Colourful Algarve
Lagoa artist unveils mural showcasing Algarve life in vibrant shades A white wall near Lagoa’s Auchan supermarket has been transformed into a head-turning work of art by local artist and art teacher Ana Nobre, who has filled it with colourful illustrations of some of Algarve’s most iconic sceneries. From a surfer enjoying the Algarve’s waves to a couple dancing under the region’s starry sky, the mural showcases all the “wonderful...
2020 vision
Bespoke architecture, where dreams come true At the age of four, a young John Wilson came to live in Portugal with his Scottish father and Portuguese mother. He fit in immediately and adored the freedom and lifestyle here. Now, 40 years on, we meet with the local Architect and owner of Bespoke to find out a bit more about him and his practice. In a bright, open-plan office at the end of Rua do Barranco, you’ll find a young team of...
Algarve’s F1 dreams come true
Portimão’s Algarve International Racetrack has been officially confirmed as the venue for the F1 Heineken Grand Prix Portugal between October 23 and 25 – July 30, 2020 The confirmation has been widely celebrated as the kind of good news the region has been desperately waiting to hear. Portimão Mayor Isilda Gomes said at a press conference to officially announce the long-awaited return of Formula 1 racing to Portugal after a 24-year...
Familiar flavours at La Dolce Vita
A gourmet ice-cream brand sold exclusively in the Algarve makes use of a Portugues staple: Medronho Born in Italy, Roberto Balzer moved to the Algarve 30 years ago with the idea of creating his own brand: La Dolce Vita. He started with pizza and pasta restaurants, in 1987, and in 2014, his dream of making artisanal ice cream using his own recipes finally came to life. Located in Praia da Rocha, Portimão, the frozen treats factory can...
New faces at Lady in Red gallery
The Lagoa gallery introduces some of its new artists When you pass the Adega Cooperativa de Lagoa, you could easily not realise that there’s a fascinating art gallery housed inside the working wine co-op. The space is vast, with an industrial-urban vibe that would be more common in a big city than opposite the bus station in Lagoa. The Lady in Red (LiR) gallery hosts a fabulous range of local, national and international artists, all...
Outdoor cultural events start this month in Lagoa
A series of outdoor events entitled “A Cultura Sai à Rua” (Culture Out in the Street) has been launched by Lagoa council and will last until September 5, “following all health authority (DGS) recommendations”. On July 23, there will be jazz music by Mistura Fina at Fontes de Estombar; on July 24, Mónica Pereira and Fad’nu will perform a dance and music show outside Lagoa’s main church; and on July 28, Carlos Guilherme (tenor) will...
Birdwatching festival returns to Sagres in October
The Sagres Birdwatching Festival, described as “Portugal’s largest nature event”, is returning to the Western Algarve between October 2 and 5. It has become an unmissable event for birdwatchers and nature lovers alike, who every year travel to Sagres to participate in the many birdwatching activities, boat trips and hikes. This year, the event will feature online activities for the first time, allowing people from all over the world...
Grand Prix finally confirmed for Algarve
Almost a month since A Bola sports newspaper broke the story that Portimão’s Algarve International Autodrome (AIA) would be hosting the first Formula One races in decades, the news has been ‘confirmed’, says the paper, with the 26th Portuguese Grand Prix set for October 4. An official announcement “will be made very soon”. Say reports, Portugal ‘won through’ after races were cancelled in Montreal, Canada, due to the pandemic. The last...
Music returns to Carvoeiro!
As the world continues to adapt to a ‘new normal’, the Lagoa-Carvoeiro parish union has announced a summer entertainment programme that will see local musicians, bands and DJs performing on “a mobile stage set up on a trailer”. These ‘mobile concerts’, which aim to avoid large gatherings, began on July 11 and will run until August 30, both in Carvoeiro and Lagoa. “The goal is to spread joy among the population, stimulate the local...
Ocean restaurant’s new menu celebrates Portuguese cuisine
Vila Vita Parc’s two-Michelin-star Ocean restaurant reopened on July 1 with a new menu that celebrates “typical Portuguese flavours, ingredients and recipes from all over the country” and highlights the “diverse richness of the Portuguese gastronomy.” Says the resort, the new menu will take diners on a “gastronomic journey through Portugal, discovering a colourful array of regional and national dishes”. It features seven dishes, each...
