ALGARVE
This region of southern Portugal is named after the Arabic word for "The West" (Al Garb) covering a slightly wider area of what is now known as the Algarve. Passed through here, the Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, Muslims and finally the reconquest by the Christian kingdoms of northern Iberia.The Algarve is a holiday destination par excellence, with its hot, dry summers and a winter dry season with temperatures between 25-30 ºC in Summer and 13 to 17 º C in Winter, ideal for golf and to escape the harsh winters of the northern latitudes. Algarve is never too hot as in other Mediterranean areas and never too cold, making a pleasant stay throughout the year.
For most tourists, the Algarve is synonymous with beaches and in fact there are plenty of beaches along the coast. Since the Costa Vicentina in the west that attract surfers, small beaches between rocks and cliffs from Cape St. Vicente to Albufeira, the beaches of the islands of the Ria Formosa natural park and the long sandy stretches that follow, to the border with Spain. It is important to know that most of them proudly have blue flags. However, let us not forget that the Algarve is now known internationally as one of the best golf destinations in the world.
For the curious, the excursions to inland of the Algarve and its historical sites give another side of the cosmopolitan Algarve and bustling night life. Children can enjoy the many amusement parks and Zoo Marine is a must.
The Portuguese food can not be left out. In fact it was regarded by foreign tourists as the third major reason that pleased them in the Algarve.
At night, no one gets bored, with restaurants and bars every odd door, always lively discos until the sun shines, casinos with pretty shows and the opportunity to try our luck. Town Halls organize public concerts and festivals, mostly free, from Jazz to folklore. Every month it is published a brochure with everything that happens in the Algarve, so be alert.
Many tourists, fell in love with the Algarve and eventually bought a house over here, for holidays, investment or permanent residence after retirement. All options are possible, from a luxury villa in Quinta do Lago to a small apartment or an old house in need of renovation, in the countryside or at any village lost in the map.
For all these reasons, me, who also was not born at the Algarve, came to live here by choice, by the warmth of the land but also by its people . My daughters were born already here, and even though I still have not the "Algarvian" accent , I feel I can also say that "I am an Algarvian"!
Vince Tavares
