About Portugal and the Algarve

 

Portugal is a democratic republic located on the west and southwest parts of the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. Portugal is bordered on the north and east by Spain and by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south.

 

 

Portugal's Algarve is NUMBER ONE!!!

Nominated Number One in the World for investment by Channel 4´s 20 Best Properties To Buy Abroad

 

Portugal is famous for it's history and cultural richness, and is perfect for a holiday of excursions, sun, sea, and sports. The southern coastal Algarve with its light, soft sandy beaches is the country's most popular holiday destination.

 

Click to see photos of the Algarve in Portugal

 

Portugal was at one time the most powerful and the wealthiest country in the world, and two thirds of the world was discovered by the Portuguese explorers.

 

Despite its turbulent past Portugal is a stable country. The monarchy ended in 1910 and the republic was founded. In 1926 Salazar established his almost 40 years of dictatorship. The country became a modern democracy after a peaceful military coup April 25, 1974 that began the rebirth of the country. Joined EU in 1986, elected as President of EU in 2000, joined the Euro currency in 2002. With the oldest national boundaries in Europe, Portugal is both ancient and newly born.

 

Eating in Portugal is often a visitor's most memorable characteristic of the country. Each region of Portugal has its own traditional dishes, including various kinds of meat, sea-food, diverse and fresh fish. The Romans associated Portugal with Bacchus, their God of Wine. Today the country is known by wine lovers, and its wines have won several international prizes.

 

About Portugal:

• Approximately the size of Austria, population 10.3 million (Capital Lisbon)
• All year round climate & fantastic beaches
• Superb sporting facilities: golf, watersports, skiing
• Low cost of living
• Portugal has one of the highest life expectancy rates in the EU
• Very good infrastructure trains, buses, taxis
• Huge producer of wine and port
• Hosted UEFA football championships in 2004

 

About The Algarve:

• 30 top golf courses. Will host the World Golf Championship in November 2005
• Best climate in Europe, similar to California 13 to 18 degrees in Winter, 28 to 35 degrees in summer
• 2 hours from UK with direct flights from almost every airport
• Stunning beaches, scuba diving, waterskiing, sailing, tennis centres, equestrian centres, casinos, Michelin star restaurants, marinas
• Good health care, private clinics
• Most Portuguese speak English
• New motorway linking the whole of the Algarve to the capital, Lisbon
• Brand new marina in Albufeira

 

Portugal has developed an increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Union in 1986, a development that began with the boom of the 1960s. Over the past decade, successive governments have privatised many state-controlled firms and liberalised key areas of the economy, including the financial and telecommunications sectors.

As of 2004, economic growth has been above the EU average for much of the past decade, but GDP per capita stands at just 75% of that of the leading EU economies. Portuguese GDP grew 1.5% in real terms in the second quarter of 2004 compared with the same period in 2003, by virtue of favourable domestic conditions.

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