Thursday, 31 July 2014

A guide to Portugal’s Alentejo region, home of Europe’s finest beaches | Travel | The Guardian

A guide to Portugal’s Alentejo region, home of Europe’s finest beaches | Travel | The Guardian

Praia da Zambujeira, Portugal.

Praia da Zambujeira, Portugal. Photograph: Municipio Odemira/Turismo do Alentejo



Herdade da Nespereira windmill house, Alentejo, Portugal

Herdade da Nespereira windmill house, Alentejo, Portugal. Photograph: PR



Cerca do Sul guest house, Alentejo, Portugal

Cerca do Sul guest house is painted in the traditional Alentejo colours of white with a blue trim.



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Wednesday, 30 July 2014

Lello Bookstore: The Most Beautiful Bookstore in the World | BOOK RIOT

Lello Bookstore: The Most Beautiful Bookstore in the World | BOOK RIOT



"Little did I know that when I went looking for the oldest bookstore in the world, I would find, just up the coast of the same country, what could very well be the most beautiful bookstore in the world. The Lello Bookstore was built in 1906 in Porto, Portugal by The Lello Brothers (Antonio and Jose) who formerly owned another bookstore a few streets away. Their new bookstore is one of the most ornate bookstores in the world, mixing Neo-Gothic and Art Dec elements (especially the facade, pictured below). Carved wood ceilings, a stain-glassed roof, an undulating, opulent red staircase, and even a built-in wheel-barrow on rails for moving the store’s 120,000 all make the Lello seem like the bookstore out of some fantasy-world (J.K. Rowling herself lived in Porto for a short while)."

by Jeff



About Jeff

Jeff O'Neal is the editor of Book Riot. He also co-hosts The Book Riot Podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @readingape
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All images credit to http://bookriot.com/
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Wednesday, 7 May 2014

Lisbon farewell

Three queens of the sea (Queen Mary, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II) leaving what is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and being blessed by Lisbon's own statue of Christ (Cristo Rei) .




Thursday, 13 March 2014

Daily Life In Portugal: A Peak Inside The Peninsula's Magical Beauty

From The Huffington Post

Daily Life In Portugal: A Peak Inside The Peninsula's Magical Beauty

  • A model holds a dog by a leash as she waits for her turn to enter the catwalk during the recording of a Portuguese soap opera at Lisbon's Restauradores square, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. Soap operas have been popular in Portugal since the first one was broadcasted at the Portuguese public television in 1977. (Francisco Seco/AP)
  • A woman looks at pictures and paintings placed in frames during a street exhibition at Lisbon's Comercio square, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012. (Francisco Seco/AP)
  • A woman jogs along the Atlantic seafront on a chilly winter day in the northern beach town of Lavadores, Vila Nova de Gaia, on the outskirts of Porto, Portugal, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014. (Paulo Duarte/AP)
  • Young boys play with waves breaking at Tagus' Ribeira das Naus or Vessels Riverbank as the sun sets in Lisbon, Wednesday, March 5, 2014. (Francisco Seco/AP)
  • Francisco Seco/AP
    Arnaldo Cunha is silhouetted while fishing under the April 25th bridge as a cargo ship sails down the Tagus river shrouded in fog, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012 in Lisbon. (Francisco Seco/AP)
  • Fishes are placed on a net for drying at the beach on January 5, 2014 in Nazare, Portugal. (Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)
  • Pedestrians cross tram tracks on a shopping street in central Lisbon, Portugal, on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. (Mario Proenca/Bloomberg/Getty Images)






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Sunday, 2 March 2014

TOP TEN PORTUGUESE WINES 2014


23,200 visitors in THE ESSENCE OF WINE - PORTO 2014

In 
Revista Wine

Essência do Vinho - Porto recebeu 22% de visitantes estrangeiros

ESSENCE OF WINE - ESSÊNCIA DO VINHO OPORTO MAIN WINE FEST WITH 22% OF FOREIGN VISITORS 
02/03/2014

The 11th edition of  ESSENCE OF WINE - PORTO recorded a turnout similar to the previous edition, in the order of 23,200 people, with the difference of 22% being foreign, which means an increase of 5% compared to the 2013 international public. Most of the foreign visitors were from Spain, UK and Northern Europe.

