Portugal - Algarve

In Portugal's Algarve, the distance that was difficult to cover back in the 13th century is no longer an obstacle thanks to the modern highway and coastal road and Faro international airport. So why not visit this charming region, with its idyllic temperatures (average temperature in winter of 14°C and 24°C - 57°F and 75°F - in summer, rarely going below 12°C - 53°F- during winter and reaching as high as 28°C or 30°C - 82°F or 86° F - in July and August), which are ideal for playing golf and other sports.

In the northern part of Algarve, the ranges of Espinhaco de Cao, Monchique and Caldeirao shelter the coast from strong winds. This brightly colored region, with its fig trees, orange groves and almond trees in blossom, is also the most verdant and fertile. The southern coastline consists of a long stretch of fabulous sandy beaches, broken up by extraordinary rugged red cliffs and fantastic grottoes.

Apart from the wealth of available water sports facilities (the marinas of Vilamoura and Lagos deserve special mention, amongst the various ports and harbours), there are other alternatives, such as tennis courts, famous golf courses, luxury hotels or quaint holiday resorts and an exciting nightlife

Lagos
Enclosed within 15th century walls, with its Manueline window, are the magnificent churches of Sao Sebastiao (Renaissance portals and 17th and 18th century tiles), Santa Maria or Misericordia (16th-19th centuries), Santo Antonio (Baroque) and the very old Sao Joao Chapel (8th-9th centuries). Other points of interest: Regional Museum, Governors’ Palace, Pau da Bandeira Fortress and the old slave market. Charming marina.