this beach. Albufeira has been substantially developed and provides a wealth of touristic hotels, apartments and aparthotels. The village of Guia, just outside Albufeira, is famous for its grilled chicken restaurants.
Between Albufeira and Faro is located what has become famously referred to as the "Golden Triangle" , an area of exclusive and luxurious resort developments between Vilamoura with its Marina and extensive tourist resorts, to Loulé and Almancil , where can be found the 5 star resorts of Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago . This area falls within the jurisdiction of the Loulé Council, the country's richest municipality due to its high level of investment and income from tourism. Some of the Algarve's longest established and best quality golf courses can be found here, usually operated by the resorts for which they were constructed. Five star hotels and luxury villas abound here for the discerning visitor and the resorts have received international awards for quality and excellence. Almancil has become a leading area for business development in the Algarve.
Faro is the capital of the Algarve, a beautiful city featuring the historic walled city and a pedestrianised shopping centre, where shops offer a variety of goods ranging from traditional handicrafts to top quality shoes and fashions. Regular ferry boats run between the old city and the islands located a short hop away, with their wonderful beaches facing out to the Atlantic. Faro is a popular area for visitors to take a leisurely stroll and enjoy the old marina, the gardens and the old walled city. Although the recently constructed shopping mall, the Algarve Fórum, has had an impact on local businesses in the city centre, improvements to the commercial area and its surrounds make it a special place to visit. As is increasingly the case throughout the Algarve, a busy cultural programme is offered throughout the year, especially in the summer, with many events taking place outdoors in the gardens or by the Marina. The recently built Municipal Theatre produces plays, shows and concerts featuring many internationally renowned artists.
The Eastern Algarve lies eastwards out of Faro along the extensive Ria Formosa , a stretch of islands and estuaries which enjoy environmental protection for its varied species of birds and flora.
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One of the country's major fishing ports, Olhão once enjoyed a bustling trade, which is now greatly reduced, although some of the fish canning factories still operate here and export their canned fish products worldwide. Very much a working town, it is now seeing great improvements through investment in property and seafront development, which is sure to raise its profile. This "cubist" town has strong Moorish influences, reflected in designs and also many of the road names. The recently re-developed fish and vegetable market on the seafront was re-built to the original design, re-using the original bricks, but offers much improved facilities.
Further on, past the fishing harbour of Fuzeta and its outlying islands, you come to Tavira, the Eastern Algarve's oldest and most beautiful city. With its castle and river running through the city, the patrimony has been carefully and skillfully maintained, with some beautiful examples of renovated old houses and properties which in many other towns would have been pulled down to make way for apartment blocks and new buildings. The castle walls offer a fascinating view over the town's unusual rooftops, which are fairly unique to this area and well worth the climb up to the castle walls. Visitors to this area take ferries out to the islands to enjoy the beaches.
Tavira is now a major growth area for new developments, featuring golf courses and luxury villas and apartments. Accordingly, property prices are still lower than in other areas of the Algarve, but it is gradually catching up with the rest of the Algarve in terms of popularity as a destination for foreign investment. Strict controls on planning approvals by the City Council of Tavira have meant that this area will not become over-developed and will maintain its natural beauty.
Monte Gordo was one of the earliest popular tourist destinations of the Algarve for the English, located close to the town of Vila Real de Santo António , the easternmost point of the Algarve. It lies on the banks of the Guadiana River , which forms the border between Portugal and Spain. The A22 motorway ends at the Guadiana bridge, where it joins the Spanish motorway to Seville, which can be reached in under an hour's drive. A ferry operates between Vila Real Stº António and the Spanish town of Ayamonte. |
