The annual Medieval Fair in Silves is the best chance to sample the life Moors and Christians alike led during the Middle Ages. Having begun on August 7th, the fair is going to last until Sunday, August 16th.

During the medieval Arab rule of the Algarve, Silves used to the capital city and it was then that the city saw its golden days. After the Reconquista, Silves, like the entire Algarve, returned to the possession of Christian Portugal. But it never lost its eclectic cultural quality.

For the fair, knights, Moors, damsels,  minstrels, jesters, dancers and magicians crowd the streets for nine days. You can join the party, rent a costume and delve deep into the romantic (or rather, Oriental) atmosphere. For only 3 EUR, you can be a knight or a clown for a day – now, that’s not too bad!

You’ve still got a few days to enjoy the Feira Medieval in Silves. Or rather, a few nights, seen that activities start daily from 6 PM and last until 1 in the morning or later. The entry ticket only costs 2 EUR, except for the day when the jousting tournament is held.

So if you are currently in the Algarve or if you plan on spending your weekend there, put the Medieval Festival in Silves 2015 on your list. You might need a vehicle, so Algarve car rental can deal with this problem. Or you can book a Faro airport transfer for a tour and a ride.

The mild, warm weather of the Algarve makes summers very pleasant and rarely overly hot. On the other hand, springs are also warmer than in other parts of the world and summer lasts well into September, so the “summer season” begins somewhere at the beginning of May and lasts until mid or late September.

Named “the ultimate international golf destination” on more than one occasion, the Algarve houses some of the best golf courses in the world and great golfing facilities. Faro, Quinta do Lago, Sagres, Albufeira and Vilamoura are all places where you can perform your favorite sport, while the Algarve golf transfers service can help you get from your location to the address in no time.

The currency in Portugal is Euro and if you need to make a call to Portugal, use the country code 00351.

Above all, the Algarve is a seaside destination. Cities like Lagos, Portimao, Albufeira and even the region’s capital city, Faro, have outstanding beaches and watersports facilities.

Over the last years, Western European seniors have chosen Portugal as their retreat haven. This is mainly because of the real estate boom of a few years ago and because the cost of living in Portugal is considerably lower than, for instance, in England or France. What is more, Portugal is very “foreigner-friendly”. The Portuguese Golden Visa, a residence and citizenship program launched by Portugal, is widely regarded as the best in Europe.

The best way to travel inside the region of Algarve is by car. The option of public transportation is also appealing, but summers are quite crowded and trams and trains are a bit time consuming. If you need a transfer, you can count on Faro airport transfers, while there are all inclusive Algarve car rental companies that can provide a great car for hire.

The warm, sunny climate of this part of Portugal, as well as the diverse types of soil (ranging from sandy, clay and limestone to rocky) make the Algarve an optimal place for wine production. The Portuguese wines are sweet and benefit from a unique bouquet, bringing them close to the French varieties.

Lagoa, to host large wine exhibition

The Council of Lagoa has confirmed they are making ardent preparations to host one of the greatest wine exhibitions in the country this Easter, between the 2nd and 4th of April 2015. This celebration of wine and good joy is organized by the Council of Lagoa and the Algarve Wine Route with the intention of promoting local producers, but also consumers and to entertain the masses with fairs (featuring local products, wine, food, music from Aurea, Pedro Abrunhosa, Ana Moura and others, as well as lectures).

The venue is the Arade Congress Centre, Parchal. Lagoa hopes to gain rather than lose money with this new fair. Remembering the Fatacil fatal failure in 2013 – which resulted in a loss of 700.000 Euro – the Council is holding their breath, lest they should have more explaining to do if more money is “lost”.

There are 3 DOC wine denominations that make the region of Algarve proud: Lagos, Lagoa, Portimao and Tavira. You get to taste any of them if you come to the fair in Lagoa this spring. You can even get a lift; all you need to do is book an Algarve airport transfer online.