Portugal Resorts in the Algarve

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. 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. The Algarve is hilly, but traversed with rich valleys. The maximum temperatures in the Algarve fluctuate between 15 and 38 �C, with the temperature never falling below zero in the winter months. The coastline is notable for picturesque limestone caves and grottoes, particularly around Lagos, which are accessible by powerboat.

Over the past 50 years the Algarve has seen an increase in development, particularly from non-Portuguese developers. The Algarve is a popular destination for tourism, primarily because of its beaches, Mediterranean climate, safety and relatively low costs. The Algarve is also host to the annual Algarve Cup invitational tournament for national teams in women's football. 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). It has since become a common destination for the Germans and the Dutch.

In addition to the natural beauties and plenty of beaches, the Algarve has invested in the creation of a network of golf courses. 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 the 15th century, Henry the Navigator based himself in Sagres and conducted various maritime expeditions which established Portugal as a colonial power. The Algarve region is divided into 16 municipalities:

Praia da Marinha, Lagoa was classified as one of the 100 most beautiful and well preserved beaches of the world. The summer months see high temperatures that attract beach-goers and sun-lovers from around the world. 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. 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 Carthaginians founded Portus Hanibalis which is known today as Portim�o in circa 550 BC. Many years ago, to reflect the Algarve's unique status, Portuguese monarchs were known as "King of Portugal and The Algarves". There are Algarve-based English-written publications and newspapers specifically addressed to this community. The Portugal News being the most popular. When the Moors conquered Lagos in 716 it was called Zawaia. Its highest point is the mountain range of Monchique, with a maximum altitude of 906m (Peak of the F�ia).

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com