Portugal is situated on the Iberian peninsula west of Spain. Its entire coastline faces the western Atlantic ocean with the islands of the Azores and Madeira to the west and south-west. Portugal's area is about 92,000 square kilometers and contains a native population of 91 million people with a small number originating in Africa. The Portuguese language is also the principal language of Brazil in south America and has been influential in many other places throughout the world. Mountainous forest abound in the central and northern regions with Serra da Estrela the highest peak (1993m) while to the south it is drier and flatter with fewer rivers and less rain.

Indeed, the Algarve region at its southern extremity can experience very hot summers The northern mountains can become snow-capped during the winter months and is generally chilly and wet at this time. So June to September are the most popular times for visitors to Portugal and an apartment in the Algarve region with its sandy beaches the busiest although the area is often much quieter in mid-winter. The north offers the best scenery with spectacular waterfalls, gorges and valleys. The Duoro valley is of particular interest. There are many World Heritage sites throughout Portugal as well as other ancient buildings and monuments that will spark the interest of the historian as well as the nature lover. The entire coastline is virtually one long sandy beach although there are many small picturesque resorts and towns dotted along it. Costa Verde in northern Portugal contains some of the loveliest of them and the perfect location with its traditional farmhouses available for holiday rental.

Portugal's sea-faring past dominates its culture. It was the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama who first discovered a trade route by sea around southern Africa to India and beyond. The traditional Portuguese lifestyle is typically honest and simple and this is reflected by the influence of religious festivals, folk music and their love of good food. Lisbon, its capital, has many examples of Moorish monuments and buildings but their influence, and that of ancient Rome, can be seen in many places south of the river Tagus (about half-way up). Celtic and Germanic tribes dominated northern Portugal in ancient times.

A holiday home in Lisbon, or on the coast nearby, can give you access to a culturally diverse and vibrant city as well as traditional holiday beaches  the best of both worlds. Those of you seeking sun, sea and sand could do little better than a villa in the Algarve region and stylish holiday villas are highly sought after particularly in Lagos and Albufeira in the heart of its cosmopolitan area. Yet rural Algarve has a refreshing natural beauty where the pace of life has remained unaffected over the past century. In the more heavily populated regions of central and northern Portugal the green and lush countryside, vineyards and olive groves reflect the obvious pride felt by the Portuguese people in their national heritage. The Silver Coast is perfectly located within the area and a holiday villa here will enable you to visit the regions wealth of markets, fishing villages and superb restaurants as well as its fabulous sandy beaches. This breathtakingly beautiful country can offer you the holiday experience of a lifetime and its little wonder that many of its visitors return again and again.