The History Behind Silve’s Unique City Stone
Lady in Red: Silve’s Reddish Stone can be seen everywhere in the city, including the Castle – December 6, 2021 Silves sandstone is a distinct and unique stone that can be found in several constructions in and around the town, including its imposing castle. It is extracted from a quarry in Vale Fuzeiros by a local family who has owned it for at least 100 years. It all started with José Joaquim, in Vale Fuzeiros It all...
Algarvillas: Cheers to 40 years!
Algarvillas celebrates four decades of hard graft and dedication to their homeowners and holidaymakers – December 6, 2021 Algarvillas was first inaugurated in 1981 and Kevin Owenson’s aunt (who still works for Kevin today) bought the company in 1989. Kevin was the main rental agent for his aunt Cathy and uncle Jim during this period and when the opportunity arose to head the company himself, it was a no-brainer. He had fallen in...
World-Renowned Architects Gathered for a Project in Silves
Celebrating Contrast: World-renowned Architects travelled across the Globe to create a Contemporary Development in the Heart of Silves – December 6, 2021 Five Bridges Silves is a contemporary piece of architecture comprised of 20 duplex apartments. Each apartment is connected by ‘five bridges’ — cleverly integrated within the structure and extremely distinctive — through the access corridor to each unit. In addition to the new,...
Short Film About Organic Oranges Wins Impact DOCS Award
“The Orange Life of the Algarve”, by Sebastiaan Opschoor – December 6, 2021 Sebastiaan Opschoor, independent filmmaker residing in Portugal, won a prestigious Award of Merit from the Impact DOCS Awards Competition in the United States. The award was given for Sebastiaan Opschoor’s short documentary The Orange Life of the Algarve, which highlights organic orange farming in the Algarve. Watch the trailer here:...
Magic for the whole Family at the Portimão’s Christmas Fair
Two entrepreneurial brothers are elevating the local seafood scene with a brand New Gastrobar based in their former family home – December 3, 2021 Portimão will become an authentic Christmas Village, with the recreation of several attraction areas inspired by the festive season, crossing the Christmas universe with fantasy moments for the whole family, between December 1 and January 6. Under the motto “Portimão, a...
“Lagoa Wine Experiences 2021” Hailed a Success
“Lagoa Wine Experiences 2021” held its last session on November 13, with demand strongly outweighing availability The initiative “Lagoa Wine Experiences 2021” held its last session on November 13, with a special session that celebrated the World Day of Wine Tourism, a date celebrated annually on the 2nd Sunday of November. “Lagoa Wine Experiences” was hailed a success by the organizers (Lagoa Council). The...
Lagoa to host first Sacred Music Festival
Cultural association Ideias do Levante and Lagoa Council have announced the first edition of the town’s Sacred Music Festival, to be held in October and November In a statement to the press, the association says the goal is to “promote Lagoa’s religious artistic heritage, decentralise where concerts are held in the borough, introduce people to religious spaces, artists and instruments as well as to works by national and foreign...
Lagoa Wine Experiences returns
After a “sold-out first session” last month, the Lagoa Wine Experiences wine tasting tour is returning on Saturday (September 11) between 10.30am and 6pm. Participants will yet again meet at Lagoa’s municipal pools before being taken to Dona Niza Wines in Carvoeiro, a “very recent project by a local who has an enormous passion for the land and wine” where a wine tasting event will be held. A welcome drink and lunch will be served at...
Get your Passport Ready for Quick Bites
Rota do Petisco returns with 292 restaurants and eateries Eleven Algarve boroughs are participating in the 11th Rota do Petisco this year, totalling over 200 venues. Taking place between September 10 and October 10, this gastronomic ‘route’ was born in Portimão but has grown to include eateries from all over the Algarve. Aljezur, Vila do Bispo, Lagos, Portimão, Monchique, Lagoa, Silves, Albufeira, Loulé, São Brás de Alportel and...
Lagoa hosts first international Magic Fest in September
Under the artistic direction of Lagoa magician Paulo Cabrita, the event will be held over two days (September 3 and 4) and feature famous Portuguese, Spanish and Argentinian magicians who will perform several shows in the borough As part of Lagoa’s “A Cultura Sai À Rua” (Culture Out in the Street) initiative, the Lagoa Magic Fest 2021 will see artists Arkadio & Solange Kardinaly (Spain), José de Lemos (Portugal), Salguery...
