Portugal. Haute – cuisine paradise.

Delicious news.
Portugal Restaurant Week has officially started, meaning there is an opportunity to indulge in tasting Chef created menus only for €20 in top rated gourmet restaurants!

For the first time, the Restaurant Week is happening in the entire country.
From 14 to 24 March, 151 restaurants in 14 districts offer these unique opportunity
Lisbon, Porto, Cascais and Loulé are the most famous for their own Restaurant Weeks, and now participating in this global party, big celebration of national gem, gastronomic traditions!

And now its the districts of Aveiro, Braga, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisbon, Oporto, Setúbal, Vila Real, Viseu and many more that are competing to be most delightful gourmet traveller destination

Each participant is a star indeed.. Difficult to choose the Best. And desire is actually to taste as much as possible!

Now. Book the tables!

Enjoy. Only in Portugal

Travel. Romance. Magnificent Costa Alentejana area of Portugal

The sun is our greatest asset. On the Costa Alentejana, summer can stretch from March until November. From Alcácer do Sal to Odemira, there are miles of beaches to discover. From the extensive beaches in the north to the little coves hidden among the cliffs in the south, a calm and secret ocean awaits you. No traffic, no crowds.

Located in Southwest Portugal, the Costa Alentejana is a region of unique characteristics, accessed in a few hours from any major European airport. Few destinations in the world combine, in such harmony, development and tradition with comfort and nature, an itinerary of sporting, cultural and leisure activities with the tranquillity of a natural and built landscape that invites tranquillity, romance and relaxation.

This whole scene of natural life can be covered in romantic walks on foot, horseback, boat, or along the graceful roads that cut through the landscape. Because time is on our side and a single moment, if well spent, can last a lifetime.

Beaches are just one of many features of the Costa Alentejana. Throughout the region you will find incredible, unspoiled landscape, natural lakes, reservoirs and places where you could be forgiven for thinking that the sun was setting just for you.

Celebrating unique moments

The Costa Alentejana is romantic. It is a destination of choice for those who love beauty, nature, life and love, above all, for those who want to share this with someone. For a vacation away from the daily routine that distracts us from what is truly important or just to celebrate a special event, here you will find numerous hotels, pousadas, restaurants and bars waiting to be discovered by two. Many experiences only make sense lived side by side.

Hotels overlooking the sea, pousadas built between silence and the landscape, rural tourism accommodation in the heart of nature. The Costa Alentejana is a map of charming places for every romance. Modern and elegant, natural and discreet, elegant and sincere.

Life should be celebrated at the table, with a cuisine refined over centuries and accompanied with exceptional wines. From cosy typical restaurants to areas of the latest design, you’re in good company, with the surf breaking on the sand and the sky sprinkled with stars.

After toasting to the present and the future, come and discover the past.

The castles, churches, museums and ruins that remind us, that long ago, the Roman Empire arrived here, at the gates to the Atlantic. And lose yourself in fairs, festivals and processions.

You can dance the whole year to the tune of local songs or wait for the big summer festivals, when the Costa Alentejana becomes the world capital of music.

Love needs time and space. And time and space are precisely what the Costa Alentejana specializes in. Time and space to leave the world behind for a while. Time and space to break the routine and be free. Time and space for romance. Time and space to rediscover each other and celebrate.

by CostaAlentejana

Enjoying life in Algarve, Portugal - great fun, festivals and events!

In February each year there is a carnival being celebrated in most parts of the Algarve, but none has such a deeply rooted tradition as the Loulé Carnival.

The city fills up with colour as visitors and locals gather to watch the vibrant parade. This procession of colourful floats with over-sized puppets, samba groups and lots of music is a huge festivity in the region.

For five days, the Med Festival brings life and excitement to the streets of Loulé’s historic centre at the beginning of the summer (June). World music originating from Morocco and various southern European countries such as Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal as well as other forms of art, including handicraft exhibitions, dance performances and street theatre will keep any visitor enthralled.

