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The Algarve has become a magnet for many holiday visitors. Huge numbers of visitors become bewitched by the area's charm and beauty and consequently buy a property there! Some retire to the Algarve, others seek to start a new life away from the hustle and strain of a colder climate and a harsher working environment. Still others buy as an investment to rent out as a holiday accommodation and the majority of the villas and apartments rented by Select Resorts in this region are privately owned.

The Algarvean temperament adds much to the relaxed social atmosphere of the region. The local people are generally courteous and their natural hospitality and acceptance of foreign tourists lead to a cosmopolitan cultural ethos within the Portuguese society. Much to the relief of European visitors, many Portuguese people have an excellent command of English, particularly those working in the tourist industry. However, they appreciate it if visitors make an effort to converse in Portuguese.

SURROUNDING AREA:
Albufeira is often overlooked by tourists and Old Albufeira is actually a very pretty town. Its Moorish influence is easy to see in Minaret-inspired chimney pots and whitewashed buildings. It claims to have the largest sandy beach in the whole of the Algarve and the waters are particularly clean and unpolluted. The Portuguese love their fish and in Albufeira all fish is caught locally. We especially recommend the restaurants in this fishing town.

Almancil offers a very varied picture. This town has become an important centre for providing support services to feed the needs of two nearby stylish well established holiday and rental developments: Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo. The town has many shops, banks, post office etc. and some of the finest restaurants in the Algarve are located within the area.

Faro, the capital of the Algarve, was a sleepy provincial town twenty years ago but now has all the facilities of a modern European town with an attractive shopping area. The gateway to the Algarve can be deceptive from the outskirts. However the centre radiates from the old walled town with its delightful square and orange trees, church, museum and several excellent restaurants.

Loule is situated 18 km (11m) north east of Faro. The weekly Saturday morning market is famous amongst the locals and holidaymakers. The market has an excellent selection of fruit and vegetables, along with fresh fish every day. You will often see artisans working brass, copper or clay in and about the streets of Loule - craft is still very active in this area.

Olaho is very like a north African town beacuse the houses and the church are built in the shape of white cubes, sometimes two or three storeys high. Olaho's style owes very little to the influence of Moorish culture and is the result of modern trading links between its merchants and those of the North African coasts. Similar buildings can be found in Tunisia and Libya. The most attractive area of the city is the old part, although surrounded by more recent buildings. Fishing is still popular in Olaho but nothing like as important as in the past.

We highly recommend a visit to all the above places during your stay in the Algarve!