Algarve, Portugal

In the 15th century, Henry the Navigator based himself in Sagres and conducted various maritime expeditions which established Portugal as a colonial power. The Algarve was a semi-autonomous area with a governor from 1595 to 1808, as well as a separate taxation system until the end of the 18th century. The Algarve is hilly, but traversed with rich valleys. There are many other beautiful and famous summer places such as Albufeira, Vilamoura, Portim�o, Lagos, Arma��o de P�ra, Quarteira, Monte Gordo and Tavira. Faro, which the Christian residents had called Santa Maria, was renamed Faraon, which means "the settlement of the Knights".

The Algarve became the first part of Portugal to liberate itself from Spanish occupation, in the rebellion of Olh�o in 1808. In addition to the natural beauties and plenty of beaches, the Algarve has invested in the creation of a network of golf courses. The al-gharb, "the West" is the southernmost region of mainland Portugal, incorporating, amongst others, the cities of Faro, Albufeira, Lagos, Olh�o, Tavira, Portim�o and Silves. The Algarve region is divided into 16 municipalities:
The maximum temperatures in the Algarve fluctuate between 15 and 38 �C, with the temperature never falling below zero in the winter months.


British expatriates, followed by German, Dutch and Scandinavians, are among the largest groups wishing to own a home in this Portugal's sunny region. The coastline is notable for picturesque limestone caves and grottoes, particularly around Lagos, which are accessible by powerboat. There are Algarve-based English-written publications and newspapers specifically addressed to this community. The Portugal News being the most popular. The Algarve is also host to the annual Algarve Cup invitational tournament for national teams in women's football. Praia da Marinha, Lagoa was classified as one of the 100 most beautiful and well preserved beaches of the world.

The region's administrative centre is the city of Faro, which has its own international airport (Faro Airport) and public university (University of the Algarve). In the 1960s the Algarve became a very popular destination for tourists, mainly from Britain. In the mid-12th century, the Moorish occupation ended: the "Al-Gharb" has been since then the kingdom of Algarve. When the Moors conquered Lagos in 716 it was called Zawaia. In 1807, when Junot was leading the first Napoleonic invasion in the north of Portugal, the Algarve was occupied by the Spanish troops of Manuel Godoy.

In the 5th century, the Visigoths inhabited the Algarve until the beginning of the Moorish invasion in 711. It has since become a common destination for the Germans and the Dutch. Traditional agricultural products of the region include fig, almond, medronho, carob beans, and cork oak. When the Moors conquered Lagos in 716 it was called Zawaia. Being a region of Portugal, and therefore in the European Union, any EU citizen have the right to freely buy property and reside with little formality in the Algarve.

By: Diskwizz

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Diskwizz is the owner of more than 12 sites websites that cover the Algarve and its regions within the Algarve.

On moving to the Algarve in 2006 I decided to settle in an area called Praia Da Rocha. This is just outside the large town of Portimao and inbetween Portimao and Alvor.

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Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Algarve--Portugal/284797
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