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The Algarve from the Arabic - Al-Gharb, the West) is the southernmost region of mainland Portugal, incorporating, amongst others, the cities of Faro, Albufeira, Lagos, Olhão, Tavira, Portimão and Silves. The Algarve is one the Regions of Portugal according to NUTS II subdivisions. 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).

The Algarve is hilly, but traversed with rich valleys. Its highest point is the Mountain range of Monchique, with a maximum altitude of 906m (Peak of the Fóia).

It is composed of 5,412 square kilometres with approximately 410,000 permanent inhabitants. This figure increases to over a million people at the height of summer due to an influx of tourists.

The region is also the home of the Ria Formosa lagoon, a nature reserve of over 170 square kilometres and a stopping place for hundreds of different birds.

The Algarve is a popular destination for tourism, primarily because of its beaches, Mediterranean climate, safety and relatively low costs. The length of the south-facing coastline is approximately 155 kilometres. Beyond the westernmost point of Cape St Vincent it stretches a further 50 kilometres to the north. The coastline is notable for picturesque limestone caves and grottoes, particularly around Lagos, which are accessible by powerboat. Praia da Marinha, Lagoa was classified as one of the 100 most beautiful and well preserved beaches of the world. There are many other beautiful and famous summer places such as Albufeira, Vilamoura, Portimão, Lagos, Armação de Pêra, Quarteira, Monte Gordo and Tavira. It is also host to the annual Algarve Cup invitational tournament for national teams in women's football.

The Region is divided into 16 municipalities:

Albufeira
Alcoutim
Aljezur
Castro Marim
Faro
Lagoa
Lagos
Loulé
Monchique
Olhão
Portimão
São Brás de Alportel
Silves
Tavira
Vila do Bispo
Vila Real de Santo António
Note: the Algarve province and the Faro district correspond exactly to the same territory. This is often a cause for confusion.


The Conii, influenced by Tartessos, were established by the sixth century BC in the region of the Algarve. They would be strongly influenced by the Celtici. The Phoenicians had established trading ports along the coast circa 1000 BC. The Carthaginians founded Portus Hanibalis—known today as Portimão—in circa 550 BC. The Romans in the 2nd century BC spread through the Iberian Peninsula, and many Roman ruins can still be seen in the region, notably in Lagos.

In the 5th century, the Visigoths inhabited the Algarve until the beginning of the Moorish invasion in 711. When the Moors conquered Lagos in 716 it was called Zawaia. Faro, which the Christian residents had called Santa Maria, was renamed Faraon, which means "the settlement of the Knights".

Due to the Moorish occupation of much of Iberia, the region was called "Al-Gharb" which means "the country of the West". In the 12th century, the Moorish occupation ended: the "Al-Gharb" has been since then the Algarve. It was not until the 13th century that the Portuguese finally secured the region against subsequent Moorish attempts to recapture the area.

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 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. During this time, to reflect the Algarve's unique status, Portuguese monarchs were known as "King of Portugal and The Algarves".

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 became the first part of Portugal to liberate itself from Spanish occupation, in the rebellion of Olhão in 1808.

As traditional agricultural products, the productions of fig, almond are noteworthy, medronho and carob bean and cork oak production, nominated in the northeast of the Algarve.


( Wikipedia source)