Algarve is the Portuguese equivalent to the American Florida or southern California. The sun and sea dominate the atmosphere of the Algarve, bestowing on it the ideal qualities of a holiday paradise and making it the "Garden of Portugal". The area has over one hundred miles of the finest beaches in Europe and where they have three hundred days of sunshine a year. The region is dotted with Moorish villages with white washed houses. Between these ancient towns are modern resorts catering to tourists. Some sections were over developed in the 60's and 70's but that is now changing due to new regulations. There are still some area's that have remained unchanged, such as Tavira -- to the East.

Algarve has over 100 miles of the finest soft golden sand beaches in Europe and borders the Atlantic Ocean from Sagres in the West to the Vila Real de Santo António in the East - on the Spanish border. Include in this area are championship facilities for water sports, golf, tennis, fine restaurants and horseback riding.

The center of the Algarve is from Faro west to Lagos. Sandstone cliffs that open to modest bays and harbors line it. This area because, of it's popularity, also attracts the most people. From Lagos west to Sagres you have high granite cliffs, grottoes, small coves and especially scenic areas. It was here in Sagres that Prince Henry the Navigator resided and trained the Portuguese Navigators who participated in Portugal's Age of Discovery

If you're not up to driving to the Algarve, TAP (Air Portugal) provides daily flights from Lisbon to the Faro airport. If you are driving the roads are very good from Lisbon to the Algarve. When you get down by Albufeira, you can take E-1 or N 125 to your final destination.

Sagres

Here is where once navigators thought that land ended and the ocean dropped off into nothingness, the end of the known world. Here was also Prince Henry the Navigator looked out over the sea and wondered if there was a route to the Indies.

Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460) played a major role for 15^th century navigators by his leadership in solving problems of transoceanic voyaging. He was a great warrior who was knighted for his role in the capture of Ceuta, he was also a great teacher, a nautical and astronomical specialist, and a brilliant organizer and sponsor of oceanic exploration. He assembled the best mathematicians, cartographers, shipbuilders, astronomers, mariners and chroniclers in the world and brought them to his School of Navigation in Sagres. Here on this surf pounding steep cliffs, on the southwestern tip of Portugal, he organized these Portuguese mariners so that they gained the necessary knowledge to explore the World.

This observatory gave the Portuguese the impetus for the exploration of the West Coast of Africa and other places in the vast unknown world. These conquests were recognized by Castile in the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 - under its terms Portugal was granted all lands lying to the east of a hypothetical line running 370 leagues west of the Azores. To the conquests Pedro Álvares Cabral added Brazil in 1500.

Sagres is a nice small town. You find some (no more than 3) streets with plenty of small restaurants, usually where the owner is both waiter and chief. It is popular with fishermen and backpackers. You are not confronted with the tourist's jet set. You can enjoy a platter of Sardines very reasonably and the town closes up fairly early.

About 5 miles west you find the lighthouse on the Cabo de São Vicente. This is well worth the drive for the view from these cliffs is spectacular.

For more information about hotel availability, use the Hotel Guide, type the cities names Sagres, Faro, Portimao, Tavira, Lagos, etc

Vila do Bispo

While the towns beaches are very serviceable, some other beaches that were up by Vila do Bispo. Praia do Castelejo is a beautiful beach.

The beach starts from a precipitous headland at its south end and stretches to craggy offshore rocks on the north end. The sandy beach is very big and very fine. There is a small restaurant at the foot of the road that serves fresh fish and other fine foods. It is called Castelejo Restaurante-Bar

Lagos

Lagos is very interesting. Although it is small by most measures, it is the second largest city of the coastal resorts. It conveys the felling of a bright, pleasant and coming resort.

Picture beside is the Harbor at Lagos

Silves

Silves is a nice quite beauty little town.
Many people associate the Algarve mainly with the beaches, but there are many wonderful little towns and villages located just a few miles inland. Silves is one of these towns. Silves is located in the Barlavento of the Algarve, between the mountains and the coast. If you have a map handy it is located to the north and east of Portimão.
The Castle which is on the high point of town. The Castle is very impressive and worth the visit. It is reddish in color, which makes it stand out. They are excavating a section inside which contains some old ruins also you can go down into the old water works which still provides water to the town
You can get more information about Town of Silves

TAVIRA

For some time now, I really wanted to explore the area of the Algarve from Tavira to Vila Real De Santo António which is on the Spanish border.

Tavira is very charming. The old Roman bridge set the tone for the town. The area still retains it feeling of Portugal. It has not been turned into a series of high rises by the developer.





Aldeamento Pedras d' El Rey which is located just a short distance from the center of Tavira.
Pedras d' El Rey Santa Luzia - Tel: 281 325 352 is a very nice place to stay. Its consists of Cottages, apartments restaurants and shops located in a beautiful orange grove. You may chose to prepare your own meals or eat at the facilities provided.

The beach is also close by. You just walk over the causeway in the bay to a little train that will then take you to one of the most beautiful beaches

The beach at Tavira is also beautiful. You must access it the same way. You take a ferry across the bay out to the beach area on the sand bar. The Ilha de Tarvia is about 7 miles long and 550 yards wide and provides excellent swimming.

OLHÃO

The whitewashed houses with their flat roofs are reminiscent of the moorish architecture. The town was and is one of the largest fishing centers in the Algarve
In 1808 the village was elevated to the position of a town when when its fisherman crossed the Atlantic to Rio de Janeiro, without charts, to tell the exiled King João VI that Napoleons troops had been driven out of Portugal.

Vila Real de S. António

About 23 km to the east of Tavira is Vila Real de S. António that is right on the Spanish border. On the way you can passed through Monte Gordo and stopped for something to drink. Monte Gordo is a very clean little town with a lot of high rises and vast stretches of clean sand beach. I also has a casino.

This town provides a fitting farewell to the Algarve. When it was razed in 1755, it benefited from the reconstruction plans drown up by the Marquês de Pombal. It has classical buildings with a minimum of exterior decorations that are laid out in the familar austere grid pattern.
Walking along the shoreline looking out over the Guadiana River looking at Ayamonte Spain on the distant shore.