Vilamoura is the name given to an area rather than to any actual town.
It is outstanding in that it is one of the largest single tourist complexes in Europe and covers some 2.000 hectares of land. The land is variable in its vegetation, some parts covered in pine forests whilst others open recovered marshland.
The company that owns this complex is extremely environmentally conscious and has made every effort is being made to protect nature within its continued planned development.
Due to the size of the resort area it offers the visitor nearly every form of sport and entertainment. On the southern border is a long sandy beach swept by the Atlantic Ocean.
Amongst the many attractions and facilities there are six different Golf Courses, a large Marina, a Lawn Bowling Club with two grass Rinks, a Tennis Centre, a Sports Club, a Shooting Club, 5 Star and 4 Star Hotels, Tourist Apartments, self-catering Villas, Night Clubs, an International Casino with glamorous shows, a Cinema, and an excellent Riding School.
Within the centre of Vilamoura there is a preserved Roman Site and Museum of Cerro da Vila providing an interesting glimpse into the past of the area. In Roman times this location was important in producing a fish paste known as Garum. The ruins also include the baths in which the mariners used to bathe.
As a location specifically designed for tourism it has proved to be a very successful holiday destination for all ages due to the variety of facilities that it provides holidaymakers.
Facilities include:
Restaurants
Cafes / Pubs
Post office
Banks
Petrol station
Supermarkets (with international products)
Railway station
Beautiful Marina
A large variety of Golf Courses
Vale do Lobo
In 1962, was born the famous Vale do Lobo, the first tourist enterprise of Algarve, in south of Portugal. The project became real after the partnership of two multinationals: Trusthouse Fort plc and Costain plc.
When it was built, the area of Algarve was devoted fundamentally to the fishing and to the agriculture. With the arrival of the Vale do Lobo, the area met its first five stars hotel "Le Meridien D. Filipa" and its first golf course.
During the seventies, Sander van Gelder, the Dutch entrepreneur linked to the industry of the jewellery store and diamonds with some stories in Holland, discovered the Vale do Lobo. The enormous tourist potential of the resort attracted the entrepreneur, who acquired the company in 1977, moving with his family to Portugal.
In that moment, Vale do Lobo won a new future, becoming a luxury tourist resort.
Nowadays, Vale do Lobo possesses about 400 hectares, attracting residents and visitors because of its self-sufficiency, quality of the homes and for the excellent infrastructures and services that please all. Vale do Lobo is known by being one of the most important luxury enterprises of Europe, being the largest one in Portugal.
In the end of 2006, the resort was sold to a group of Portuguese and international investors, as well as to the largest Portuguese bank, Caixa Geral de Depositos. For now, Vale do Lobo is commanded by Diogo Gaspar Ferreira, the new Executive President.
Because of this new investment, the structure receives enough financial support to be able to carry forward the actual plan of service and the future expansion. There are in development some of the most important projects, like the Oceano Clube (Vale do Lobo II) and Vale Real (Vale do Lobo III).
Vale do Lobo is located in the coastal area of the centre of Algarve, in a rich area in history where the sun appears during the whole year. One of the attractive thing that justify the choice of the Vale do Lobo to live and to visit is their approximation to the Faro International Airport in about 20 minutes.
The Vale do Lobo Golf and Beach Resort is only three hours of flight of most of the European capitals. The enterprise is still about two and a half hours of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, and of Seville, in Spain.
Loule, the happiness of the Carnival
The council of Loule is known by their traditions and beaches, but also by its famous Carnival party that looks like the brazilian. Nowadays, the Carnival of Loule has several themes, as the society, the political system and the most important events of the year. All those ingredients are mixed with a good critic dose full of good mood and diversion, but in the summer the council gets hotter.
The visitors seek Loule with the intention of taking advantage of their beaches, dispersed in a beautiful coast. The beaches of Vilamoura, Quarteira, Vale do Lobo, Garrao, Ancao, Quinta do Lago, and Falesia are authentic natural paradises and in the waters of Loule you can enjoy nautical sports.
The golf is also a sport very practiced in Loule, with countless fields. It might be for that reason that the council is known by being a demarcated area of the golf.
The golf courses extend from the Vila Sol to the Quinta do Logo, passing through Vilamoura, Quarteira, Vale Garrao, Ancao, Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Sao Lourenco, all in a natural gorgeous scenery.
Loule receives during the year great names of the world golf, and also intellectuals and politicians, artists and soccer professionals, musicians and people of businesses that come from everywhere to play golf.
The town promotes several sport and cultural events along the year, as Vale do Lobo Grand Champions and Algarve Summer Festival, one of the most important summer festivals of Portugal.
Loule also has a vast historical and cultural patrimony, like the Roman Bridge, Castles of Loule and of Salir, Mother church of Sao Clemente, Mother church of Sao Lourenco of Almancil, Small chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceicao, Church of Sao Pedro do Mar, Mother church of Alte, Igreja Matiz of Nossa Senhora da Assuncao, Small chapel of Nossa Senhora das Portas do Ceu, Mother church of Sao Sebastiao, Church of Nossa Senhora da Gloria, besides the natural beauty of the gardens of Amuados and of Comunidades.
Other places of interest are the Archeological Station of Cerro da Vila and the historical area of Loule. In spite of having a vast history and a great dimension, the municipal district includes only two cities: Loule and Quarteira.
For the ones who tries to pass a very good night, Vilamoura is the centre of the nightlife of the council of Loule. Besides the famous dispersed bars along the sea area, as the Bar Seven, the soccer player's Luis Figo property, El Salero, Irish Pub, among others.
Another attraction is the Casino of Vilamoura, a reference for the thousands of tourists that visit Algarve. Besides the room of the machines and of the roulette, the visitors can see beautiful shows. The Casino still concentrates one of the most popular discos of that area, Black Jack.
It is also in Vilamoura that is located another reference disco for all lovers of the nightlife, the Kadoc.
The city of Loule still has several bars, as well as the Campus, Joker and Breath, used by the academicals students. The Bar Satori is part of the itinerary of alternative bars of the country, there you can enjoy several rock shows and art exhibitions.
Quinta do Lago and the Square of Vale do Lobo are also other alternatives for the national and foreign tourists that prefer hotter nights of summer.
For who seeks an outdoor atmosphere, it is possible to visit the Municipal Park of Loule, where you can exercise yourself.
Loule is composed by the freguesias of Almancil, Alte, Ameixial, Benafim, Boliqueime, Quarteira, Querenca, Salir, Sao Clemente and Sao Sebastiao.
I hope to meet you soon in the Golden Triangle of Portugal!
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