Algarve
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225896107
2008-07-15T22:23:24Z
The Ogre
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[[Image:LocalRegiaoAlgarve.svg|right|thumb|200px|Algarve [[NUTS II]] region, and the [[district of Faro]] in Portugal.]]
The '''Algarve''' ([[Pronunciation|pron.]] {{IPA2|aɫ'gaɾv(ɨ)}}) is the southernmost region of [[mainland Portugal|mainland]] [[Portugal]], incorporating 16 municipalities. The capital is the city of [[Faro, Portugal|Faro]]. Other cities are [[Albufeira]], [[Lagoa]], [[Lagos, Portugal|Lagos]], [[Loulé]], [[Olhão]], [[Silves]], [[Tavira]], and [[Vila Real de Santo António]]. [[Quarteira]], which is a town and a parish in the Loulé municipality, is another town with 'city' (Portuguese ''cidade'') status, but its population varies greatly from season to season. The Algarve is one of the [[regions of Portugal]] according to [[NUTS II]] subdivisions. The region coincides with the [[Faro (district)|district of Faro]], and has as its administrative centre the town of [[Faro, Portugal|Faro]], where are located both the region's international [[airport]] ([[Faro Airport (Portugal)|Faro/Algarve Airport]]) [FAO] and [[public university]] (the [[University of the Algarve]]).
[[Tourism]] and related activities are extensive and make up the bulk of the Algarve's summer economy. Fish, seafood and fruit production, which includes oranges, carob beans, figs and almonds, are important activities in the region.
==History==
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 [[Roman Republic|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]] took control of the Algarve until the beginning of the [[Moors|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 [[Al-Andalus|Moorish occupation of Iberia]], the region was called "[[Al'Garb Al'Andalus|Al-Gharb Al-Andalus]]". ''Al-Gharb'' means "the west"; ''Al-Andalus'' is the arabic name of muslim iberia.
[[Image:Portugalliae 1561 (Baseado no primeiro mapa de Portugal)-JM.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A 16th century map of the [[Kingdom of Portugal]], clearly showing the separated status of the Algarve at the time.]]
In the mid-12th century, the Moorish occupation ended: the "Al-Gharb" has been since then the kingdom of Algarve. It was not until the 13th century that the Portuguese finally secured the region against subsequent Moorish attempts to recapture the area - see [[Reconquista]]. King [[Afonso III of Portugal]] started calling himself King of Portugal and Algarve. Later on, after 1471, with the conquest of territories in Northern Africa (considered as the Algarve of abroad in Africa) the title became with [[Afonso V| Afonso V of Portugal]], King of Portugal and the Algarves here (in Europe) and abroad in Africa, and it stayed so till the proclamation of the [[Portuguese Republic]] in 1910.
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 of Portugal with a governor from 1595 to 1808, as well as a separate [[taxation]] system until the end of the 18th century{{Verify source|date=February 2008}}. During this time, to reflect the Algarve's unique status, Portuguese monarchs were known as "King of Portugal and The Algarves."
The [[1755 Lisbon earthquake]] damaged several areas in the Algarve, where a [[tsunami]] dismantled some coastal fortresses and, in the lower levels, razed houses. Almost all the coastal towns and villages of the Algarve were heavily damaged, except [[Faro, Portugal|Faro]], which was protected by the sandy banks of [[Ria Formosa]] lagoon. In [[Lagos, Portugal|Lagos]], the waves reached the top of the city walls. The town of [[Vila Real de Santo António]] was destroyed by a wave from the earthquake, and rebuilt many years later in 1774. For many Portuguese coastal regions, including the Algarve, the destructive effects of the tsunami were more disastrous than those of the earthquake proper.
In 1807 when [[Jean-Andoche Junot|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.
==Geography==
[[Image:Burgau, Algarve, Portugal.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Burgau, Algarve]] - a view of the Nature Park of Southwest Alentejo and Cape St. Vicente Coast.]]
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 (density of 76 inhabitants per square kilometre). This figure increases to over a million people at the height of summer due to an influx of [[tourist]]s.
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 [[beach]]es, [[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]] [[cave]]s and grottoes, particularly around Lagos, which are accessible by [[powerboat]]. Praia da Marinha, [[Lagoa (Algarve)|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]], [[Praia da Rocha]], [[Lagos, Portugal|Lagos]], [[Armação de Pêra]], [[Alvor]], [[Monte Gordo, Algarve|Monte Gordo]] [[Tavira]],Salema and Sagres. It is also host to the annual [[Algarve Cup]] invitational tournament for national teams in [[Women's football (soccer)|women's football]].
==Municipalities==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Algarve NUTS 2.gif|thumb|200px|right|Algarve [[NUTS II]] region.]] -->
[[Image:MarinaVilamoura.JPG|right|thumb|200px|[[Vilamoura]]'s marina.]]
[[Image:Golfe22.jpg|thumb|200px|Algarve has plenty of [[golf]] courses.]]
[[Image:2007.03.28.pt.Lagoa.Ferragudo.PraiaGrande.jpg|thumb|200px|Praia Grande, Algarve.]]
[[Image:Algarve-1.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Praia da Marinha]], Algarve.]]
[[Image:Albufeira 1.jpg|thumb|200px|Algarve is also famous for its nightlife.]]
