Algarve Touristic Guide

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History of Algarve Culture of the Algarve Climate of Algarve Algarve gastronomy Beach

Cultural heritage

Short summary of the history of Algarve………………………………………..Page.3 Cultural Interests in Algarve…………………………………………………………....Page.4 Coins…………………………………………………………………………………………………Page.5,6 Geography of Algarve………………………………………………………………………Page.7 Climate……………………………………………………………………………………………..Page.8,9 Useful numbers………………………………………………………………………………..Page.10 Tourism Active…………………………………………………………………………………..Page.11 Top locations in Algarve…………………………………………………………………….Page.12 Top best beaches in Algarve…………………………………………………………….. Page.13 Places to relax…………………………………………………………………………………...Page.14 Accomodation…………………………………………………………………………………..Page.15 Favourite places………………………………………………………………………………..Page.16 Algarve Gastronomy……………………………………………………………………………Page.17

Places to eat……………………………………………………………………………………….Page.18 Festivals in Algarve……………………………………………………………………………..Page.19,20,21,22 Transport in Algarve…………………………………………………………………………….Page.23,24 Most frenquent questions………………………………………………………………….Page.25,26,27

Short summary of the history of Algarve

The first people in Algarve were traders and Estate stewards that established their colonies on the coasts. Good examples were the Phoenicians and the Carthaginians that existed for a long time solely from the resources of the coast.

After many battles, Algarve was reclaimed by the Christians. Since 1249, and until the Republic proclamation, the Portuguese monarchs were entitled "King of Portugal and of the Algarve".

The algarvios (people from the Algarve) were an important part of the maritime adventures and of the African territory occupation. The 1755 earthquake, which had its epicenter very close to Lagos, destroyed much of the Algarve. The tremors of destruction were felt everywhere and many important monuments were lost. But not even this would stop the algarvios, who despite all the adversities rebuilt the Algarve and made it what it is today: a wonderful resort by the sea!

Cultural interests in Algarve In Algarve there are many traditional markets where you can find the most characteristic items at very affordable prices. There we can find clothes, food, fruit, grocery, arts and crafts and very colourful and musical birds. In Faro and Olhão there are markets all Saturdays morning. In Estoi the market takes place in the first Sunday all months. In Quarteira, there are markets every Wednesdays and in Almancil and Albufeira there are also interesting markets.

Markets: Mercado de Loulé Mercado de Estoi Mercado de Castro Marim Mercado de Vila Real de S.António

Concerts: You can also enjoy good moods in Algarve.

Concerto de jazz no clube Farense Concerto Lado B em Silves Marginália bar Portimão

The currency used in Portugal is the Euro, as in most other countries of the European Union (Spain, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Finland, Austria and Greece). One of the advantages of having a single currency is that you do not have to change any money because you can use the Euro in all of these countries.

There are eight coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 and 2 Euros. All coins have one side that is common to all twelve countries, whilst the other side differs from country to country.

Did you know that...?

The Euro is divided into 100 cents.

In Portugal, the national side of the Euro coins displays the royal seal of Dom Afonso Henriques.

Banknotes There are seven banknotes. The front and back of each note is the same for all twelve participating countries: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euros.

Did you know that...?

Did you know that...?

The seven periods of European architectural history are represented on the banknotes.

The bridges symbolise the dynamics of cooperation and communication, whilst the gateways symbolise the European spirit of openness.

Each banknote has a dominant colour for easy identification.

The larger the banknote's value the greater its size.

Credit and debit cards Most Portuguese shops and businesses accept credit cards: Visa, Amex, Eurocard, Euro-Cheque, Diners Club and MasterCard.

There are a lot of cash machines all over the country. These cash machines are identified with the "MB" abbreviation.

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LINK

Festival.

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Festival do Marisco

Festa do Castelo

GEOGRAPHY OF ALGARVE Located on the western extreme of the Iberian Peninsula, in the South of Portugal, Algarve is easily distinguished from the rest of the country, not only because of its peripheral location, but also for its morphological and geological features.

The Algarve region covers 6% of Portugal’s total area and it’s 5,000 km2 wide. On the North side it is limited by Alentejo, on the east the Guadiana River separates it from Spain and on west and south it is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its diversity and due to its geological aspects, Algarve can be divided into three main regions: the Mountains (Serra), the Barrocal (place full of ruts, crags or caves) and the Coast.

