ART AMONG THE ROOFTOPS
FERRAGUDO WELCOMES ARTE ALGARVE’S NEWEST GALLERY If Rolf Osang were ever to open a new gallery, it would have to be something quite special to follow in the footsteps of Arte Algarve, whose artworks hang on the walls of ÚNICA, a working winery in Lagoa. Four-and-a-half years after it first opened, the gallery owner has finally found what he deemed to be the perfect place for a second exhibition centre: a quirky townhouse in the...
SPRING SKINCARE
Like many before him, and no doubt many after, Dutchman Ron Voskamp fell in love with Ferragudo the moment he laid eyes on this charming fishing town. And while this is where his business is based, in a tiny showroom right on the main square, it is not Ferragudo he is promoting, but the mountain town of Monchique, more specifically, its spring water. The natural springs of Caldas de Monchique, the only termas in the Algarve, have been...
SURF THE SKY
IS IT A BIRD? IS IT A PLANE? NO, IT’S A FLYBOARD jetpack that shoots you up into the air and lets you leap in and out of the water like a dolphin all sounds very futuristic, but it’s actually a pretty common sighting just off the beach at Praia da Rocha. It’s called flyboarding and it’s the latest watersport to arrive in the Algarve. “We have been selling jet skis in the Algarve for more than 20 years, so...
URBAN CANVAS
ARMED WITH SPRAY CANS AND AN EYE FOR DETAIL, STEPHEN JONES IS SET ON CHANGING THE IDEA OF GRAFFITI FOR THE BETTER It may have a negative connotation usually associated to vandalism but, wall by wall, Lagoa resident Stephen Jones is slowly changing people’s perception of graffiti. “Graffiti isn’t just tags and scribbles,” says the 22-year-old artist, “and the only way for people to understand that...
THE ART OF HOSPITALITY
SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE PROFESSIONALS: MEET THE HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM SCHOOL OF PORTIMÃO Tourism is without a doubt the backbone of the Algarve’s economy, sustained by luxury hotels and quality bars and restaurants that provide the finest standards of gastronomy and service. For that, in the most part, we can thank the much-acclaimed Hospitality and Tourism School in Portimão. Created in 1970 ...
SIGNATURE INSPIRATION
JEWELLER NUNO LOPES CREATES PIECES THAT ARE JUST LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO WEAR THEM: ONE OF A KIND We first spotted Nuno Lopes at the Fatacil fair in Lagoa, working away on a piece of silver as a couple of children stood by, mesmerised. We later found out that some of these children return to his stand, year after year, to watch the jeweller at work, and often get a simple band as a reward for their curiosity. For Nuno, it’s...
LIFE IN THE FAST LANE
RSR WANTS TO PROVE THE PORTIMÃO CIRCUIT IS A WORLD-CLASS RACETRACK THAT CAN BE USED ALL YEAR LONG Ron Simons is a happy Dutchman. After racing everything from single seaters to Group C cars, he thought it would be a good idea to teach others how to do it. First he served as expert instructor for Porsche and Ferrari during the Noughties, and then decided it was time for his own enterprise, opening Ron Simons Racing in 2002....
DOM CRISTINA
THE ALGARVE’S BELOVED BRANDY AND HONEY LIQUEUR CHANGES ITS NAME, BUT NOT ITS TASTE Those who love their liqueurs and have visited or lived in the Algarve at one time or another will almost certainly know the name Brandymel. Made since 1955 in Portimão by the local Cristina family and winner of many international prizes, the brandy and honey tipple has recently seen a bureaucratic detail strip it of its name. Now...
CROSSFIT CRAZE
INSIDE CARVOEIRO WAS PUT THROUGH ITS PACES AT PORTIMÃO’S OWN CROSSFIT BOX Looking up at the clock, there are five more reps still to squeeze in. As our arms threaten to give way beneath us, we glance around the room. There’s a distinct feeling that the words ‘giving up’ aren’t in these people’s vocabulary. Some are even smiling. It’s 7.45pm and we’re in a CrossFit class, an...
CARVOEIRO, UNITED
THE PRIDE OF THE COMMUNITY: CARVOEIRO NOW HAS ITS VERY OWN FOOTBALL CLUB They may have only formed officially in August, but FC Carvoeiro United has already taken its place in the hearts of the community. “The name started as a bit of a joke, but it really represents us well. We’re a mixture of Portuguese and foreign players of various nationalities who have all come together to represent Carvoeiro,” said John...
