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Portugal boasts a rich seafaring heritage, superb beach resorts, romantic villages, fashionable cities and a landscape wreathed in olive groves, vineyards and wheatfields. A land of cultural diversity, clear blue skies and long stretches of rugged beaches, Portugal offers infinite options for any traveller. The Algarve is synonymous with superb beaches and top class sports facilties. Faro, the regional capital, contains an intriguing old town. Elsewhere, market towns like Loule, famous for crafts such as leather and copper, fishing villages like Armacao de Pera and cities like Silves, a walled city with a 12th-century cathedral, are worth visiting. Nearly 40 years after the legenday Henry Cotton put the Algarve on the golfing map, it remains the ultimate year-round golf destination. With 18 beautifully tended golf courses, there's no shortage of putting action.