L’Algarve, the southernmost region of Portugal, with its exuberant climate, spectacular beaches and cliffs, an untouched hinterland, and the proverbial hospitality of its inhabitants, is an ideal destination for sea lovers. A genuine buen retiro from May to October.
L’Algarve, the southernmost region of Portugal, with its exuberant climate, spectacular beaches and cliffs, an untouched hinterland, and the proverbial hospitality of its inhabitants, is an ideal destination for sea lovers. A genuine buen retiro from May to October.
The over 230 km of coastline forms environments and landscapes of wild beauty. West of Faro, the capital, the coast is called Barlavento (leeward) and is a succession of bays and inlets, with fashionable resorts such as Lagos and Albufeira, and romantic fishing villages, like that of Salema. East of Faro, the coast is instead called Sotavento (windward) and opens up a myriad of sandy islets, the ilhas, up to the borders with Spain.
The jewel of the Algarve is also its marinas, with fully equipped beaches, opportunities to sail the blue Atlantic, and plenty of liveliness in the venues near the ports.
The most famous beach of the Algarve is the marina of Villamoura, awarded the European Blue Flag: within its 1600 hectares, it includes golf and tennis courts, a riding school, and a state-of-the-art port area.
Nature lovers also find a small eldorado in the many natural parks: from the Costa Vicentina on the Atlantic to those on the eastern side of Ria Formosa and the Sapal Nature Reserve, an ancient salt center, where fine species of aquatic birds live in the brackish environments.
Finally, Nazaré, a truly picturesque place in Portugal. Here the fishermen have a special way of pulling the nets: the effort is entrusted to oxen that pull them all the way to the center.
