The Algarve is Portugal's most popular holiday destination due to the clean beaches (approximately 200 km of them), the cool, unpolluted water, and the facts that it is relatively cheap and very safe. English is spoken at most resorts.
[http://algarveinportugal.org Algarve Portugal]
The Algarve is rich in culture and diversity. If your looking for fast paced resorts or a calm tranquil setting either is attainable. The entire region is approx.5400sq km and is graced with over 100 different beaches, each unique in it's own way. If your into nature the choices are many from the Ria Formosa to Monchique mountain, in fact there are over 30 hiking trails (as per offical Turismo de Portugal guide books). If your a golf lover then you have come to the right place with over 30 courses doted throughout the region. Although the permanent residence population is under 500,000 the area receives more then ten fold that in tourism each year. The busiest times of year tend to be July/August. Come and explore the region further, discover a new place to visit, a different beach to swim in, annual events you may want to attend ... it's all here with videos covering several different topics.
[http://www.hipalgarve.net The ONLY Algarve Video guide]
About the Algarve (supplied and edited by Hotel Garbe):
Despite having a population of only 10 million people (fewer than London), this small country on the tip of western Europe has left its mark on nearly every corner of the world. Having produced some of the world's top explorers and navigators, Portugal's influence has spread across the globe.
The discovery and conquering of lands in South America, Africa and India are proudly celebrated by the Portuguese people in statues, museums, books and song.
Following the neolithic period of the regions history, approximately 1000 BC, settlements and trading ports were established by the Phoenicians who were attracted by deposits of copper, manganese and iron. They came from the coastal regions of the eastern Mediterranean of modern-day Syria, Israel and Lebanon exist.
Circa 550 BC Portimao was one of the ports founded by the Carthaginians who came from North Africa. In the 2nd century BC the region came under the control of the Romans as they spread throughout the Iberian Peninsular.
Many Roman ruins still remain today throughout the Algarve and can be seen in many areas, but the best to visit are probably at the Milreu ruins, 7km from Faro, where buildings that started construction as a Roman villa later became a Christian Church.
For the more adventurous, a trip to the Alentejo to see the Roman Temple at Evora is a must. Situated in the centre of the city, the temple, dating from the 2nd century, it is one of Portugal's best remaining monuments from the Roman occupation. It owes its survival to its continuous use down the centuries as during medieval times it was used as an execution site and later as a slaughterhouse.
Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Visigoths took control of the Algarve until the invasion of the Moors from North Africa in 711 AD. At this time, the Visigoths who came from central Europe, were defeated in the Battle of Guadalete by a force of invading Arabs and Berbers.
There followed a period of five centuries of Arab rule in Iberia. The Moors conquered the Algarve in 716. Faro, which had been called Santa Maria, was renamed Faraon, meaning 'the settlement of the Knights'. Even the name of the region owes its origin to the Moors who knew the region as 'al-gharb' meaning 'the west'. There is evidence of the moors throughout the Algarve and Southern Spain, illustrated by chimney stacks, pottery and the Moorish style of architecture, and particularly, the Arabic castle at Silves. The castle was built by Almoravid Arabs in the 11th century out of red sandstone and dried mud and is the best preserved Moorish castle in the country.
In the 12th Century, King Afonso III, with a little help from English mercenaries, finally evicted the Moors and once again the Portuguese dominated the region, although the area was not fully secure from Moorish attacks until the middle of the 13th century.
Born in Porto in 1394, Prince Henry the Navigator based himself somewhere around Lagos/Sagres, and is considered to be responsible for many of the 'discoveries' made by the Portuguese in the middle ages sending out expeditions to Africa, the islands of Madeira and the Azores. In 1419 he was appointed governor of the province of the Algarve.
From 1580 until 1668, Portugal was under Spanish rule. Between 1640 and 1668 here was a period of almost continual war Spanish, and what followed was the beginning of modern Portugal. In 1703 a treaty was signed with the British which offered protection from the British naval fleet and trade began to flourish between the two countries.
Disaster struck on 1st November 1755, with a huge earthquake whose epicentre was reported to have been 200km South-West of the country and registering 9 on the Richter Scale. The coastal areas of the Algarve were devastated by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. The devastation was not only limited to the Algarve, British naval reports from the period indicate the arrival of a huge wave in the port of Lisbon. The damage to Lisbon was almost total, and following huge political turmoil the person responsible for the reconstruction of the city was the Marquis of Pombal, the then Prime Minister.
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International flights into Faro airport (FAO) then (1) by bus: national buses run from outside the airport to the bus terminal regularly throughout the day time on weekdays. A taxi will be under ?10, or (2) by train: a taxi will be under ?10 from the airport to the train station.
Faro Airport [http://www.ana.pt/portal/page/portal/ANA/AEROPORTO_FARO/] is the main airport for the region. On arrival there is a wide selection of car hire options both at static desks in the airport and also within the terminal at a meeting point. To pre-arrange your car hire before arrival try these sites:
From Faro airport the train station and bus terminals can be reached by taxi.
Shuttle transfers are arranged regularly from Faro airport: [http://www.portugal-airport-transfers.com/lshop,showrub,1238498799-27214,e,1238498799-27214,algarve_airport_transfers.airport_shuttle_transfer,,,,.htm]
The Algarve is famous for its hot and spicy '''Piri Piri Chicken''', which can be found all over.
Since it has a big and rich coast, it boasts a very interesting array of fish and seafood, from sardines to ''cataplanas'', and many dry fruit sweets that will make your mouth water for more.
Vila Vita Parc is one of the finest resorts you can find. Placed harmoniously in the landscape over a large cliff, this resort has fantastic views of the Atlantic Ocean [http://www.best-holidays-in-algarve.com/vila-vita.html]