For years Portugal has been overshadowed in terms of quantity by the neighbouring Spanish Costas but the Algarve managed to maintain its modesty. With strict building laws ensuring en mass construction was controlled, it now boasts a reputation of its own in terms of quality and hold its appeal to many A-List celebrities. Sir Cliff Richard has been an Algarve advocate for decades together with footballers Alan Shearer and Michael Owen, Irish pop band Boyzone front-man Ronan Keating, singer Bonnie Tyler, health queen Rosemary Connolly, and popular UK TV presenters Charlie Dimmock and Carol Smillie.
Steven Gerrard and his family own a home in the Central Algarve, the Beckhams are said to be huge fans and former England footballer Teddy Sheringham and Formula 1 race driver Rubens Barrichello are also property owners. Robbie Fowler, Gareth Southgate and football coach José Mourinho also add to the list of celebrity home owners.
Other celebrities, such as David Seaman, preferred to invest in the Western Algarve, attracted by its natural wilderness and rural beaches where famous faces including Prince William, pop band Blur’s Alex James and rock legends Metallica’s base player Robert Trujillo have all been spotted surfing.
It is only recently that several international brands have emerged such as Hilton, Formula 1 and Nikki Beach, as well as mainstream brands like Starbucks and Subway. So while the Algarve, with its chic restaurants, boutique hideaways and exclusive hangouts may have earned itself a reputation of being something of a ‘cool’ celebrity playground, it remains true to its down-to-earth roots that offer the rich and famous the privacy to be who they want to be far from the glare of the media’s lenses, an inconspicuous destination that can effortlessly outshine its more glamorous rivals by simply being itself and giving its visitors the opportunity to do the same.
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