Back in the 15th centry Prince Henry the Navigator sat pensively on a cliff-top at the most southwesterly point of mainland Europe - Cabo de S?o Vicente (Cape St Vincent) - near the town of Sagres in southern Portugal, and gazed across the sea, wondering whether there existed a sea-route to the Indies (or was he sitting at the end of the world?).
Were Prince Henry to return today to Sagres ? the western-most extremity of the resort-ridden Portuguese coast known as The Algarve, he would discover what a Pandora?s Box he helped open when he sent his sailors off on voyages of discovery.
Today Sagres, and The Algarve coastline, is visited by hundreds of thousands of travellers from all over the world, most intent in soaking up some fun in the sun. They flock in by car, bus and train from Europe, or touch down from the four corners of the globe via the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, and the airport at Faro ? the main centre of The Algarve.
Once Portugal went out to find the world, now the world comes to Portugal!
The overall attraction of Portugal for tourists is easy to define. It is a small country, but encompasses a wide variety of landscape and culture. Lisbon is a vibrant, modern city; the northern areas abound in breathtaking scenic vistas, and the coast alternates between timeless old fishing villages and modern holiday resorts, interspersed with stretches of clean, sandy beach.
Being so compact, travellers can find time to take in all the desirable elements of Portugal ? but we are going to confine our virtual visit to the Moorish-flavoured Algarve province.
Getting there
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If you prefer flying, TAP (Air Portugal) provides daily connections between Lisbon and the Faro airport (which opened up the region to tourism when it was built in the 1960s), or opt for the train. Train services between all the Algarve towns are reliable and efficient; buses less so, but freely available and comfortable, if somewhat slow!
When to go
The Algarve prides itself on a virtually endless summer. Springtime arrives in February with a splendid show of wildflowers, and it can get reallyhot in mid-summer. Late September through to November there is enough warm sunshine for beach weather ? only December and January can really be considered winter, and then it is very mild.
Where to stay
The best way to enjoy The Algarve is to pick a town of your choice (more about these later) and settle into one of the myriad hotels or resorts which abound all along the coastline ? from five-star luxury to backpackers' lodges.
Exceedingly popular are Pousadas -from the Portuguese word denoting a place of rest and welcome. These are inns set in a variety of historical buildings ? like palaces, castles and convents ? all over the country. Look out too, for the Pousada restaurants that offer regional specialities and famous Portuguese wines. Rates vary at the Pousadas according to the category of accommodation and the season. For more information visit Pousadas of Portugal.
What to see and do
Every town and village on the Algarve coastal route has its own unique attractions ? although all share one thing in common - beautiful beaches! The interior of the region remains largely unspoilt by the tourist development that has concentrated on the sea-frontage ? flower-bedecked white-washed villages can be explored, the air redolent with eucalyptus, pine and lavender which all grow wild and in abundance.
Starting from Faro, an industrial and fishing centre, and travelling west along the ochre coast, so named for its red sandstone cliffs and grottoes, you will come across:
To the east of Faro is:
Warm welcome
You don?t have to worry about not being welcome in Portugal ? many people rely on the tourism industry; it accounts for nearly 10 percent of the country?s gross national product. So rest assured, you will not be alone on the highways and byways or resented by the locals. There are, however, still isolated villages, beaches, crumbling historic towns and hidden valleys to explore ? not so much on The Algarve, but in the north.
The Algarve received its name from the Moors, who arrived in the region in the 8th century and took over the fishing and trading communities established there by Phoenicians, Romans and Visigoths. The Moors called the province El Gharb - the land to the West - and built up the inland town of Silves into a huge capital with a population of more than 30 000.
The Moors ruled the region for 500 years, and have left their mark in the Arabic place-names, cubelike houses, the physical features of the local people and the popular delicacies in the area.
Specials to try are seafood soups, oregano snails, roasted dried octopus, grilled calamari and cuttlefish, delicious fig and marzipan pastries, and the Lagoa wines. You can also dig in to some home-made ice-cream in Carvoeiro from the Palacio do Cone, billed as the world?s most famous ice-cream shop.
When it comes to shopping, look out for locally manufactured wicker and cane baskets, hats and mats made from palm leaves and twisted grasses; lace and embroidery; copper utensils; decorative earthenware; porcelaine ornaments; and stained-glassware.
Golfing Algarve
We cannot leave the Algarve without mentioning the golf! The region abounds with courses, ranging from an interesting nine-holer at Vale do Milho to full championship complexes like Penina and Vilamoura.
Click here for a guide to the Algarve golf courses.
Useful links
From summer in Majorca to winter in the Alps, Sim Sim Wissgott meets a new breed of nomad.
We're giving away a two-night stay for two people sharing at Mandela Rhodes Place Hotel & Spa!
Penny Haw enjoys a la carte cruising and fine dining companions on the Crystal Serenity.
