The Algarve has 100 beaches, some, like Praia Maia,  being 4 to 5 kilometers long.
 

Many beaches are these small protected coves with scenic rock formations.
 

A highlight is a boating or kayaking trip through the grottoes, caves and arches of Ponta da Piedade.
 

We made our home base in the cute village of Praia da Luz.

Lagos boasts an historical center with old city walls, a fort, a governors' palace, and three pretty churches.

The Lagos fishing fleet provides an assortment of fish and seafood to markets and restaurants, such as cod, bass, limpets and octopus.
 

Nine main cities in the Algarve serve the vibrant tourist  industry which has overtaken fishing and agriculture as the bulk of the economy.

The region is full of white-washed houses surrounded by gardens of bougainvillea, hibiscus, and various flowering shrubs and succulents. 
 

Silves was the capital of Al-Gharb during the 5 centuries of Moorish rule. The largest and best preserved Moorish castle, the ancient cathedral built atop the mosque, and an interesting archeological museum attest to the long and varied history of the region.
 

In Sagres, Henry the Navigator established a fort, a chapel and a navigational school which spearheaded the Portuguese Age of Discovery in the 15th Century.

Sagres marks the most south-westerly point of Europe. From the lighthouse a view northward of the Atlantic coastline can be seen.

A cheeky food truck advertises the "last bratwurst before America."

The Algarve has been a strategic area historically, from the time of the Carthaginians and Romans, the Moors, the overthrow by the Portuguese kingdom in 1189, and the establishment of forts along the coast. Many historically significant sites were lost during the devastating earthquake of 1755.
 

Local handicrafts include pottery, linens and items made from cork.

A delightful feature in the Algarve is the adornment of buildings with elaborate chimneys.