THE ESSENCE OF WINE - PORTO:  in this 11th edition more than 15,000 bottles were opened over four days, is an organization of the company EV - Essence of Wine, in partnership with the Porto Commercial Association.

TOP TEN 2014



Every year since 2007, WINE-The Essence of Wine elects the "Top 10 Portuguese Wines". The proof, which has the support of ViniPortugal IS always integratED IN THE the program "Essence of Wine - Port", always in the morning before the official opening, in the monumental Palace of Bolsa Arab Hall. iN A pre-screening conducted by the magazine, dozens of wines WERE EVALUATED in a blind tasting by a prestigious international jury - comprising sommeliers, journalists and opinion leaders from various countries - which results in the award of the top eight Portuguese red wine, white wine and the best of the best Vintage Port.








A Essência do Vinho 2014 - Porto

Essência do Vinho 
A ESSÊNCIA DO VINHO 2014

3.000 WINES TO TASTE

A principal experiência do vinho em Portugal está a ser um enorme sucesso... ESSÊNCIA DO VINHO - PORTO 2014, até domingo no Palácio da Bolsa.



Sunday, 2 February 2014

Boas Notícias - Duas ruas portuguesas entre as mais belas do mundo

 in BOAS NOTÍCIAS

Duas ruas portuguesas entre as mais belas do mundo

A Rua Augusta está entre as 31 ruas mais bonitas do mundo para a Condé Nast Traveler, que a considera "obrigatória para captar toda a essência" de Lisboa



A Rua Augusta, em Lisboa, e o Cais da Ribeira, no Porto, estão em destaque num artigo da revista de viagens espanhola Condé Nast Traveler que apresenta ao público "as 31 ruas a percorrer antes de morrer" espalhadas um pouco por todo o globo, colocando estes dois ícones da paisagem portuguesa entre os mais belos a nível internacional.
 
"De rua em avenida, de passeio em beco, esta é uma seleção dos pavimentos e calçadas mais bonitas que encontrámos em todo o mundo", introduz a publicação, que aconselha os viajantes interessados em conhecer os 31 locais escolhidos a optar "por calçado cómodo", a "ligar o modo urbano e desfrutar" da experiência.
 
Localizada no coração da capital portuguesa, a Rua Augusta é uma das ruas que merecem elogios por parte da Condé Nast, que afirma que "Lisboa tem o encanto do velho, do novo e da mistura entre ambos numa simbiose inigualável".
 
"A Rua Augusta é uma das suas avenidas mais conhecidas,", escreve a revista, que a classifica como uma "delícia lisboeta" e a descreve como "uma rua ampla, brilhante, obrigatória para captar toda a essência da cidade", não podendo, claro, perder-se a oportunidade de passar sob o seu "Arco do Triunfo".
 
Mais a Norte, a Condé Nast Traveler realça, no artigo publicado esta terça-feira, não apenas uma rua, mas uma zona inteira da cidade Invicta: o Cais da Ribeira, "a área mais animada" do Porto, "onde as casas se apinham numa ordem caótica de azulejos e roupa estendida sobre bares, restaurantes e terraços em frente ao Douro".
 
"Sem dúvida, a melhor panorâmica que podemos obter da cidade é a partir da sua 'artéria' de água doce, o Douro", pode ler-se no artigo, que informa que, ali mesmo, na Ribeira, é possível conseguir informação "sobre as travessias das diversas embarcações" que atravessam o rio e "viver o Porto mais fluvial", quer seja por meio de um 'tour' convencional, quer num jantar romântico noturno a bordo de um dos seus barcos.
 
Da lista da Condé Nast Traveler fazem ainda parte locais tão díspares como as Ramblas de Barcelona e a Gran Vía de Madrid, ambas em Espanha, o grande canal de Veneza, em Itália, a High Line em Nova Iorque e a Ocean Drive em Miami, nos EUA, ou o "oásis artístico" que é Neal's Yard, em Covent Garden, na capital inglesa, Londres.
 
Clique AQUI para conhecer a lista completa (em espanhol).

Notícia sugerida por Elsa Martins
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Tuesday, 28 January 2014

7 reasons Lisbon could be Europe's coolest city - CNN.com

By Fiona Dunlop, for CNN
January 26, 2014 

(CNN) -- What makes a city "cool"?
If it means being loaded with atmosphere, charm, great food and nightlife, yet ignored by the bulk of travelers, then Lisbon deserves consideration as Europe's coolest capital.
Here's why.


