The Algarve
A brief history of the region.

The territory defined as the province of the Algarve belonged to the old Roman province of Lusitanian, having later become part of the Visigoth dominions.

In the year of 711, the Arabic armies crossed the Gibraltar Strait and defeated the Visigoths in the battle of Guadalete. In the following year they conquered the Gharb Al Andaluz. During the following eight centuries (until the conquest of Granada in 1492), the Arabian power dominated the Iberian Peninsula.

Portugal was founded in 1143. In 1189, King D.Sancho I, helped by the Crusaders, conquered Lagos (Az-Zauia) and Silves (Chelb) for the first time. In 1190, the Caliph Al-Mansur (Califate Almoada) reconquested the Gharb Al-Andaluz, thus regaining the Algarvian places in power of the Portuguese's.

Lagos and Silves were definitely reconquested in 1241 by the Christians, who had been 1ed by D. Paio Peres Correia. King D. Afonso III of Portugal conquered, in 1249, definitely, the Algarve, for the Portuguese Crown. Since this date, and until the proclamation of the Republic in 1910, the Portuguese monarchs had the titles of "King of Portugal and of the Algarves".

The contribution of the Arabic culture in the Iberian Peninsula was striking in the architecture, agriculture and in the watering techniques, in the art of fishing and in shipbuilding, literature, mathematics and geography, as well as in the behaviour and in the people's physiognomy, and in more than 600 words in the Portuguese language.

The Algarve only regained importance, under the Portuguese dominium, in the 15th century, when Henry the Navigator decided to establish the basis for the maritime exploration and commerce of the western African coast and Atlantic Islands.

Today's Algarve

With a total area of 4955 km2 and an approximate population of 345,000 inhabitants, the Algarve is the southernmost region of Continental Portugal. The boundaries coincide with the territorial limits of Faro District. It is divided into 16 municipalities, which are in themselves, divided into 79 parishes.

The administrative capital is Faro. Here are located several organs depending on the central State Administration. Loulé is the largest of the 16 municipalities, being also one of the biggest in the country.

Climate

The whole region has a mediterranean climate, with more than 3,000 hours of sun a year. The average air temperature is between 12.2°C in the Winter (January) and 30ºC in the Summer (August). The temperature of the sea water is between 14.3°C (January) and 21.3°C (September). The wonderful beaches, the mild climate, the excellent golf courses, the plenty and qualified hotel and residential offer, have enabled the transformation of the Algarve into the principal touristic region of Portugal.

High quality touristic developments began to be implemented in this region almost thirty years ago. The municipality of Loulé offers some of the best touristic resorts of Europe; and many others, which have more recently been built in the Algarve, offer their customers unique conditions, at the level of what is best offered all over the world.

Natural resources

The Algarve possesses a diversity of natural resources of great wealth, namely its beaches, its landscape and fauna, of vital importance for the well being of the tourists who visit us throughout the year. Beyond tourism on which the Algarve strongly depends, the region still depends mainly on agriculture and fishing.

Along the 220 km of the coast, there are two main types of characterisation of the Algarvian coast; the erosion coast, which is located between Odeceixe and Sagres, on the Western coast, and from Sagres to Albufeira on the southern coast.

The accumulation coast, on the southern-eastern part of the Algarve, between Albufeira and Vila Real de Santo António, presents sandy and sedimentary formations. This is the area which embodies the Natural Park of Ria Formosa. In this area the climate is milder and the beaches are constituted by long sandy plains, with a great beauty as well.

Touristic Values and Development

Algarvian coast offers the most beautiful and welcoming beaches of the whole world.. These seaside resorts are supported by hotel units which provide their customers with the best housing conditions, complemented by their refined services.

The excellent golf courses which are spread all over the region add to the other coastal offers.

Gastronomy local products and the local cultural traditions, the natural environment and the local landscapes, the local cultural basis, form the essence of the touristic offer of the interior of the Algarve.

Local handcraft is one of the great values of this region. There are genuine and natural products, such as honey, homemade bread, olive oil and the very typical arbutus berry brandy (aguardente de medronho), among many others. Traditional utensils, which are still handmade by the local craftsman, complete the traditional and characteristic offer of the Algarve..

Take advantage of what the Algarve has of best.

During the low season you may visit the interior or the golf courses, at the barrocal or up in the mountains, where you may take advantage of the traditional products or being part of the local events or living our traditional or religious festivities.

Here you will find another Algarve, much more genuine and traditional, that we are sure you will enjoy