picture by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra

In the hills that connect the Algarve with Alentejo, you will find great biodiversity. Everywhere you see sobreiros (cork oaks), azinheiras (holm oaks), eucalyptus, medronheiros (strawberry trees), wild herbs such as rosemary, mint and lavender and heather. The Esteva (sometimes called xara) can also be found there in large numbers. In the spring, nature puts on a remarkable show here, transforming ...

                                                             

Many dog owners in the Algarve give their dog the name of Diana, the patron saint of the hunters. Hunting is an ancient tradition in Portugal and today still practised by many men and a few women. The shooting of birds and game was always a welcome opportunity to feed the family with something else than pork or chicken. Nowadays, rules are more strict and nature preservation is high on the agenda. The organisation of a hunt is taken...

Campervans are very increasingly popular as a means to discover the Algarve and at the same time they contribute to the economy of the region. To better serve these tourists and to discourage illegal camping, the Algarve now announced several extra parks to accommodate motorhomes.

                                    

The Ria Formosa is home to the largest population of sea horses in the world. The yearly Bike Meeting in Faro attracts about 35.000 bikers. In Silves, they make wine out of oranges. With coasteering in the Costa Vicentina Nature Reserve, you jump off 12m cliffs into the Atlantic Ocean. The Algarve’s cuisine isn’t only about sea food, but also includes locally farmed porco preto. Mountain bikers from all over the world train in the hills of São Brás ar...

                       


Many people only know the taste of dried figs and I think they are lovely. But here and now - until the end of September - you have the chance of tasting the fresh fruit. Before moving to the Algarve I did not even know what they looked like, leave alone how they taste. But I fell in love with them from the first time we met.

The fig could be considered the perfect fruit, although it rather is a "false fruit," or syncomium. Within the globe of the "fruit" are little clus...

SUP consists of standing and bala...

January:  oranges are ripening, almond trees blossom.  

February:  Mimosa flowers

March: pear and plum blossom, lavender flowers, frogs, toats ...