West Algarve, Portugal

Nowadays Portugal is a republic, but in the past it used to be a kingdom with First king Alphonso Henriques. This was in the year 1139.
Over time, Portugal was occupied by many different nations but the Romans and the Moors have left the most traces of their occupation as still can be seen in the villages and older cities. The most Southern part of Portugal is the province Algarve and covers an area of about 35 km wide and 140 km long. Three Serras (mountain-ranges) separate the Algarve from the dry province Alentejo. These are, in the West the Serra de Monchique (http://www.portugal.bz/algarve/monchique.htm) with an altitude of 902m, the Serra de Caldeirão (577m) in the central part and the Serra do Malhão with 599m in the East.
In the early days, the city of Silves http://www.algarvenet.com/locations/outras/silves1.asp   was the capital of the Algarve. Nowadays Faro takes that position. Here you also find the international airport (http://www.airportdesk.nl/airports/europa/portugal/faro-airport.html).
In general the Algarve is split into in three geographical areas; the West, Central and the East wherey symbolic borders are drawn from Sagres – Albufeira as the West, Albufeira – Faro as the central part of the Algarve and Faro – Vila Real de Santo Antonio as the Eastern part. Here the Guardiana river (http://www.portugal.com/tours/algarve/algarve_tour.asp) separates Portugal from Spain as a natural border.

Cities of importance in the Western part of the Algarve are Lagoa, Portimão http://portimao.com/algarve_regions/portimao_uk.htm?/maps/city_portimao_all_sections_map.htm and Lagos http://portimao.com/algarve_regions/portimao_uk.htm?/maps/city_portimao_all_sections_map.htm. Lagoa is a fast growing municipality. The village Carvoeiro http://www.davesguide.com/f_carvoe.htm and the very polular holiday village Armação de Pêra with many apartments http://www.algarvepropertyfinder.org/popupen.php?huis=1029c-ah-w and the flat and sandy beaches, inviting you to a healthy stroll form part of this municipality.
The big city Portimão http://www.frommers.com/destinations/portimao/2641_maps.html really has all facilities, even a modern hospital and a private hospital in the neighbouring Alvor. Portimão is situated on the Arade river with the cantilever bridge http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?ID=s0010397, opposite the lovely fisherman’s village Ferragudo http://www.davesguide.com/f_ferra.htm and with the adjoining holiday resort Praia da Rocha http://www.flextravel.nl/portugal/vasteland/algarve%20maatreizen/index.html.
For many years the most Western part of the Algave has been left untouched/unwanted but now that the A22 highway has made the area accessible , this part of the Algarve is very popular, also because the very reasonable prices of luxury villas http://www.algarvepropertyfinder.org/popupen.php?huis=944c-amv-w, and apartments. Now also the village Aljezur can be reached within one hour from the Faro airport and there is a grest demand on villas in resorts like Vale da Telha http://www.algarvepropertyfinder.org/popupen.php?huis=1082c-amv-w, where prices are comparably low.
The magnificent and rough rock formations of the West coast give a special charm to the area and villages like Sagres http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/_tourism/algarve/vila.do.bispo/index.html , Vila do Bispo  http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/_tourism/algarve/vila.do.bispo/index.html and Budens http://www.fallingrain.com/world/PO/9/Budens.html which offer many a luxury villa or apartment http://www.algarvepropertyfinder.org/popup.php?huis=209LZ-ah-w .
The historic town Lagos http://lagos.villaquerida.com/  really offers all you can expect from a city near to your holiday destination, like shops, restaurants and luxury Golf resorts like Boa Vista Golf http://www.boavistagolf.com/ , Parque da Floresta http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/_lodging/algarve/parque.da.floresta/index.html and Palmares http://www.palmaresgolf.com/index_.html which not only offer you a sporty relaxation but also on-site villas http://www.algarvepropertyfinder.org/popupen.php?huis=661LG-vh-w and townhouses http://www.algarvepropertyfinder.org/popup.php?huis=618LZ-th-w at competitive prices.