On the Vicentina Coast (that begins a little before Sagres and widespreads to the North) you can watch nature in the dark steep cliffs cut by small beaches. The South coast is attractive and invites to the pleasures of sun and sea. It offers small beaches wrapped by coloured cliffs and huge beaches framed by pine trees.

Inland you will find Barrocal that is the orchard of the Algarve, with its many green shaded almond trees, fig trees, orange trees and a rainbow made of flowers.

This is the place to find whitewashed houses, with laced chimneys and views that spread to the ocean. Further north you’ll find the range of mountains in a chain of round shapes that spread to the horizon like a petrified smooth sea.

CLIMATE

In Algarve you have the best weather conditions in Europe. Characterized by scarce periods of precipitation, generally concentrated between November and March, and by a high insolation, the Algarve region presents excellent meteorological conditions for walks, sunbathes, outdoor activities or stunning rides.

During the summer the temperatures are very high, offering wonderful conditions to sunbath. The temperatures are around 30 degrees Celsius in the summer period.

Due to its relief and geographic position, Algarve receives many climatic influences from the North of Africa, from the Atlantic Ocean and from the Mediterranean Sea. The maximum temperatures oscillate, during the year, between 15 and 31 degrees Celsius, with no negative minimum temperatures in winter, a season in which the sunny days are a major and unexpected aspect.

Average Temperatures: Air temperatures in the summer: 24ºC to 29ºC Air temperatures in the winter: 15ºC to 18ºC Sea temperatures in the summer: 21ºC to 24ºC Sea temperatures in the winter: 15ºC to 19ºC

Clothing suitable for the four seasons of the year In the summer, the most appropriate clothing should be a t-shirt, shorts or long shorts, but sometimes, in the summer at night, it gets a bit cold, so we already have to wear a sweat-shirt.

In the winter here in Portugal we must be more warmer so we do not get too cold during the day and at night but a sweater and jeans are usually enough in Algarve.

Autumn is characterized by a decrease in temperature, and by the fall of the leaves of the trees Trousers, jeans, t-shirts, a coat and trainers or shoes are what you need to feel nice and comfortable.

Spring is typically associated with the re-blooming of the terrestrial flora.

The northern hemisphere's spring is called the "boreal spring" and the Southern hemisphere's spring is called "Southern Spring". The "Northern Spring", in the Northern Hemisphere, begins on March 20 and ends on June 21. The "Southern Spring", in the Southern Hemisphere, begins on September 23 and ends on December 21. About clothing it is essential that you have a warm coat, a sweater, trousers or jeans, socks, a pair of boots in your luggage.

USEFUL NUMBERS Algarve is a safe place to visit and in case something goes wrong we have many emergency numbers to assist those who are in need. Despite all these there are two hospitals and health centres with qualified professionals. Also you can ask for help in the police offices and in the fire stations as well as in tourist offices, such as:

Tourist Support: info@visitportugal.com Civil Protection: (+351) 214247100 SNPC District Delegation: 289887510 Forest Protection: 117 Tourist region of the Algarve: (+351) 289800400 Address: Avenida 5 de Outubro, nº18 800-076 – Faro GNR (Guard National Republican): 289887603 Address: Largo de São Sebastião 18, 8000-155 Faro PSP (Police of Security Publish) 289899899 – 289822022 – 961010164 – 962004367 Address: Rua da Polícia de Segurança Pública , nº32 8000-408 Faro Fire station: 289803066 - 2889888000 Address: Rua Comandante Francisco Manuel , 7 a 134 8000-250 Faro All Emergency : 112

Tourism Active Algarve is a place where you can enjoy your stay at the most and its geographical conditions offer the ideal stage for extreme sports.

In Algarve you can do paintball in the Adventure Park of Albufeira. Its telephone number is (+351) 913 185 782 We can also do more thinks like Rapell, Slide, Surf, BTT and Climbing Etc… Locations and numbers of these Sports centers

Rappel and slide- Vertical Work-Aventura e trabalhos em altura Moncarapacho

961 040 740

Climbing-Associação de Montanhismo e Escalada do Algarve Faro 289 803 802

BTT-LisaBikes Estoi 289 399 524

Surf-Formosamar Faro 918 720 002

Top locations in Algarve Ponta da Piedade

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Located near the port city of Lagos, Ponta da Piedade is an exceptional natural site. The trip offers a breathtaking view over Cape St. Vincent; it has extravagant cliffs, consisting of arches and grottos. To visit this wonder of nature it is best to speak with fishermen.

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Cacela Vellha

Located 11 km from Tavira, the Picturesque village of Cacela Velha offers visitors fantastic views of the sea and of the islands of the Ria Formosa.

