Algarve

Sender: Manuel

Manuel sent me this pretty card of his hometown, Algarve. It is the southernmost region of Portugal. Its name is derived from the Arabic word "El-Gharb" meaning "west" and it is one of Europe's favourite holiday destinations well known for year round sunshine and excellent sandy beaches. 

I read that it receives an average of 7 million foreign tourists each year, mostly Europeans , and almost 10 million people each year, if local visitors are included. Some of these tourists even have their own properties there. Algarve has been occupied by the Moors for 600 years but besides some city and castlewalls, there are hardly any remainders. It is famous for its pottery and ceramics, particularly hand-painted pottery and azulejos or tiles.