Coimbra, Portugal | Portugal Special Report

At an ancient crossroads in the hills of the eastern Algarve, the town of São Brás de Alportel has a rare claim to fame in inland Portugal: its population is steadily growing. It has bucked the trend of depopulation, which has taken out many of the Algarve’s smaller villages.

São Brás is an inland municipality of some 11,000 people. A palpable sense of community, astute political leadership, and some key practical considerations have set it on a winning path. Today, its population has a growing international flair.

São Brás is not a prime Algarve beauty spot, but it has a small, scenic old quarter with a church and narrow, cobbled streets, plus it’s only 15 minutes to the sea. Discover São Brás’ little gems in this Portugal Special Report.

Portugal’s Algarve region has a mild, almost Mediterranean climate, with over 300 days of sunshine a year, a beautiful coastline with 150 great sandy beaches, and it’s in one of the safest countries in the world, with friendly locals, great cuisine, fine local wines, and a low cost of living with easy residency options.

There are stunning beaches with soft golden sand, limestone caves, and grottoes only reachable by boat, and sparkling waters and tiny inlets with fishermen stood precariously on the edge of the cliff above, fishing for their dinner. It’s not all beaches, though. For nature lovers, there’s the Ria Formosa protected reserve, and for golf lovers, Europe’s finest championship golf courses are here.

This part of the world has a sense of timelessness that you notice as soon as you step away from the beachfront tourist areas. There’s a reason this is Live And Invest Overseas’ most sought-after region of all time… Discover the Algarve in this Portugal Special Report.