In an estuary location between Portimao and Lagos on Portugal’s Algarve coast, the ancient fishing town of Alvor has recently developed into a significant tourist destination, whilst retaining much of its original charm. Thought to have been originally founded by the Carthaginians, Alvor Portugal has a long and rich history and saw much conflict between Moors and Christians during the 12th and 13th centuries. Present day visitors benefit from the wonderful golfing and spa facilities and the fine sandy beach while enjoying the fabulous Alvor weather and the peaceful fishing village atmosphere. Alvor is easily reached from Faro International Airport which is about 65 kilometres away. Alvor Map.
August 17, 2009
Altea Part 2
One of the prettiest towns on the northern Costa Blanca, Spain, Altea tumbles down a hill towards the sea, in a maze of narrow winding streets and alleyways. Altea’s blue domed church is one of the landmarks of the Costa Blanca, and in the areas around the church you will find countless little workshops and galleries, belonging to the artists and craftsmen who have made this charming town their home. Mostly unspoilt by tourism, Altea retains much of its old world charm, reminding visitors of its long history going back to the Moorish occupation and beyond. Despite all this Altea has grown into a popular holiday resort with a sizeable expat community, its fine beach and artistic heritage are two of its main attractions. The superb climate of the town is another factor in its success with Altea weather normally expected to be dry and sunny most days of the year. No doubt another of its attractions is its proximity to the resort of Benidorm with its many fine facilities, in fact it is an ideal base for exploring Benidorm, whilst being accommodated in a charming Spanish town. Altea has a decent selection of hotels for you stay in the resort, among them the popular Negret Hotel Altea with its 250 rooms. Apart from Benidorm, there are numerous other places worth visiting in the area, you could take a trip to other fine seaside resorts such as Calpe, Albir, Moraira or Javea, head to the city of Alicante for some retail therapy, or venture inland to the likes of Guadalest, Alcoy or the Gallinera Valley.
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Costa Blanca Resorts – Altea
One of the prettiest towns on the Costa Blanca, Spain, Altea old town is perched on a hilltop, overlooking the sea close to the huge resort of Benidorm. Separated from Benidorm by the Sierra Helada, Altea could hardly be more different, as yet unspoilt by mass tourism and over development, it still retains much of its old Spanish character. Altea has one or two decent hotels, but a better option for a holiday, might be to rent out a holiday villa and enjoy a bit of luxury during your stay. The town boasts a super climate and the weather in Altea is pretty reliable all year round, Altea is just 45 minutes drive from Alicante airport and is easily reached via the N-332 or the AP-7 motorway. Altea Map.
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August 14, 2009
The Buckinghamshire Town of Winslow
Situated in the Aylesbury Vale district of Bucks (Buckinghamshire), the market town of Winslow has a long history, with settlements as far back as Anglo-Saxon times. Also recorded in the Domesday Book, Winslow these days has a population of between 4,000 and 5,000 and remains a charming little market town with a typical English village feel. Winslow Hall is said to have been designed by Sir Christopher Wren in around 1700, and even older is its parish church of St Laurence which dates from the eleventh century. The famous Whaddon Chase fox hunt, traditionally meets on Boxing Day in Winslow town square, an event which attracts many onlookers. Winslow is situated on the A413 between Buckingham and Aylesbury. Winslow Map.
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Almunecar – Costa del Sol
One of the more interesting towns on the Costa Tropical section of the Costa del Sol coastline of southern Spain, is the ancient town of Almunecar, a settlement since it was founded by the Phoenicians in 800 BC, it was formerly known as “Sexi”, and in Roman times as “Firmium Julium Sexi”, and was a significant port and commercial town, especially known for fish salting and related industries. The Romans thought it important enough to construct five aqueducts in the region, all of which still stand today and four of which are still used to this day. In the mid-twentieth century the writer Laurie Lee wrote about the town in his well read books and soon after it began to develop as a holiday resort and tourist destination. These days it is a busy coastal resort with a decent range of facilities, it enjoys a typical Costa del Sol climate with long, hot summers and mild winters, Almunecar weather is perfect for family holidays from May to October and also ideal for winter breaks when the climate is warmer than northern Europe. During the Arab occupation of Spain, Almunecar was the final town to fall to the Christians before the fall of Granada. Almunecar has a good range of holiday accommodation and some excellent hotels such as the 4 Star Almunecar Playa Hotel, situated right beside the beautiful Playa de San Cristobal, other beaches include the Puerta del Mar, El Tesorillo, Cantarrijan, and Velilla beach. Map of Almunecar.
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Portugal’s Western Algarve
The windward western section of the Algarve coastline of southern Portugal is rockier and more dramatic than the eastern areas,in the extreme south-west Sagres is the most south-westerly point of Europe, and battered by the Atlantic Ocean is a famous spot for surfing boasting some wonderful beaches ideal for this sport. Sagres has a number of surfing schools providing tuition as has Lagos a little to the east and neighbouring Luz. For the best beaches in the region head for Praia da Rocha, a bustling resort with a huge sandy beach one of the best in Portugal, nearby Portimao is a great place to enjoy a fishing trip or even a dolphin watching expedition, don’t miss out on the shopping while you are there, its centre is a great place for a bit of retail therapy. Sandwiched between Lagos and Portimao is the laid back resort of Alvor, dotted with luxury villas, it was formerly a small fishing village which still clings to its fishing tradition. Further east around Carvoeiro the coastline becomes a string of spectacular rock formations broken up by attractive fishing villages and sandy coves, Carvoeiro, another fishing village turned resort, still retains much of its traditional Portuguese charm. Golfers will not be disappointed with a visit to this region and a number of fine courses line the areas behind the coast. The western Algarve really has it all – stunning beaches around Praia da Roche, fishing and dolphin watching in Portimao, surfing in Lagos, Luz and Sagres, golfing around Carvoeiro and Alvor.
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