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Next Stop…The Algarve in Portugal

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The Algarve is one of Portugal’s most popular destinations for visitors.  Located on the southern coast of the country, the Algarve has 100 miles of coastline that spans from the border with Spain to the town of Sagres, which is the most south-westerly tip of Europe.

Many come to the Algarve to enjoy the 300 days of sunshine per year and the beautiful sandy beaches. But there is much more to the Algarve than just a beach.  For sports enthusiasts and people who enjoy the outdoors there are numerous activities to choose from, including golf, cycling, tennis, surfing, horseback riding, kayaking, rock climbing, kite surfing, and wake boarding, to name a few. Golf lovers can choose from the 70 courses found throughout the region and the many resorts that cater to all of their needs. Families will enjoy taking boat trips that include visits to caves and seeing dolphins off the coastline, or visiting water parks, theme parks and zoos. For beach information, click here, and for golf information, click here.

Visitors interested in culture and history can immerse themselves in towns like Faro, the capital of the region. Its origins date back to Roman times and the 13th C. Cathedral is a National Monument. In Silves you can visit the well preserved exterior of the Moorish castle that dates back to the 8th C., and in Sagres you can see the lighthouse located on the cape that was considered the end of the world in ancient times. For the Algarve Cultural Heritage Guide (in PDF format) – published by the Algarve Tourism Board, click here

For information and reservations for hotels located in the Algarve area, click here.

Photo Credit: Freebird / Photo of Praia dos Tres Irmaos beach

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.

Next Stop…Faro, Portugal

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Faro is the provincial capital of the Algarve, and is located in the center of the 100 km. sandy stretch of Portugal’s southern coastline. It is the gateway city for many people who arrive in the Algarve through the international airport that is located on the outskirts of town.

Faro’s history dates back to Roman times, when the city was known as Ossonoba. Visitors can explore the old part of the city, or Cidade Velha, to learn more about the town’s historic past. You enter the old town through the Arco da Vila, built by order of Bishop Francisco Gomes, who oversaw the reconstruction of Faro after the earthquake in 1755. In the middle of the square you will find the Sé (Cathedral), which dates back to the end of the 13th C. While its exterior may seem simple, inside you will find decorated azulejos (tiles), intricate gilded carving, and other works of art. Housed in the 16th C. Nossa Senhora da Assunção convent is the Museu Municipal, which contains Portuguese, Spanish and Italian paintings, and other artifacts from the region.

If you are looking for some down time and want to relax on a sandy beach, then head to the Porta Nova pier located on the waterfront, located outside of the old town. There you can hop on a ferry that will take you to one of the ilhas (sandspits) beaches that can be found surrounding Faro to enjoy a day in the sun.

If you decide to spend the night you can stay at the Pousada de Faro – Palácio de Estoi, an elegant 19th C. palace located just outside of town. For more information and reservations, click here.

Photo credit: Dronepicr

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.

Next Stop…Lagos, Portugal

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Lagos is a historic and charming town located on the western side of the Algarve. With pristine beaches, a picturesque Old Town, great restaurants and a buzzing nightlife, it is more than just a beach destination.

The history of Lagos dates back over 2000 years, and its busy harbor has attracted the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Moors, all of whom have called Lagos home. Prince Henry the Navigator, who built a fortified town and school of navigation in Sagres, lived most of the time in Lagos. It was from Lagos that he directed expeditions to Morocco and to the western coast of Africa, and it was also from here that Vasco da Gama set sail for what was to be his discovery of Brazil.

Visitors can spend a day exploring the narrow cobblestone streets of the Old Town. There are a number of historic buildings in the city center to visit, including well preserved sections of the ancient city wall that date from the 16th C., the 17th C. Ponta da Bandeira fort that sits on the waterfront, the 16th C. Igreja do Divino Salvador, Matriz de Alvor (Church of the Divine Saviour), the beautiful interior of the Santo Antonio church (with an unassuming facade), and the Mercado dos Escravos (Europe’s first slave market). There is even a  municipal museum Museu Dr. Jose Formosinho that tells the history of the area from the Neolithic period through the Age of Discovery.

Many are drawn to Lagos for its beaches, and there many to choose from, including Praia do Camilo (accessed by descending a 200 step wooden stairway), Meia Praia, and Praia de Dona Ana. One of Lagos’ best known sites is the stunning Ponta da Piedade, a series of beautiful sandstone cliffs that are considered the finest natural feature of the western Algarve. The site can explored from the pathways that cross and climb the cliffs, but it is best seen from sea by taking one of the boat tours that depart from the Lagos marina.

If you decide to spend some time in Lagos you can stay at the Hotel Tivoli Lagos Algarve Resort located in the center of town and just 10 minutes from Lagos’ largest beach, Meia Praia. For more information and reservations, click here.

Photo credit: Turismo de Portugal / Photo: Forte da Ponta da Bandeira

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.