1. Nightlife that can outlast Madrid's

If you think Madrid stays out late, try a night out in Lisbon.
The city is less about heaving clubs and more about a roving nocturnal flow that ends (maybe) when dawn rises over the Tagus River.The main action is in the Bairro Alto, where more than 250 appealing bars line a web of streets between graffiti-plastered walls.Next is the riverfront, in the hip neighborhood around Cais do Sodré railway station.
Typical of the offbeat flavor here is the converted brothel Pensão Amor (Rua do Alecrim 19, +351 21 314 3399) where ace cocktails accompany erotica and DJ sets.
Capping a Lisbon night are pre-dawn traffic jams at Santa Apolonia docks -- they're created by the popularity of Lux, the king of Lisbon superclubs (Cais da Pedra +351 21 882 0890).

Think they stay out late in Madrid? In nightlife areas such as Bairro Alto, Lisbonites stay out until dawn -- then keep going.
Think they stay out late in Madrid? In nightlife areas such as Bairro Alto, Lisbonites stay out until dawn -- then keep going.


2. Experimental cuisine

Once known largely for bacalhau (dried cod), quaint old coffee houses and louche taverns, the Portuguese capital now claims a range of restaurants.Seafood remains a staple, but the trend is for modern, sophisticated and affordable.
A high bar is set by wunderkind chef José Avillez at his Michelin-starred Belcanto (Largo de Sao Carlos 10, +351 21 342 0607) or his more casual bistro Cantinho (Rua dos Duques de Bragança 7, +351 211 992369).Avant-garde European and Portuguese cuisine describes Avillez's menu, which stretches from sea bass with seaweed to lamb with vegetable puree.
Further down the scale, Lisbonites love juicy bifanas (pork buns) in backstreet eateries.No traveler to Lisbon should miss the famed egg tarts (pasteis de nata).The little bundles of caramel-y custard in chewy pastry are eaten in style at the original tiled café, Antiga Confeitaria de Belem (Rua Belém 84-92, +351 21 363 7423).
Portuguese custard tarts have conquered the world. You can try the original version (pictured) at the Antiga Confeitaria de Belem café.
Portuguese custard tarts have conquered the world. You can try the original version (pictured) at the Antiga Confeitaria de Belem café.

3. Irony

Lisbonites are born ironic. Yeah, right.
    Lisbonites are born ironic. Yeah, right.

You'd think Lisbonites would brag about their achievements -- first global empire, world's best custard tarts, sea bass with seaweed that actually tastes great.
On the contrary, along with the rest of the nation, they excel in that ages old literary device/defense mechanism: irony.
As Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa once eloquently summed up the prevailing national outlook: "I'd woken up early, and took a long time getting ready to exist."
That old entertaining melancholy has resurfaced with the austerity of recent years, helping Lisbonites remain (almost) content and always witty, even in tough times.

4. Beaches and castles

Lisbon is a place to inhale salty Atlantic air, sunbathe and hit the waves.
Dolphins surf and ferries ply the River Tagus.
Half an hour away by train are the beaches and ornate casino of Estoril.A bit further, Cascais is for eaters -- lots of grilled fish and seafood stews served in domed cataplana dishes.
The other big day trip is to Sintra. Forty minutes from Lisbon's main station (Rossio), it's a time-warp town, located in lush, wooded hills peppered with whimsical palaces and mansions that epitomize centuries of aristocratic opulence.
Few European capitals have such easy access to great beaches, like this one at Sintra.
Few European capitals have such easy access to great beaches, like this one at Sintra, Praia Grande, a surfer's hotspot


5. Fabulous design



Wherever you look in Lisbon, sharp contemporary design is a hallmark.Stylish leather goods, bold wine labels, interiors combining vintage with the latest designer pieces, spectacular buildings -- this is a city that loves to look good.

Pritzker-prize winning architect Alvaro Siza Vieira set the modernist tone with his gravity-defying pavilion for Expo 98.

Lisbonites gather to appreciate good design at MUDE (Rua Augusta 24, +351 21 888 6117), their mutant fashion and design museum, where austere low-tech blends with baroque flounces.