A paradise for seafood lovers, the annual Festival do Marisco is held in August each year in the Jardim do Pescador Olhanense in the town of Olhão just five kilometres east of Faro and the gateway to the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

One of the most important gastronomic events in the Algarve calendar, the Festival do Marisco, is an opportunity for local fishermen to proudly display their catch on one of the hundreds of stalls that line the fishing port. Offering visitors the chance to sample some of the local delicacies, a wide range of seafood is available ranging from grilled sardines to fried shrimps and of course the traditional cataplana, a much-loved Portuguese dish. Music and folk dancing accompany the festival with performers encouraging both locals and visitors to eat, drink and enjoy the superb atmosphere.

At the end of August, Castro Marim and Silves return to the Middle Ages in a historical re-enactment.

During four days and nights the castle of Castro Marim once again plays host to kings and queens, knights in shining armour, jesters, buffoons, noblemen and ladies as the entire court takes part in a procession.

Jousting tournaments – on foot and on horseback – street theatre performances, banquets accompanied by medieval music and a handicrafts and merchandise fair complement the entertainment enabling visitors to relive the magic and mystery of times gone by.

by turismoportugal

Gastronomic delights of Alentejo region, Portugal.

Various gastronomic events bring to the daily life of appreciators coming from all over the most characteristic elements in Alentejan cooking, in large part fruit of the imagination which poor country people have applied to the business of providing food.

To mention first the most essential element, bread. Present at every meal, it is baked in a wood oven and has a dense texture. It is central to migas (bread puree, often accompanying pork and soaked in the pork liqueur), açordas (dishes and main-course soups with a bread base), ensopados (stews with a bread base) and fatias douradas (slices of bread rolled in milk and fried in eggs whisked with sugar).

The variety of savoury titbits to accompany a drink, savouring of the seasons and the toil of the fields. Aromatic herbs fill the air around the houses and escape from the cooking pot: coriander, pennyroyal, oregano, parsley, thyme and rosemary. Thanks to them, the palate experiences a melange of delightful sensations, the result of what was a desire, in bygone days, to relieve the tedium of poverty or simply a means of preserving fresh food.

Add a drizzle of pure, virgin olive oil, which accompanies most things perfectly. Alentejan cheeses and wines have consolidated their fame as excellent starters and even better desserts.

Their variety and quality pleasantly surprise those who go looking for them. Denomination of origin has had a notable effect in the diversification of artisanal produce.

The wines have been typified in this way since the 80’s: the average quality improved instantly and meant that each one could be easily recognised according to vineyard and location. The reserve wines from some of the most highly regarded labels, and therefore of limited production, go to better quality restaurants or are exported, so it is a good idea to seek them out in the finer hotels, so as to sample these exquisite nectars that do not reach the public at large. At the same time, the programme Rota dos Vinhos do Alentej (wine route of the Alentejo) has opened wineries to visitors, so that they may taste the wine at the vineyard of the actual producer.

Cured meats are another regional speciality – highly specialised, to tell the truth, due to the fine nuances in the skill that creates them, as well as the variety in seasoning. The person doing the smoking undoubtedly affects the outcome. It is a job requiring patience, and it is plodding work and should not be done in haste.

Fresh from the ocean, fish arrive at the auction and disappear in boxes. Nowadays, the freshness of catches is guaranteed by modern cold storage techniques, even in the hot interior. But tradition still dictates caldeirada (fish stew) on the coast, dog-fish and river fish inland, and eels and marinated sardines everywhere. Is it time for lunch yet?

At the end of any afternoon establishments selling beer and seafood bring all sorts of connoisseurs together.

Goose barnacles, prawns and crabs are so linked to the leisure time of a group of friends, just like love is to a romantic encounter, that it is hours before they wend their way homewards.

Pork, lamb and beef, all from livestock reared in open spaces and not fed at a stable trough. The meat has an intense, natural flavour! These are beasts which know nothing of fixed rations but which

graze during all seasons at any time of the day or night, wandering in the meadows.

