Golden age for the Algarve in 2016!

Over the past decade the landscape of the overseas property market has changed vastly. After a turbulent 10 years it has finally found its feet and now is the time to look to the future.

It is no surprise to those of us living and working in the Algarve that the southern coast of Portugal is one such market which has overcome the difficult years to strongly bounce back and is now on the rise to a golden age of investment and a myriad property options.

http://www.menuportugal.com/#!property-investment-portugal/c1xg9

To the investor it offers strong rental yields, to the holiday home owner it gives a fantastic getaway from the grind of everyday life and to the relocating expat offers a lifestyle envied by many.

The Algarve is one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations due to the clean beaches, the cool, unpolluted water, its rich culture and diversity and the fact that it is relatively cheap, safe and overwhelmingly welcoming.

With English spoken throughout the region the Algarve is a top pick for retirees wanting a laid back lifestyle filled with sun and great food and wine. It is also a great choice for golfers and boat lovers.

Don’t let your dream of owning or investing in the Algarve slip away, make your enquiry with us now and let us open the door to a world of opportunities here in sunny Portugal!

Incredible how close THIS  is to an old European capital..  And how divine this Atlantic ocean coast area is.

Lisbon region is an amazing travel destination.

Portugal coastal villages amaze by its variety of landscapes, activities, views changing day and night. Different light, different tide - and a place appears different, more tranquil or more shiny!
These walks along the ocean.. These amazing ours of sunbathing and fun, or maybe just relaxing and meditating sitting on a rock, admiring a view, breathing this salty air.
This is definitely called perfect holydays

And let alone the regional gastronomy offers in here! Every area has it's own specialities, and every restaurant along Lisbon region (Cascais and Sintra areas) has got something really tasty to surprise you

Azenhas do Mar village is one perfect example
Even when the sun goes down and there is no more sunbathing - it is even better, now we can enjoy the views from the top of big rocks around it!

Then sit down at a family restaurant at the very bottom of the rock
And feel that life is perfect

Travel happily. Discover wonders of Portugal!

Beach paradise. Close to you. Portugal

Wish to feel this joy, this happiness, just enjoying yourself and this very moment..? Portugal beach paradise is what where you have got to be, that's right 
One of the most impressive and diverse ocean coast landscape in the world

And maybe it's good that not that many people are aware of it
Cause besides several famous spots there are hundreds of true gems, this hidden secret spots
Where you feel this pure bliss, tranquility and on top of the world
And nothing disturbs you
Only albatross accidentally screams too close to you. But it's rather cute!

The Atlantic Ocean coastline is immense and very diverse from region to region here, besides natural beauty and its variety it has all the best to offer for families and little kids, extreme sport lover, gourmands and great wine appreciators. And party goers too )

Get to discover it. 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

Algarve in Portugal - an idyllic year-round destination.

The Algarve, derived from the Arabic term ‘Al Gharb’ meaning ‘The West’, is situated in the extreme south of Portugal. The region is a delight to visit all year round with golden sandy beaches on the coast offering a haven for sun seekers whilst the sleepy hillside villages further inland offer peace and tranquillity for those looking to get away from the stresses and strains of everyday life.

Must See

Resorts including Albufeira, Armação de Pêra, Praia da Rocha, and Vilamoura, are among the Algarve's main holiday destinations. Offering an excellent selection of accommodation, beaches, entertainment and a variety of nightlife ranging from cabaret shows at casinos to lively discos and quaint, welcoming bars, it is no surprise that the Algarve has visitors coming back year after year.

The coastal city of Faro is the region’s capital. Faro stands out as an important commercial, artistic and ncultural centre. Often simply passed through by visitors as a gateway, the city in fact offers fascinating architecture as part of the region’s rich history.

Sagres, on the western coast was the place where Infante D. Henrique (Henry the Navigator) founded a school of navigation during the 15th century thus instigating a culture of maritime exploration. Moving east, Henry the Navigator also had a great influence in Lagos. Set in one of the largest bays in the Algarve, Lagos was once an important naval centre and is now an attractive, bustling town. Evidence of its important naval history is still visible today with a large statue of Henry the Navigator gazing out to sea situated in one of the town’s main squares

Despite being most famous for its sandy beaches, the inland villages of the Algarve offer visitors peace and quiet in its lush green hills. The cork and oak forests are a haven for nature lovers and provide the natural habitat for the Iberian Lynx, now an endangered species. Just as interesting are the Algarve mountains of Serra de Monchique where you can relax at the natural thermal spa of Termas de Monchique once described as ‘sacred’ by the Romans.

