Vilamoura – The Algarve’s Favourite Resort
The Algarve is a well known tourist hotspot situated on the southern coast of Portugal. Frequented mainly by the British, Irish, German and Dutch tourists looking for a warmer climate than that of their homelands, Algarve holidays are one of the main sources of income for Portugal. The Algarve is home to a number of popular destinations such as Praia da Luz, Tavira, Silves and Vilamoura. The latter being a purpose built resort and marina. Covering some twenty square kilometres, Vilamoura is one of the largest tourist beach resorts in Europe.
The villas in Algarve, Vilamoura are one of the more recent additions to the area, supplying the growing popularity of self catering holidays in Portugal. More often than not, these villas feature all modern conveniences such as dishwasher, microwave oven, washing machine and a TV and DVD player. Many are also equipped with either a shared or private swimming pool, making them perfect for young families where the children may be too young to play in the sea. Being a relatively new resort, the villas in Vilamoura tend to have higher specifications than many other Algarve villas, although it could be argued that they lack some of the charm some of the older villas or apartments have.
The marina is the heart of the resort as has berthings capable of holding a thousand yachts and boats. Surrounded by a number of luxury hotels, villas and apartments in Algarve, as well as a large casino, cafés, bars and plenty of restaurants, it’s not surprising that many tourists head for the marina after a day soaking up the sun or splashing around in the Atlantic Ocean. A variety of boat trips can be taken from the marina which can take visitors up or down the stunning coastline which features endless sandy beaches as well as a myriad of caves, rocky caverns and sea cliffs.
A stone’s throw from the marina can be found the ancient Roman remains of Cello Da Vila which dates back to 27 BC and is most likely one of the oldest villas in Vilamoura. However dating back even further are bronze age graves, proving that this region has been a hive of human activity since pre-historic times. The nearest airport to Vilamoura is located just outside the city of Faro; Portugal’s southernmost city. Being a short journey of only 14 miles is one of the reasons this resort is one of the most popular destinations for those seeking Algarve holidays.
By Carl Liver and Barry Summers