And for those who appreciate wild boar, hare, partridge and wood pigeon, they can sample from fine menus, when the season is favourable, some of the famous delicacies from the montado (cork woodland combined with pasture).

Eggs, sugar or honey, almonds, pine nuts, gourd, all turned into miraculous recipes in convents, cooked with great patience and some secret ingredients, continue to afford moments of unequal pleasure, in equal measure in the shape of cakes and puddings.

Meals go on forever. At times, one seems to merge into the next one, if the conversation and company are good. Time becomes intoxicated, the senses languid, satisfied.

by turismoportugal

Alentejo. Portugal. Roman history

In the Alentejo, you travel naturally with and to History. The abundance and the quality of the Heritage which it expresses become easy for you to discover but, if you are visiting the Region for the first time, you could be spoiled for choice. If this is the case, don’t hesitate: opt for our suggestions and you will discover that the magic of the Alentejo is to be found, with endless pleasure, everywhere.

Miróbriga was inhabited from at least the Iron Age until the 4th century AD and experienced its major development during the Roman period. In the highest part, the forum was built, in the centre of which the two temples are visible, eventually dedicated to the Imperial cult and to the cult of Venus. In one of the best-conserved parts of the complex, the baths are of particular note. Away from the centre is found the hippodrome, the only one of its kind known in Portugal. There is an information centre and a shop. Guided visits are available, with prior booking, for groups (minimum 5). There is an entrance charge.

The Roman period in the Alentejo began in the 2nd century BC and lasted until the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century. From these times, and from their influence on later periods, there remain many memories: mining and agricultural exploitation carried out on great estates crowned by luxurious and richly decorated houses (the Roman villas); ceramics industries, salt mines, fish-salting and ship-building; fortresses, temples, bridges, paved roads and pathways, sanctuaries, theatres, dams, aqueducts; municipalities as the basis for the structure of local administration. And there remains with us, obviously, Latin as the mother tongue of the Portuguese.

The remains of this period can be visited in and from urban centres. Take a note and make these sites part of your itinerary.

On the Marvão – Alter do Chão – Monforte axis you should see the Civitas de Ammaia (S. Salvador de Aramenha, Marvão); the ponte (bridge) de Vila Formosa (road between Alter do Chão and Ponte de Sor); the villa at Torre de Palma (road between Monforte and Cabeço de Vide); and the Núcleo Museológico of the Igreja (church) da Madalena (Monforte).

In Évora, the Roman-Goth-Arab walls, the Roman temple, the Termas (baths) in the Paços do Concelho (Town Hall), the Arco(arch) de D. Isabel and the Casa de Burgos, all in the historical centre; outside the city, the Termas of the Roman Villa of Tourega (road from Évora to Alcaçovas).

Between Alvito, Vidigueira, Cuba and Beja, the bridge at Vila Ruiva (road between Vila Ruiva nd Albergaria dos Fusos) and the Roman villa of Cucufate and Casa do Arco (Vila de Frades).

In Beja, the Portas (gates) de Évora e de Avis the gigantic capitals next to the Regional Museum and the Núcleo Museológico Romano da Rua do Sembrano, where you will also find important vestiges of the Iron Age.Between Beja, Castro Verde and Mértola, the Roman villa of Pisões (road from Beja to Aljustrel, next to Penedo Gordo); the Museu da Lucerna (museum of Roman lamps) (Castro Verde); and the Núcleo Museológico Romano (Mértola).

On the coast, the Estação Arqueológica de Miróbriga (Santiago do Cacém) and the Cripta (crypt) Arqueológica do Castelo (Alcácer do Sal), situated under the former Aracoeli convent, today the Pousada D. Afonso II, where you can see ruins of dwellings from the Iron Age, the Roman and the Arab periods as well as an important Roman sanctuary dating from the 2nd Century AD.

   by visitalentejo.pt

Azulejo. Art of Portugues tiles making.