Florados de Lagoa, an ancient sweet you will want to try this summer
Pastry shops in Lagoa will be serving ‘Florados de Lagoa’, an almond and egg-based sweet which has been a staple of local confectionery for years but has remained something of a secret to the general population. The initiative has been organised by the local council, which revealed in 2019 that the original recipe for making the Florados de Lagoa had been kept at the local convent for centuries before finally being revealed recently....
Olympic medallist Patrícia Mamona chooses Lagoa for training camp
The 32-year-old athlete arrived in the town on August 6 accompanied by her coach José Uva Her goal is to recover from her silver medal-winning performance at the Tokyo Olympics and prepare for the World Athletics Championships next year. “The good condition of our facilities played a role in the athlete’s choice (to come to Lagoa),” the local council said in a statement to the press. Lagoa Mayor Luís Encarnação invited Mamona and her...
Portimão cancels sardine festival but promises plenty of fun for all
For the second year straight, Portimão’s Sardine Festival will not be held due to the pandemic. However, the town will still pay homage to its favourite fish by organising five concerts with popular Portuguese artists between August 4 and 8 at the town’s riverside. “As the pandemic still doesn’t allow the full return of the Sardine Festival, Portimão Council is organising these concerts for the whole family, where all sanitary...
Silves Medieval promises performances, medieval cuisine, more
Taking place until August 22, the event will feature a series of night-time performances and see the town’s streets decorated to look like they did in the Middle Ages, for a new, “more restrained” version of the town’s hugely popular medieval fair. Over 30 local restaurants have also joined the event and will be including a “medieval dish” on their menu, which can be a snack, a dessert or a full meal. There will be entertainment every...
Amendoeira Golf Resort to host EGA European Championship
The Algarve’s stunning Amendoeira Golf Resort is to host the European Golf Associations (EGA) European Championship for Golfers with Disability on 21-24 August for the first time. The championship, which is in its 18th year, is approved by the EGA and run by the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA). It will see 80 players descend on Amendoeira’s sun-kissed O’Connor Jnr Course, ready to compete in a range of events, including...
The Iberian tour
This summer, 30 super sports cars toured Costa del Sol and the Algarve The leading sports car owners’ community in Europe, sponsored by Mercedes-AMG, celebrated its last tour of the season, touring the best of the Costa del Sol and the Algarve. An entire and exclusive day at the Portimão Circuit was the culmination of a tour “full of emotion and premium lifestyle”. The Iberian Tour focused on a small group of participants with a very...
Portimão outdoor exhibition explores history of arts, crafts and jobs
Saturday (July 24) will mark the opening of a photography exhibition showcasing the “history of the arts, crafts and professions of Portimão” at the town’s riverside square Praça Manuel Teixeira Gomes. The exhibition has been put together by the Grupo de Amigos do Museu de Portimão (Friends of Portimão Museum, or GAMP) with the support of the local council, the parish council and Portimão Museum It is the fifth outdoor exhibition...
Hexagone restaurant is back with a steakhouse concept
Since its opening 2013, Hexagone has strived continually to deliver delicious food, using only the freshest produce and carefully sourced ingredients. In 2021, the restaurant decided to adapt to changing times whilst maintaining their commitment to quality that guests had become accustomed to. And so, Hexagone Steakhouse was born. The new concept highlights top-quality meats, with a wide range of cuts, all cooked to tender, juicy...
Chef Hans Neuner receives third straight ‘Platinum Fork’ award
Chef Hans Neuner from the prestigious two-Michelin star restaurant Ocean at Vila Vita Parc Resort in Porches has been awarded a ‘Platinum Fork’ for the third year straight in Expresso’s ‘Boa Cama Boa Mesa’ restaurant-hotel guide. The resort also received a ‘Platinum Key’ in the hotel category of the awards. “This prize is recognition of the dedication and work of the whole team, which every day wants to perfect its knowledge about the...
Armação Beach Club is back this summer
The “laid back atmosphere” of Vila Vita Parc’s Armação Beach Club is back this summer with the reopening of Só Verão restaurant, now offering a totally revamped concept, and a series of themed ‘Sunsets’ between June 12 and August 28. The ‘Sunsets’ will take place in Praia Dourada’s beach lounge area on Saturdays from 5.30pm to 8.30pm. Says the resort, “these are sure to liven up long weekends in the summer with the vibrant sounds of...