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Parque Natural da Ria Formosa

Before exploring the islands of the park, go to the Education Center.

Its beaches are a pearl and the most appreciated places in the South of Portugal. Its inhabitants don’t change them for any other places in the world. They have got splendid blue water and amazingly beautiful yellow sand.They offer a variety of activities that take place in them, like bodyboard, surf, paddle and windsurfing among others.

1-Praia de Odeceixe Morada: Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, 7630-174 Odemira

2- Praia de carvoeiro Morada: Largo da Praia 16, Carvoeiro, Lagoa, Carvoeiro

3-Praia da Rocha Morada: Avenida Tomás Cabreira 8500 Portimão

4-Praia de Loulé velho Morada: Rua do Golfe, Almancil

5-Praia da ilha das cabanas Morada: Largo da Armação da Abóbora Tavira

6-Praia da Manta Rota Morada: R. da Praia da Manta Rota 8900-065 Vila Nova de Cacela

7-Praia do Barril Morada: 8800-531 Aldeamento das Pedras D'El Rei

8-Praia da Marinha Morada: 8400 Lagoa

Places to Relax:

Because we care about you, there are many facilities as far as health and well-being is concerned that combined will make you enjoy your stay at its best: Spa Address Quinta do Lago Postal code 8135-024 Quinta do Lago County Loulé Location Quinta do Lago Phone 289 350 350 Fax 289 396 393 E-mail info@quintadolagohotel.com Website www.quintadolagohotel.com Hotel Praça D. Francisco Gomes, Nº2 8000 168 Faro Portugal +351 289 830 830 reservas@hotelfaro.pt comercial@hotelfaro.pt

Algarve

Address: Victoria Gardens, Av. Dos Descobrimentos, nº 0, 8125-309 Vilamoura Phone: 289 317 000

Accomodation

Wherever you go in Algarve don’t worry about your accomodation because we are used to receive a lot of foreign people in a friendly and comfortable way.

You can choose between many hotels, hostels, B&B and guest houses, such as: Adelaide Hotel- Faro-289 802 383

Best Western Hotel Dom BernardoFaro-289 889 800

Hotel Eva-Faro-289 001 000 Hotel Faro- Faro-289 830 830 Hotel Ă?bis-Faro-289 893 800 Hotel Afonso III-Faro-289 803 542 Hotel Alnacir-Faro-289 803 678

Favourite places Which places to visit?

- Albufeira known for the sea, famous beaches, cliffs and the many shades of its rocks, Albufeira has the rhythm of tourist metropolis. During the day everyone enjoys the good weather but when the sun goes down, its restaurants, bars and discos light up the night.

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Quarteira has 2 km of beach with blue flag. It has become the holiday destination for any

tourist,

mainly

due

to

its

extensive

sandy

and

unique

climate

- Tavira surrounded by long beaches separated by an arm of the Ria Formosa estuary and by gentle hills covered with sweet odors, Tavira is one of the most delightful cities in the Algarve, with its unique architecture.

- Monte Gordo ( praia de monte gordo) Monte Gordo beach is a seafront beach located in the parish of Monte Gordo. It is one of the main tourist resorts of the algarve. " These are the warmest and safest waters in Portugal "The residents of the parish say -Ilha da Culatra- The breech island is a Portuguese island located in the ria formosa. It is part of the set of barrier islands that delimit the Ria Formosa. It has three population centers: Culatra, mostly inhabited by fishermen but also by some tourists in the summer.

Ria Formosa- The Ria Formosa is a marsh situated in the province of Algarve. was considered one of the most beautiful parks in the Algarve, having a great function and a beautiful habitat.

Armona- Armona Island is an island in the Ria Formosa in the municipality of OlhĂŁo, in the Algarve. The island is integrated in the Ria Formosa Natural Park. The island consists of beaches facing the Ria Formosa and facing the sea. It has a campsite and rental huts, and it is also possible to rent private houses.

ALGARVE GASTRONOMY In Algarve we have several typical dishes that we advise you to taste in a calm and relaxed way. Below we have several foods listed:

Snacks:    

Pão de alho com mozzarella; Cenouras algarvias; Folhados de fiambre e queijo.

Pastéis de bacalhau.

Typical Foods:            

Caldeirada; Sardinhas Assadas; Caldo Verde (sopa); Cataplana; Arroz de ligueirão; Caldeirada; Camarão Frito; Lagosta, Santola e Sapateira; Porco com Amêijoas á Alentejana; Leitão; Caracóis; Arroz de lingueirão.