ALGARVE ON THE TABLE
POPULAR WITH SEAFOOD-LOVERS EVERYWHERE, THE CATAPLANA IS A REGIONAL CULINARY CLASSIC Its appearance may be unusual, but the unique cataplana is a true symbol of the Algarve’s culinary tradition, and a delicious one at that. Named after the cookware in which it is prepared a clam-shaped dish that’s traditionally made of copper , the cataplana is a typical Portuguese seafood dish whose origin is inextricably linked to the...
PEDALS & PADDLES
ON LAND AND BY SEA, ONE NEW VENTURE IS SHOWING THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Whether it’s the heart of the Portuguese countryside or the rugged cliffs that line the coast, the Algarve has a wealth of charms beyond the traditional tourist spots that are just waiting to be discovered. Now, two companies have joined their two different modes of transportation to share the very best of both worlds, with the launch of the unique Pedals and...
SPRING RENEWAL
WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW SEASON, THERE WAS MORE THAN JUST A LITTLE SPRING CLEANING GOING ON AROUND CARVOEIRO They say that spring is a time of renewal, and no one took that more literally than the good people of Carvoeiro, as up and down the town, established businesses got complete face-lifts and new ones opened their doors. From new supermarkets and shops to totally revamped restaurants, and even a brand new boardwalk that runs...
PRINTS CHARMING
PORTUGUESE HERITAGE HAS NEVER BEEN SO STYLISH, THANKS TO PORTIMÃO-BASED LIPSCANI The day we met Mariana Pires, she was wearing one of her own designs. “I’m replacing my wardrobe, bit by bit,” explains the petite brunette. Although she doesn’t sell her clothes just yet, the 22-year-old designer is already making waves with her beautiful accessories, which have been gracing the pages of national magazines since the brand was...
TIME FOR CULTURE
THE TEMPO THEATRE IN PORTIMÃO PROVES THERE IS PLENTY OF CULTURE IN THE ALGARVE Here at Inside, we were surprised at the amount of people who hadn’t heard of TEMPO, and those who had still weren’t quite sure where or what it was. It is, in fact, one of the best cultural offerings in the region, housed in a beautiful 18th-century landmark in Portimão. TEMPO, or the Teatro Municipal de Portimão, opened in December 2008 as a...
RETAIL THERAPY
FORGET SHOPPING CENTRES: CARVOEIRO AND FERRAGUDO HAVE EVERYTHING FOR THE MOST DEMANDING CUSTOMER The former fishing village of Carvoeiro has become synonymous with dining out, but look beyond the numerous restaurants and you’ll find that the town is also home to plenty of shops selling everything from clothes and accessories to souvenirs and items for the home and garden. Inside went window-shopping to see what the local traders...
TOUR DE ALGARVE
INSIDE DITCHED THE CAR AND DISCOVERED THE AREA IN THREE VERY DIFFERENT WAYS The team at Inside is constantly encouraging its readers to discover the region and all it has to offer. True to form, we decided to do just that, but this time we snubbed the more traditional means of transportation and hopped on three very different kinds of vehicles: a retro Vespa, a high-powered buggy and an ecofriendly tuk tuk. Here, we reveal a very...
SEVEN HANGING VALLEYS
TREAD THE ALGARVE’S CLIFFTOPS WITH THIS LOVELY MARKED TRAIL Formed over millions of years, the cliffs along the coast dominate the Algarve’s landscape, with caves, grottoes, secluded bays and blowholes providing some of the most spectacular scenery around. To make the most of this rich natural heritage, Lagoa Council created the Seven Hanging Valleys walk, a signposted trail high above the beaches that follows the...
BRICK BY BRICK
DEVELOPERS ARE LOOKING TO CARVOEIRO AS BRAND NEW PROJECTS BEGIN TO TAKE SHAPE Earlier this year, estate agents across the region were reporting surprisingly promising signs on the property market, with more enquiries and property viewings than anyone had expected. But is this a sign of things to come? Maybe, maybe not, but in Carvoeiro, it’s certainly true that new projects have begun to crop up, with the foundations now being...
WILDWATCH
INSIDE HOPPED ABOARD THE ECO EXPLORER TO GO DOLPHIN-SPOTTING WITH WILDWATCH, A COMPANY THAT DOES EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN From the moment Wildwatch’s boat, the Eco Explorer, leaves the Portimão Marina and heads out to sea, the excitement starts to build up onboard. The promise of interaction with dolphins, one of nature’s most intriguing creatures, resonates in the mind of both the passengers and the crew, leaving a feeling of...