In Portugal, tiles (azulejos) reminiscent of the influence of the Moors during the Middle Ages were - and still are - used here to a far greater extent than in most other European countries. Throughout Portugal, in streets, on façades and inside buildings, there are tiles that represent the different styles and languages of times past and present and fill any visit to the country with colour.

Originating from the Arabic term al-zuleique meaning “small, smooth and polished stone”, the production of tiles in Portugal on a national scale began at the end of the 15th century.

However, it was not until the 18^th century that tiles began to “invade” churches, palaces, houses, gardens, fountains and staircases. Based on geometric patterns and telling the life story of saints or using secular themes such as the fables of La Fontaine, sometimes using captions like an early type of cartoon, tiles became the main feature of Portuguese decoration.

Following a notable resurgence in popularity in the second half of the 20th century, tiles are now prominent again in public art, and it is a must to visit the Lisboa underground stations where works by great Portuguese artists such as Vieira da Silva or Júlio Pomar are on permanent display.

Situated in the convent of the Madre de Deus Church in Lisboa, the National Tile Museum houses a magnificent collection of tiles, of which the outstanding feature is a priceless blue and white mural depicting a panoramic view of the city of Lisboa before the earthquake in 1755. Here, it is possible to see the historical, technical and artistic development of the tile in Portugal, from the 15th century until the present time.

by visitportugal

Great cultural interaction. Portugal as a centre of world knowledge and traditions.

At the time of taking its first steps as a nation, Portugal was already a place where different cultures – Christian, Muslim and Jewish - lived peacefully together. But it was the contact with different civilisations throughout the 15th and 16th centuries that made Portugal a living example of the crossover of Portuguese and European inspiration with the customs and artistic heritage of other continents.

This exoticism can still be seen today, both when passing through the streets of cities such as Lisboa and in museum collections. It is reflected in African artefacts made of wood and ivory, in Indo-Portuguese furniture, in Chinese porcelain decorated according to European taste, as well as in the famous Japanese Nambam screens, depicting the arrival of the Portuguese and their customs in Japan.

In turn, the Portuguese came back to Europe with new ideas and sciences, flavours, knowledge, precious stones and exotic timber. These exchanges of foreign products that were hitherto unknown stimulated scientific knowledge and the creation and purchase of specific masterpieces, from paintings to jewellery.

This cross-fertilization of inspiration and tastes has bequeathed an atmosphere of rare charm in Portugal that can nowadays be sampled both in the nature of the people and their gastronomy.

The Portuguese distinguish themselves from other nationalities by their tolerance and openness towards other cultures and by their diligence in understanding and trying to speak the languages of visitors. In Portuguese cuisine, pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon are just some of the many spices that enhance the flavours of the dishes, as well as other products that used to be considered exotic in the past, but which having been introduced and made familiar by the Portuguese, have become as indispensable as corn, tomatoes, rice and tea.

by turismodeportugal

Lisbon is one of 10 best places in the world to drink coffee. Discover! Enjoy..

People get seriously poetic about coffee in Lisbon. It's a must to taste!  
The irresistible combination of a storied cafe culture and a fantastic cup of coffee can do that to a person. Pour yourself into the experience by heading to a cafe, settling in for a leisurely sit, and ordering abica. 
The revered shot of black coffee is longer than an espresso and usually features beans roasted with a traditional low-and-slow technique that yields the drink's signature flavour.

