The Algarve is the most southern region of Continental Portugal. It is bordered to the north by the Alentejo region, to the south and the west by the Atlantic Ocean and to the east by the Guadiana river which separates it from Portugal's neighbour Spain.

It was the last region to be conquered by the Moors, in 1292, during the reign of Afonso III, and still shows signs of this presence in its very name, Al-Gharb, the West, and from some of the names of some of its locations, or its chimney decorations, agriculture and the white of its houses.

Its area is 4,960 km² and it has a resident population of 395,208 inhabitants, spread over 16 councils. The region has 200 kilometres of coastline and 3000 hours of sun per year, which differentiates it from other tourist destinations. The capital of the district is the city of Faro.

The region contains the most beautiful and welcoming beaches in Portugal, nearly all of which have a Blue Flag, and are visited year round by many tourists.

Besides the coastal area, the region is made up of three ranges of hills: Espinhaço de Cão, Monchique and Caldeirão, which shelter the coast from the strong winds. The highest point is located in the Serra de Monchique and known as Pico da Fóia. It is 906 metres above sea level.

The region also has very beautiful countryside and scenery, with the almond trees in flower, orchards and fig trees.

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The Region



The region is normally divided into three parts, and all of them have beautiful countryside views. The coastline, transition area (barrocal) and the hill ranges.

The first area extends along the coast and is where most of the economic activity in the region is concentrated. Throughout the coast you can walk along the fine sandy beaches, broken up by streams, marshes or other dune formations. The barrocal is the transition area between the coast and the hills. It consists of limestone and schist rocks and is where most of the agricultural products of the region are produced. Finally, the hills are mainly made up of schist and granite rocks, and the mountainous region is formed by the set of three Serras. This area occupies 50 per cent of the area of the Algarve.

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Tourism



The predominant economic activity is undoubtedly the tertiary sector, due to the tourist development carried out in the Algarve in recent decades. The region has an excellent geographical location and an amenable and welcoming climate and as a result plays host to an average of 5 million tourists a year.

The Algarve offers extremely beautiful beaches, natural scenery, night life and a variety of radical sports, from paragliding to rock climbing, climbing, mountaineering, and paintball.

There are excellent golf courses which have mainly been designed by major international architects, which are amongst the best in the world and the region is indeed recognised as a true paradise for lovers of this sport.

After the summer, the Algarve continues to attract people due to it being one of the most popular international destinations for the holding of meetings, conferences and business meetings. The Algarve has luxury hotels, easy land and air access, and is a reference point for this market segment. It has year round night life, considered by many as the best that Portugal has to offer.



Of note is Vilamoura, one of the most well-known tourism complexes in Europe, located near to the Falésia beach, which also has a marina and an internationally famous casino, and Praia da Rocha in the council district of Portimão.

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Gastronomy



The region is known for two types of gastronomy: international and regional. Due to its proximity to the sea, fish forms part of the menu of the area. Seafood soups, snails with oregano, pork and clams served in a cataplana, dry octopus baked in the oven (Lagos), grilled squid or any type of charcoal grilled fish are delights for tourists.



As for desserts, the region mainly has sweets based on almonds, figs, carobs and oranges.  Do not forget to try the fig, egg and almond pastries, in the form of small animals and fruits, the D. Rodrigo and the Morgado de Lagos, the folhados from Olhão and pastries from Tavira made of egg yolks, almond paste and caramel.

These can be washed down by the famous Medronho aguardente, fruit liqueurs and the wines of the region.

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Places to visit:

Albufeira (click here for information)

Almancil:

• Church of São Lourenço (Baroque)

Aljezur:

• Castle

Castro Marim:

• S. Sebastião Fort

Faro:

• Faro Town Arch,
• Faro Walls,
• Convent of Santo António dos Capuchos,
• Hermitage of São Sebastião,
• Carmo Cathedral and Church

Lagos:

• São Gonçalo Arch,
• Castle dos Governadores,
• Hermitage of São João Baptista,
• Mother Church,
• Church of Sto António,
• Slaves Market

Loulé:

• Castle,
• Archaeological Municipal Museum of Loulé,
• Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Piedade

Monchique:

• Chapel of São Sebastião,
• Mother Church

Olhão:

• Church of Soledade,
• Fuseta Tower,
• Church Tower
  

Portimão:

• Roman Ruins at Quinta da Abicada,
• Santa de Catarina Fort,
• Megalithic Monuments at Alcalar,
• Walls and the new Marina of Portimão,
• Mother Church

Sagres:

• Sagres Fort,
• Cabo de S. Vicente Fort

Silves:

• Silves Castle,
• Cork Museum,
• Portas da Cidade Turret,
• Cathedral,
• Archaeological Museum

Tavira:

• Castle and Walls of Tavira,
• Roman and Archaeological Ruins da Luz,
• Church of Misericórdia in Tavira,
• Ilha de Tavira

Vilamoura:

• Vilamoura Marina,
• Casino,
• Roman ruins at Cerro da Vila

Vila Real de Santo António:

• Church of Nossa Senhora da Encarnação,
• Mother Church of Cacela,
• Manuel Cabanas Museum

Feast Days and Popular Festivals

• Beer Festival - Silves: July
• Tuna Route - Vila Real de St. António: July
• Festival of Sweet Arts - Lagos: July
• Summer Festivals - Portimão: 1st week August
• Sardine Festival - Portimão/Quarteira: July/August
• Festival of Petiscos (titbits) - Querença (Loulé): July/August
• Seafood Festival - Olhão: August
• Festival of the Tavernas of the Algarve - Lagoa, August
• Festival of Petiscos (titbits) - Loulé: August
• Folklore Festival - Albufeira: September
• Sweet Potato and Goose Barnacle Festival - Aljezur: October
• Festivals of Nossa Senhora do Rosário - Olhão: October
• Beach Festival - Vila Real de St. António: December
• Algarve activities Fair  (Fatacil) - Lagoa

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To know more:
http://www.visitportugal.com
http://www.algarvegolfe.com
http://www.algarveconvention.com/
http://www.visitalgarve.pt
http://www.ccr-alg.pt
http://www.aluga-algarve.com
http://www.menupt.pt
http://www.sulempresas.com
http://www.charmcomfort.com/regioes.asp?cod=3

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 Meetings taking place in the region