'''Maps:''' [http://geo.algarvedigital.pt Interactive map of the Algarve]
The region is divided into 16 municipalities:
*[[Albufeira]]
*[[Alcoutim]]
*[[Aljezur]]
*[[Castro Marim]]
*[[Faro, Portugal|Faro]]
*[[Lagoa, Algarve, Portugal|Lagoa]]
*[[Lagos, Portugal|Lagos]]
*[[Loulé]]
*[[Monchique]]
*[[Olhão]]
*[[Portimão]]
*[[São Brás de Alportel]]
*[[Silves]]
*[[Tavira]]
*[[Vila do Bispo]]
*[[Vila Real de Santo António]]
''Note: the Algarve region and the Faro district are coexistent (comprise exactly the same territory).''The Algarve has several cities,towns and villages. It also includes some islands and islets.
==Economy==
Agricultural products of the region include [[fig]], [[almond]], [[Orange (fruit)|orange]] (''[[laranja do Algarve]]''), [[carob bean]], [[strawberry tree]] and [[cork oak]]. [[Horticulture]] is important and the region's landscape was known for the large areas of land covered with plastic [[greenhouse]]s which are used for that end. [[Fishing]] and [[aquaculture]] are important activities in the coastal area of Algarve, with [[sardine]]s, [[Sole (fish)|soles]], [[cyprinids]], [[gilt-head bream]] and various [[seafood]] being the major productions. [[Food processing]], [[cement]] and [[construction]], are the main industries. [[Tourism]] related activities are extensive and make the bulk of Algarve's economy during summer time.
==Tourism and immigration in the Algarve==
In the 1960s the Algarve became a very popular destination for tourists, mainly from [[United Kingdom|Britain]]. It has since become a common destination for [[Germans]], [[Dutch people|Dutch]] and [[Irish people]]. Many of these tourists own their own property in the region. There are Algarve-based English-written [[publications]] and [[newspapers]] specifically addressed to this community. In addition to the natural beauties and plenty of beaches, the Algarve has invested in the creation of a network of [[golf|golf courses]]. Well-known beaches in the Algarve range from [[Praia da Luz]] to [[Armação de Pêra]]. A well known [[spa town]] is [[Caldas de Monchique]].
Algarve's mild climate attracts interest from Northern Europeans wishing to have a holiday home or residence in the region. Being a region of Portugal, and therefore in the [[European Union]], any [[EU citizen]] have the right to freely buy property and reside with little formality in the Algarve.<ref>"On the Rights of Citizens of the Union...", EC Directive 2004/58 EC, retrieved [[25 May]] [[2007]].[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2004:229:0035:0048:EN:PDF]</ref> British expatriates, followed by German, Dutch and Scandinavians, are among the largest groups wishing to own a home in this Portugal's sunny region.
Tourism plays an important role in the economy of the Algarve region. A large number of seasonal job opportunities are tourism-related and are fulfilled by thousands of immigrant workers arrived from countries like [[Brazil]], [[Ukraine]] and [[Cape Verde]], among others.
In March 2007 the Minister of Economy, Manuel Pinho, announced the creation of the "'''Allgarve'''" brand, as a part of a strategical promotion of the Algarve as a tourism destination for foreign citizens.[http://www.correiodamanha.pt/noticia.asp?id=234857&idselect=11&idCanal=11&p=200]
==Accommodation==
Accommodation in the Algarve ranges from high rise resorts in places like Albufeira to traditional guesthouses, located in the small towns and villages surrounding the algarve coast. Over the past 50 years the Algarve has seen an increase in development, particularly from non-Portuguese developers. While these developments are certainly not on the same level as those in Spain, they have resulted in visual pollution which has affected residents living in the area.
Over the past few years many tourists visiting the Algarve have moved away from the resorts, and have chosen the comfort of a traditional Algarve guesthouse, many of these run by ex-pats from England, Holland, and Germany who have escaped to the Algarve for a quieter life.
==Education in the Algarve==
The region has several private and public secondary schools, primary schools as well as kindergartens. There are also international schools such as [http://www.vvis.org VVIS International School], [http://www.internationalschoolalgarve.com Barlavento Primary School] and Vilamoura International School as well as the International School of the Algarve, located in Porches, Lagoa.
The [[University of the Algarve]], headquartered in [[Faro, Portugal|Faro]] with an extension in [[Portimão]], is a public university which awards all academic degrees in fields ranging from [[marine biology]] to [[economics]] to [[environmental engineering]]. There are also several higher and medium-education private institutions.
==Weather==
The maximum temperatures in the Algarve fluctuate between 15 and 31 [[°C]], with the temperature never falling below zero in the winter months.
==See also==
*[[Al'Garb Al'Andalus]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons|Algarve}}
*[http://www.visitalgarve.pt/visitalgarve/vEN/ Official Algarve Tourist Information Homepage]
*[http://www.allgarve.pt/default_uk.htm Official Algarve Summer Events Website]
*[http://www.algarve.com.pt/index.php?lang=en-gb Algarve Tourist Guide]
*[http://www.algarvedigital.pt/algarve/index.php?newlang=eng Algarve Portal]
[[Category:Algarve|*]]
[[Category:Former regions and provinces of Portugal]]
[[Category:NUTS 2 statistical regions of the European Union]]
[[Category:NUTS 2 Statistical Regions of Portugal]]
[[Category:NUTS 3 statistical regions of the European Union]]
[[Category:NUTS 3 Statistical Regions of Portugal]]
[[Category:Regions of Portugal]]
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