Try: Cafe A Brasileira, the cafe at Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara, or any neighborhood pasteleria that strikes your fancy.

by usatoday.com

Postcard from Portugal

by Kitty Meredith  @Architectureweek

Portugal was a big surprise to me. I'd read up on the country's history and culture before leaving on my trip. But nowhere in my reading was there a hint that Portugal is home to architectural traditions that I have found nowhere else in my travels.
Unusual decorative touches are present on many private residences and public buildings. Most of these, such as tile mosaics, or bands of colour (usually blue to ward off the "evil eye") across the front of the house or around the windows, are vestiges of a Moorish past.
The Portuguese don't simply lay down concrete for sidewalks. Every sidewalk and plaza is composed of small stones or marble chips, often set in decorative patterns that enhance and coordinate with the surrounding buildings. This is apparent not only in major cities, but in smaller towns, villages, and suburbs.

The most unusual touches, though, are decorative finials on the roofs of private residences. They are usually 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 cm) tall and are often simple spirals, two or more to a rooftop. Others lend an oriental flavour, positioned on the tip ends of slightly upturned roof edges. In the Algarve region, large rectangular chimneys appear as decorative touches, usually two to a roof when only one has a practical purpose.

Pena National Palace, Portugal. Incredible. Inspiring.

Pena National Palace, Portugal -- Travel 365 -- National Geographic

Evora, Portugal. Cultural city guide

by  Stephanie Plentl @ DT Travel

Essential cultural guide to a city whose walls conceal unique culinary and architectural treats.

Rising from the plains of Portugal's Alto Alentejo region, the tiny walled city of Évora has tremendous enduring appeal, having been consecutively settled by the Celts, Romans, Visigoths and Moors, before the Portuguese eventually wrested control. Its Roman ruins – temple, baths, walls – sit among glorious churches, convents and the former palaces of Portuguese kings.

Strolling under aqueduct archways, through immaculate, labyrinthine cobbled streets flanked by ornately tiled homes with Lilliputian doors, is to be assailed by reminders of a succession of once-great cultures. I first visited the city as a university student with a clutch of friends 12 years ago. We rollicked through Évora's cultural hit list – the imposing portal of the medieval cathedral; the vividly Roman, Corinthian-columned temple; and the macabre, yet strangely unmoving, Chapel of Bones.

Subsequent trips revealed so much more: you can clamber – rather precariously – over the roof of the cathedral for the best view of the landscape beyond the fortified walls; venture inside the Town Hall and you'll find excavated Roman baths; or follow the splendid 16th-century aqueduct that marches into the city along Rua do Cano and you'll see houses and shops cleverly built into its archways.

Ironically, it's Évora's own university that now thrills me most. Opened in 1559 and run by the Jesuits before they were evicted by the Marquês de Pombal in 1759, its elaborate classrooms look onto a serene courtyard with a central fountain (all graduating students symbolically bathe here to pass their knowledge onto freshers).

Feel free to walk through its marble cloisters, look in on classrooms with teaching pulpits and 18th-century blue-and-white azulejos (tiles, painted here to reflect the academic subjects) and don't miss the chapel's tapestry and the stunning painted ceiling of the library. The students are unfazed by visitors.

With little shopping on offer in Évora, the focus is on the many small restaurants serving Alentejan cuisine. As a former vegetarian, I once suffered opposite a university friend who devoured a gelatinous pig's foot with gusto.

Now a confirmed carnivore, I find Évora's rich and rural food a terrific adventure, particularly when faced with an untranslated or set menu (maybe not so much the "pig's privates" I saw advertised this year, but certainly the black pork, porco preto, and oxtail stew, rabo de boi estufado).

Évora is the birthplace of several sweet delicacies (to add to the hefty collection of Portuguese desserts) that were invented in convents here during the 16th century. Each convent has its signature sweet dish: the almond-infused pão de rala from the nuns of Santa Helena do Calvário is the local favourite; the encharcada do Santa Clara is sticky and yolky, with a stupendous cake to egg ratio. Across town, you're likely to see three generations of women propping up a pastelaria bar, enjoying coffee, cake and conversation.

Flat-capped, wizened-faced old gentlemen gather on corners outside, to smoke and stare as students and visitors pass by.

DID YOU KNOW?

Evora's Chapel of Bones contains 5,000 skeletons from the city's medieval cemeteries