Lisbonites have a sharp eye for design, fashion and architecture, such as the Gare do Oriente station.

Lisbonites have a sharp eye for design, fashion and architecture, such as the Gare do Oriente station.



Lisbon has some of the world's most fascinating cobbles, a "street art" obsession shown off here in the city's giant mapa mundi.

Lisbon has some of the world's most fascinating cobbles, a "street art" obsession shown off here in the city's giant mapa mundi.



6. Big art



Large European capitals such as London, Paris, Berlin and Madrid may have blockbuster art collections, but Lisbon's half million inhabitants have access to their own rare panoply.

The classic is the Gulbenkian Foundation (Av. de Berna 45A, +351 21 782 3000), where superlative Oriental and Western art occupies an airy 1960s building and landscaped gardens.

In Bélem, the Museu Berardo (Praça do Império, +351 21 361 2878) focuses on big names of 20th- and 21st-century art, from Picasso to Jeff Koons.

Museu de Arte Antiga (Portuguese site only; Rua Janelas Verdes, +351 21 391 2800) is a 17th-century mansion packed with 500 years of artwork that reflects Portugal's globetrotting history.

Lisbon's latest exclusive is the impressive Museu do Oriente (Avenida de Brasília, Doca de Alcântara, +351 21 358 5244), a superbly converted salt cod warehouse full of Asian exhibits where you can book a nighttime visit followed by dinner in the riverfront restaurant.





7. Fascinating streets



There's no getting bored wandering in Lisbon, thanks to the intricately patterned cobblestones under your feet -- a civic point of pride that blossomed after Lisbon's 1755 earthquake and continues today.

Even Lisbon's walls demand attention, thanks to an obsession with azulejos (ceramic tiles).

Top examples are found at the Museu Nacional do Azulejo (Rua da Madre de Deus 4, +351 218 100 340), while the peeling façades of the Alfama and Mouraria districts show dozens of variations.



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Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Porto’s sophisticated new edge - Travel - The Boston Globe

The Douro River and its valley are the incubator for the fortified wine named for Porto, a modern port city dating to the fourth century.CHRISTOPHER MUTHER/GLOBE STAFF

The Douro River and its valley are the incubator for the fortified wine named for Porto, a modern port city dating to the fourth century.

By Christopher Muther
 |  GLOBE STAFF   
  NOVEMBER 09, 2013

Monday, 18 November 2013

Travel tips: Live it up in Lisbon, have drinks in a pop-up teepee, and where to stay in Snowdonia | Joanne O'Connor | Travel | The Observer

Joanne O'Connor

Sunrise over the rooftops of Alfama, Lisbon
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PORTUGAL RIDING ENTREPRENEURIAL WAVE

Global Entrepreneurship Week 2013 in Portugal this year is focused on issues related to the sea and agriculture. Two opening sessions will take place on November 18http://www.gew.co/ in Lisbon.
The Minister of Agriculture and Sea Assunção Cristas will be present at the opening session and President Aníbal Cavaco Silva will sponsor it. The morning session will focus on the sea and will be appropriately held at the Nautical School Infante D. Henrique (ENIDH) with giant wave surfer—and former world record holder—Garrett McNamara serving as the ambassador.  The afternoon session, which will be dedicated to Agriculture, will be held at the Portuguese Institute of Agronomy (ISA). The ambassador for this session will be António Silvestre Ferreira - Herdade Vale da Rosa. Vale da Rosa has been studying the production of table grapes, specifically seedless grape. Several examples of successful startups in these areas will be presented and space will be provided for open networking.
Throughout the week, there will be a number of different opportunities will be to immerse the Portuguese in entrepreneurial activities and create contacts between investors and entrepreneurs.  These new contacts have the potential to lead to projects in the areas of fisheries and aquaculture, robotics, new materials, water and underwater sports, oenology, cork, and horticulture.
The closing session of the Global Entrepreneurship Week on November 22 will be held at the Catholic University of Porto.  It will be devoted to the theme of social entrepreneurship. The newly elected Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira will be in attendance. A closing dinner will be served at the magnificent head-office of the “Old” Porto Commercial Association. At over 150 years old, the Porto Commercial Association is one of the oldest in Portugal.
—-Guest posts by Gonçalo Moreira Rato, Vice-President, GEW Portugal