The Algarve is deservedly popular, with millions of annual vacationers thronging here to enjoy sandy beaches, superb golf, and all the other enticements of seaside resorts.

A mere 40 km from top to bottom, Portugal’s southernmost province is bordered by the Atlantic to the south and west, the Monchique Mountains and the Caldeirão Mountains to the north.

The vegetation is more luxuriant, originally irrigated by the Moors, the land supports a profusion of fruits and vegetables. Proximity to the ocean has allowed the fishing industry to flourish. And the region's 300 days of sunshine per year helps lure in tourists year-round.