Stretching for 100 miles along the southern coast of Portugal the Algarve offers glorious year-round sunshine, countless sandy beaches and warm waters.

As the last territory to be captured from the Moors by the Portuguese King, Dom Afonso III in 1292, the traces of Moorish influence are evident in the region's unique terraces, chimneys and whitewashed houses. Today, as the meeting point between Europe and Africa, the Algarve is still a fascinating mix of Moorish, Portuguese and European cultures.

The sandy beaches and rugged cliffs on the south coast are protected from strong winds by the hills and mountain ranges in the northern part of the Algarve. With fig trees, orange groves and almond trees this whole region is brightly coloured, verdant and fertile.