CAR HIRE PORTUGAL

ALVOR

Probably the Carthaginians founded Alvor and its history, car hire portugal, interesting. It, car hire portugal, said by some that it was really the site of "Portus Hannibalis". The Romans gave it the name Ipses and it was considered an important port and was allowed to issue its own money. Portugal car hire, car hire portugal, confirmed by the ruins of a rich Roman villa located slightly inland from the now village. In the time of the Moors who first occupied the place in 716, they gave it the named of "Albur" and the town passed through both the Portuguese and Moors hands several times until 1250 when the Christians conquered it for the final time. King Dom João II, who, car hire portugal, regarded as an outstanding Portuguese king,, car hire portugal, recorded as dying in 1495 within the town walls from a prolonged illness. Most of the original town has been destroyed in the earthquakes of 1532 and 1755.

Alvor - Description
Although, this ancient coastal village, car hire portugal, now a very popular holiday location the one-ended narrow streets have restrained the developers from changing too much. Many of these streets now boast bars with live music and different types of restaurants but leading off from these there are still memories of the older fishing village. In the area are a number of holiday resorts that feed these streets with tourists. The village, car hire portugal, well located facing a natural lagoon opening onto the sea. There, car hire portugal, a choice of a long open sandy beach or a number of small coves tucked under the cliffs. The attractive 16th Century Parish Church that seems the only building that survived the earthquake of 1755 and has a prime example in its main doorway of the great craftsmanship of the Manueline era of faro car hire
Places near to Alvor are the commercial town of Portimão, and the famous popular beaches of Praia da Rocha and Praia da Vau, and the semi-nature reserve of Quinta da Rocha.Although this ancient coastal village, car hire portugal, now a very popular holiday location the enclosed narrow streets have kept development in Alvor Town to a minimum. There are new apartment developments on the outskirts close to a fantastic long sandy beach and a good range of hotels nearby. The beach at Alvor has a gentle slope, but this, car hire portugal, the Atlantic so even a gentle swell can produce strong waves. Many of these streets now boast bars with live music and different types of restaurants but this, car hire portugal, not Albufeira (and some of you will be very grateful for this). Leading off from these streets in old Alvor there are still memories of the older fishing village. It, car hire portugal, great place for an evening stroll and serendipity when it comes to choosing a restaurant. In the area are a number of holiday resorts from which the tourists enjoy visiting the town and its attractions. The village is well located facing a natural lagoon opening onto the sea. There is a choice of a long open sandy beach or a number of small coves tucked under the cliffs. There is a charming 16th Century Parish Church which is the only building to survive the earthquake of 1755. Alvor's main beach is magnificent. It is wide, sandy and several miles long with few buildings on or overlooking the beach itself. The beach shelves gently and there is a range of watersports available at various points along the beach There are a few restaurants and bars with fare ranging from hotdogs to good Portuguese cuisine. Alvor has a good selection of hotels and apartments with board options from self-catering to half board. Nearest proper shopping is in Portimao, about ten minutes drive from Alvor. The nearest large purpose built shopping centre is Algarve Shopping - This new Shopping Center is located directly on the N125 (the main road which runs right along the Algarve) a few minutes drive from Albufeira, just near the village of Guia. It is well sign posted, but the entrance from the main road can be confusing. More than hundred shops and a supermarket occupy two levels. Upstairs there are several restaurants and there are sufficient parking slots available even at busy times. There is also a cinema complex and a bowling alley. Opening hours daily from 9am to 12pm. Next to Algarve Shopping is a large Nike Outlet Store. The old port town of Lagos (pronounce Lagos as in lah lah lah) is a 10 to 15 minute drive, with an impressive new marina, lovely old town with lots of history an old fort and a very good selection of restaurants.

VILA REAL DE SANTO ANTONIO

Vila Real de Santo António - History
The origin of the town was as a small fishing port and probably dates back to Phoenician times. Due to the topographical flatness of the area the neighbouring hill of Castro Marim lent itself to a stronger fortified location. This frontier town with Spain was specially designed and rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755 by the Marquês de Pombal, an important minister in the 18th Century who redesigned the centre of the City of Lisbon. Vila Real de Santo António - Description
Today, these townhouses around the main square are showing serious degradation with the passing of time. With the construction to the north of a new bridge in 1991 across the River Guadiana connecting Seville in Spain with the Algarve, the obvious diminishing of the popularity of this town will have further effect. Between this town and the Ocean is the popular beach resort area named Monte Gordo that offers the tourist kilometres of sea washed beach lined with a pine forest. The population of approximately 14,000 inhabitants tends to gain their living either in the tourist industry, fishing, or trading across the river with their Spanish neighbours. It is a very pleasant and relaxing experience to cross the river by ferryboat to visit the Spanish town of Ayamonte, or take a tourist trip upstream to the charming small Portuguese town of Alcoutim.

Vila Real de Santo António - Nearby Locations
North of Vila Real de Santo António is Castro Marim that due to its location has played a considerable part in the history of Portugal. This later town was originally chosen as the founding headquarters in 1319 of the 14th Century movement of the Order of Christ. Although the buildings are now in ruins from the effects of the 1755 earthquake it still has the unusual feature of having a castle within a castle. In the 17th Century a stronger and more defensive stronghold was built on a hilltop to the north that also still remains. The castle acted as a well-known haven to escapees in the early days of the Spanish Inquisition. From the walls the view is to the south across the flat lands that are now a nature reserve for birds and plants and is known as the Reserva Natural do Sapal. Near to Vila Real de Santo António is the purely holiday destinations of Manta Rota, Monte Gordo and Praia Verde, all providing long sandy beaches. Inland, and up river is the interior small administrative town of Alcoutim with its ruins of a 14th Century castle and its local museum. This small town looks across the River Guadiana at the Spanish town of Sanlúcar. It was at this town that Dom Fernando I signed in 1371 a peace treaty with King Enrique II de Castile. Even further up river is the town of Mértola with its 13th Century castle ruins. The Phoenicians founded this historic town as an inland port and later successfully used by both the Romans and Moors. Perched on a high spur overlooking the River Guadiana this town has many vestiges of the past and a museum housing one of Portugal's best collections of Islamic art. Back on the coast the small beachside village of Cacela-a-Velha dates back to Phoenician times and has an 18th Century Fort that enjoys a natural lagoon between itself and the protecting sandbar.

ALGARVE BEACHES

There are so many lovely interesting sandy beaches in the Algarve that you will find amongst them a good selection on which to enjoy your holiday. Everyone has their favorites and these are often hidden away from the more popular ones! When you see the sign “Praia” this means in Portuguese “beach”.

They beaches vary from the small sheltered coves to broad endless stretches of sea washed sand. Equally the sea bed near to the beach can vary from a comfortable shallow shelve to a more sudden drop! In general, the rule is that as you travel from east to west along the coast, the beaches become more subject to seasonal currents. As some excellent beaches are not immediately accessible from the holiday towns we recommend that these are very worthwhile to seek out.

The exception to the above is the coastline running from the west point of Sagres up to the north. This coast is very variable and being open to the winds and Atlantic Ocean waves from the west it normally presents different conditions to those found on the same day along the southern coastline. This area has a rugged atmosphere and the at times the winds can be biting. The sea is many times choppy with big waves and often combined with a dangerous fast undercurrent.

All main beaches have in the season Lifeguards on safety patrol. Many beach concessions offer all the usual water sports facilities along with restaurant food and snacks. Out of the approximately 150 named beaches some useful ones are listed below. Other gems are left for the tourist to discover – please use the detailed Algarve Map on our Site for locations of all the beaches and check the photographs below for clues!