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Picture of a map of the Algarve, sightseeing
 
       

1 iconSagres.
Situated at the extreme western end of the
Algarve, past Lagos is the quiet and unspoilt
town of Sagres. This is the home of the Algarve's
lobster fishing industry, and is also said to be the
place where Prince Henry the navigator set up
his famous school of navigation. It is not known
where the school was located or what form it
took. But what can be said with reasonable
certainty is that between 1420 and 1460, Prince
Henry gathered together in the vicinity of
Sagres the best international brains in
seamanship. It is reasonable to speculate that
this "school" would have been set up in the
Fortress on the main headland at Sagres.
Visiting Sagres is essential for its history and
dramatic coastline, but the actual town is
interesting to say the least - some say a bit of a
shambles of houses and apartments with a road
which winds down from the high ground to the
quayside of a sheltered fishing harbour.

  
     
     
 
             
    Picture of a cannon at Sagres
 
   
           
 
 
       
2 iconCape St. Vincent.
At the most southwesterly point of Europe is
Cape St. Vincent. The views here are spectacular
to say the least. Located just 6km from Sagres it
guards one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
All shipping between North America/Europe and
the Mediterranean/Suez Canal passes through
here.
The lighthouse at Cape St. Vincent is apparently
the strongest in Europe, and there is a loose
arrangement with the lighthouse keepers whereby
small parties are taken to the top of the tower.
The steps are steep, there are no set times and
there is no charge. A tip to the guide is always in
order though!		  
     
       
    Picture of Cape St. Vincent
   
   
 
 
       
3 iconLagos.
It is fair to say that Lagos is perhaps the most
historically interesting town in The Algarve. It
was here, in Portugal's 14th and 15th century
age of discovery that Henry the navigator had
his vessels built. This eventually led to the
voyages of exploration down the coast of West
Africa, and to the sea route past the Cape of
Good Hope to India.
One of the most formidable obstacles of the sea
route was Cape Bojador, a headland on the bulge
of Africa. The first European to round this
menace and return was Gil Eanes - Lagos' most
famous son.
Both Gil and Henry the navigator are honoured in
Lagos with statues. Henry's with a sextant in
hand, looking across the harbour in the Praça da
Republica.
Many of the town's historic buildings were lost in
the devastating earthquake of 1755. But one
which survived is the Chapel of St. Anthony, a
Baroque masterpiece in carved wood with the
walls covered in 18th century tiles. Next door is
the Lagos Museum which contains a host of
unusual relics and religious art.		  
     
     
             
         
    Picture of a statue of Gil Eanes
   
   
               
 
     
4 iconMonchique.
This particularly beautiful village lies in the Serra
de Monchique range of hills, and is usually
approached from the south - a particularly lovely
drive in early spring, when roadside bushes are
in bloom.
Monchique has remained a market town for
products grown or hand-made in the surrounding
hills - timber, cork, smoked ham and honey
amongst other things. It is a village to wander
through and get lost in its narrow cobbled
streets.
Eating in Monchique is optional, but drinking is
obligatory. Find a hole-in-the wall bar and ask
for a shot of "medronho", you might end up
leaving stocked up with litres of the stuff! The
ladies might prefer the taste of the locally made
"brandymel", a brandy liqueur tasting of honey.
   
     
    Picture of a Portuguese back-street
   
   
 
     
    Picture of the castle at Sagres
   
     
     
5 iconSilves.
Silves was once the Moorish capital of the
Algarve, as well as a cultural centre. The town's
two most visible buildings - the red sandstone
castle, and the red and white cathedral next to
it are reminders that in medieval times this was
one of the most fortified and heavily fought over
places in the Algarve.
Once a Roman settlement, it was the Moors who
made Silves into a prosperous town with
gleaming minarets and bazaars brimming with merchandise.
During the 12th and 13th century the town was
witness to a brutal series of battles and sieges
between the Moors, the Portuguese Christians,
and crusaders from England and Germany. Silves
was finally taken by the Christian forces of
Alfonso the 3rd, whose statue stands, sword in
hand, just inside the castle gates today.
The castle and town's grizzly past is not evident
in the Silves of today, with its gardens, squares,
restaurants and cafés. Jacaranda trees,
Oleander shrubs and flowerbeds now grace the
castle that was once witness to terrible violence.
Silves is a wonderfully historic town, and gives
its visitors a real sense of the history of the
Algarve in general.
   
     
    Picture of a statue of Alfonso the 3rd
   
   
 
 
     
6 iconAlbufeira.
The Algarve's main tourist spot, Albufeira was
once a small fishing town. Now a tourist
metropolis, Albufeira is blessed with an
abundance of bars, restaurants and nightclubs
as you would expect. It still retains its character
however as raving teenagers, young families and
sun-hardened fishermen all mix together happily
in the narrow, cobbled streets.
If you're looking for a lively time in the Algarve,
then Albufeira is for you, but if you're looking for
the "real" Algarve then you're maybe better off
looking elsewhere!
   
     
    Picture of a beach at Albufeira
   
   
     
 
 
     
7 iconVilamoura.
Reputedly the biggest private holiday
development in Portugal, and perhaps Europe.
Containing a choice of three golf courses, quality
hotels, a water sport centre and masses of
apartments, this is a holidaymaker's playground.
There is even an airstrip, for those of you that
like to avoid traffic.
At the heart of Vilamoura is its yacht-crammed
marina, which can apparently hold up to 600
boats. There are many restaurants and bars on,
or near the quayside.
Vilamoura also boasts a casino. While not being
up to Las vegas standards, it's a place where the
beginner can try their luck on the one-armed
bandits while the more serious gamblers can play
at the tables.
   
     
     
   
    Picture of the quayside at Vilamoura
   
   
       
 
     
8 iconFaro.
Not just an airport! Although the airport, located
approximately 7km from the centre is the closest
that most tourists get to Faro. This is a shame
as it is a pleasant, relaxed town rich in historic
sights. It also has an excellent pedestrian
shopping precinct. The centre has a cobbled,
shaded municipal garden with an open-air café,
an old-fashioned bandstand, a small boat
harbour and charming old city walls.
Among Faro's many churches, the Igreja do
Carmo is considered the most beautiful. The
creepiest on the other hand is definitely the
Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones). This is a
19th century vault in which the skulls and bones
of the parishioners were used instead of
conventional building materials. An inscription
over the doorway translates to: "Stop here and
think of the fate that will befall you".
   
     
    Picture of a cobbled street in Faro
   
   
     
   
 
     
9 iconTavira.
This is one of the most beautiful, unspoilt towns
in the Algarve. Lying at the mouth of the river
Asseca, Tavira is surrounded by lush countryside,
bountiful with vineyards and olive groves.
It is a spacious town of imposing buildings and no
less than 32 churches. The river flows through
the centre of the town crossed by an arched
bridge which dates back to Roman times.
Downstream, the river's name changes to the
Giláo, and is lined by picturesque gardens and old
aristocratic houses dating from the 17th and
18th centuries.
The town's main monument - the church of
Santa Maria was built on the ruins of a castle
and mosque soon after Tavira was re-conquered
from the Moors in 1242. It was rebuilt after the
great earthquake.
   
     
                               
   
    Picture of a bridge in Tavira