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Doce fino; Dom João; Dom Rodrigo; Carriços.

Places to eat At the end of a tour, there is nothing better than having a proper meal to calm down your belly. The food in Algarve is very warm and in many restaurants you can find very tasty homemade food. Traditional dishes include “Feijoada”, “açorda”, “Caldeirada de peixe”, seafood and sardines. For this there are several places, such as:

We have the “Páteo da Ria” Cabanas de Tavira Schedule 08:00h at 24:00h Contact: 281320000

Restaurant Lendário City: Quarteira Home address: calçadão de Quarteira- Av. Infante Sagres, Urb. Atlântida Schedule 09:00h at 01:00h Contact: 289308067

Restaurant Jardim das Oliveiras City: Monchique, Home address: porto escuro- estrada da Fóia Schedule 12:00h at 23:00h Contact: 282912874

Fórum Algarve also provides a huge variety of eating points to please all the tastes and there you can have a cheap and quick meal as well.

Restaurant Way Point- Marinha Club Lagos City: Lagos em marina de lagos Contact:282790600

Transports in algarve

Algarve is a city with many facilities so You can go everywhere and use a variety of means of transport. As there are many wonderful spots to visit, there exists a very wide connection net that provides you with the best services.

The Greenbus is operating in a trustful way in Algarve.

The sightseeing bus is also a good option if you want to visit “aquashow�.

There are many other means of transport all around Algarve like the train and the boat with many destinations.

Most Frequent Questions: 1- How much do theatre tickets cost?

From 15 euros to 20 euros.

2- How much do Portuguese football tickets cost?

From 20 to 25 euros.

3- How do I get to the centre of Faro ?

You go to the castle and largo de SĂŁo Francisco. These is in the downtown.

4- What time to events start?

At half past nine.

5- What should I wear?

In summer T-shirt, shorts and flip flops. For the other seasons add a coat and a pair of trainers.

6- Which means of transport can I take?

Bus takes you everywhere. Train, boat and taxis are other possibilities too.

7- What time do shops open in Algarve?

At 10:00 a-m.

8- Where can I change currency?

In ATMs and also in banks that are situated in the city centre.

9-Can I use my credit card in Algarve? yes, you can.

10- How much do I tip in Algarve?

From 3 to 10 euros .

11- What is the weather like in Algarve?

It’s sunny and warm.

12- What happens if I feel ill on holidays?

You have many facilities like hospitals, health centres and chemistries.

13-When do restaurants and bars open and close?

They open at about 8 p.m. and close at midnight.

14- Where can I get a map ?

In the tourism centres on the city centre.

15- Where should I go?

Faro, the coast with its beaches, Lagos, Sagres, Albufeira, Quarteira, Vilamoura, Almancil, Olhão, the Islands.

16- What do we have to visit in Faro?

Praia de Faro, downtown with its historical castle and the coast.

17- Which is the nearest beach?

Praia de Faro.

18- How can we visit Ria Formosa?

You can catch a boat in Olhão that drives you to all the islands of the Ria Formosa.

19- How do public transports work in the city?

In tickets’ offices and newsagents you can buy tickets for the buses. You have a railway station and a bus station in the downtown.

20- Where can we leave our luggage for a few hours?

In hotels it is possible to leave your luggage or at the tourism centre.

21- Where can we rent bicycles and cars?

In the downtown in the dock.

22-Where can we have free internet and print the boarding pass?

In the cafés and bars free wifi is available. You can print the boarding pass in the shopping centre (Fórum Algarve) in the copies office centre.

23- Where can we listen to Fado?

In bars in the downtown inside the castle and also in the Tourist centre.

24- What are the typical dishes of Algarve?

Seafood, octopus, fish, almonds, figs and the sweet Dom Rodrigo.

25- Where and when do we have traditional markets?

In Faro, Olhão and Loulé every Saturday morning.

26- How can we pay the A22 tolls?

In the payshops around the city or have the bill sent to your address.

27- How can we get to the different cities by public transports?

Buses and the train connect all the cities.

28- What activities do we have in the city?

In Praia de Faro, the “Centro Náutico” offers many possibilities like surf, paddle, sailing.

Walking around the city and enjoying museums and visits to the churches are other cultural interests.

29- Where is Praia da Rocha?

It is in Portimão.

30- How can we visit the caves of Benagil?

Go to Lagoa, Carvoeiro and there between the farol of Alfanzina and the Praia Nova are boats that take you to visit the caves.