ALGARVE

With a coastline of 200 km and over 300 days of sunshine a year the Algarve is one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in Europe. The climate is one of the healthiest and most pleasant in the world. With temperatures of 13 to 18 degrees winters are never too cold and with 28 to 35 degrees summers never to hot, with the cooling Atlantic breeze.

The Algarve is hilly, but traversed with rich valleys and has several cities, towns and villages including some islands and islets. Its highest point is Fóia (902mts/2,960 ft), in the mountain range of Monchique. The region is also the home of the Ria Formosa lagoon, a nature reserve of over 170 square kilometers and a stopping place for hundreds of different birds.

The region's capital is the city of Faro. Other cities are Albufeira, Lagoa, Lagos, Loulé, Olhão, Portimão, Quarteira, Silves, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António.