Due to the Moorish occupation of Iberia, the region was called "Al-Garb Al-Andalus". Traditional agricultural products of the region include fig, almond, medronho, carob beans, and cork oak. Faro, which the Christian residents had called Santa Maria, was renamed Faraon, which means "the settlement of the Knights". British expatriates, followed by German, Dutch and Scandinavians, are among the largest groups wishing to own a home in this Portugal's sunny region. The region's administrative centre is the city of Faro, which has its own international airport (Faro Airport) and public university (University of the Algarve).



The Algarve was a semi-autonomous area with a governor from 1595 to 1808, as well as a separate taxation system until the end of the 18th century. Accommodation in the Algarve ranges from high rise resorts in places like Albufeira to traditional guesthouses, located in the small towns and villages surrounding the algarve coast. The al-gharb, "the West" is the southernmost region of mainland Portugal, incorporating, amongst others, the cities of Faro, Albufeira, Lagos, Olh'o, Tavira, Portim'o and Silves. The Algarve is hilly, but traversed with rich valleys. Over the past few years many tourists visiting the Algarve have moved away from the resorts, and have chosen the comfort of a traditional Algarve guesthouse, many of these run by ex-pats from England, Holland, and Germany who have escaped to the Algarve for a quieter life.

In addition to the natural beauties and plenty of beaches, the Algarve has invested in the creation of a network of golf courses. The Algarve region is divided into 16 municipalities:

It is composed of 5,412 square kilometres with approximately 410,000 permanent inhabitants (density of 76 inhabitants per square kilometre). In the mid-12th century, the Moorish occupation ended: the "Al-Gharb" has been since then the kingdom of Algarve. The coastline is notable for picturesque limestone caves and grottoes, particularly around Lagos, which are accessible by powerboat.

Praia da Marinha, Lagoa was classified as one of the 100 most beautiful and well preserved beaches of the world. The length of the south-facing coastline is approximately 155 kilometres. The Algarve is the home of the Ria Formosa lagoon, a nature reserve of over 170 square kilometres and a stopping place for hundreds of different birds. When the Moors conquered Lagos in 716 it was called Zawaia. The Algarve became the first part of Portugal to liberate itself from Spanish occupation, in the rebellion of Olh'o in 1808.

In the 15th century, Henry the Navigator based himself in Sagres and conducted various maritime expeditions which established Portugal as a colonial power. In the 1960s the Algarve became a very popular destination for tourists, mainly from Britain. Over the past 50 years the Algarve has seen an increase in development, particularly from non-Portuguese developers. When the Moors conquered Lagos in 716 it was called Zawaia. Being a region of Portugal, and therefore in the European Union, any EU citizen have the right to freely buy property and reside with little formality in the Algarve.