Tavira, situated on the edge of the Ria Formosa Nature Park, is a must-see for visitors to this area of the Algarve. This pretty town is abundant with historic churches and fine mansions as well as a plethora of excellent restaurants where you can sample delicious local seafood.

Once a rich and powerful city, today Silves is a sleepy town lying in the foothills of the Serra de Monchique mountains. Believed to have been founded by the Phoenicians, its cathedral and red sandstone castle remind visitors of its rich and industrious Moorish past, which came to an end after a three-month siege led by King Sancho I in 1189.

Silves boasts the best preserved castle in the Algarve. Built on the site of the 11th-century Palace of the Verandahs, its turreted walls dominate the town and provide panoramic views over the surrounding countryside. The town's 13th-century Gothic Cathedral, built on the site of a former mosque, contains a number of Crusader tombs and a jasper statue of Nossa Senhora da Conceição believed to date from the 14th century.

Vila Real de Santo António is 53 miles (85km) east of Faro and is neatly designed on a geometric grid system. Radiating out from the central square, the Praca Marquês de Pombal with its dramatic paved radial mosaic floor and central obelisk is edged with orange trees. The town is on the west bank of the River Guadiana. Back in the 17th century the original town was flooded by the sea, and was rebuilt by the Marquês de Pombal who had rebuilt Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake. The reconstruction was completed in just five months leaving a tidy town with streets lined by elegant 18th century townhouses, and a long esplanade along the riverbank where strollers can enjoy an impressive view. Visitors can take river tours inland along the Guadiana River from Vila Real de Santo António.

Wherever you opt on going, for sure you will discover really fascinating places and amazing gastronomy, and your experience in beautiful Algarve is just meant to be excellent.

by turismodoalgarve

Best places to be. In Algarve. Portugal.

The Algarve is one of the most beautiful regions of Portugal, featuring a cliff-lined coast of golden beaches and fantastic towns. Despite its reduced size, this region is very diverse and boasts a wide range of historic monuments and magnificent cathedrals. If you want to move to Portugal, buying or renting a property in the Algarve is an excellence choice. This part of the country is a paradise for those who love art and culture.

Here are top five best sights in the Algarve:

Caldas de Monchique

This spa town in the Algarve region is famous for its waters that have healing properties. The village is located in a narrow gorge with amazing rock cliffs. Its waters are hot at 32 degrees Celsius and contain fluorine and sodium. It is believed that these waters cure bone diseases and respiratory problems. Since it is located on the highest point in the Algarve, Caldas de Monchique is a wonderful escape.

Castelo

Castelo is located west of Albufeira, featuring a picturesque sandy beach surrounded by impressive cliffs and rock formations. This small town boasts a large number of shops and restaurants, as well as magnificent views of the region and surrounding countryside.

Zoomarine Theme Park

The Zoomarine Theme Park makes a great day for people of all ages. This popular attraction features various shows and presentations featuring a myriad of tropical birds, as well as dolphins, sea lions, and seals. Visitors can experience unique sensations while discovering the mysteries of marine life. This amusement park boats swimming pools, stores, restaurants, cinema 4D, rides, and various habitats.

Cabo de Sao Vicente

The Sacred Promotory or Cabo de Sao Vicente is Europe's most south-western corner. It consists if a steep cliff of approximately 69 meters with very little vegetation. If you live in the Algarve, you can visit this place to clear your mind and relax while watching the sea. The cliffs were once known as "El Fin de Mundo" (the end of the world). There is also an impressive lighthouse that provides guiding to ships passing the caps.

Old Town, Albufeira

The Old Town in Albufeira still delights travelers looking for the real Portugal. The old time is a step away from the commercial part of the city. There is a lovely sandy beach where visitors can watch locals making sand sculptures. You can also take lunch or dinner one of the traditional restaurants in area, go to the local gipsy market, and walk along the beach to the new marina.

Life in Portugal is not only quiet and relaxing, but full of joy and tradition. If you want to move to the Algarve, you will discover a different culture and unique customs. The best sights in this region reflect its long and tumultuous history

by ezinearticles.com

Tavira Island, Portugal. Museum on a beach.

Rust In Peace: Portugal’s Eerie Anchor Graveyard

Tavira Island (Ilha de Tavira) hugs southern Portugal's scenic Algarve shoreline, it's long and slender dimensions hugging the coast for 6.85 miles (11km). Park of the Ria Formosa nature reserve, Tavira Island boasts some of the Algarve's best beaches.

Take a few steps back from the beach – not too many, as the island is only 500 ft to 3,300 ft (150 m to 1 km) wide – and you’ll find a curious sight among the shifting sand dunes: a graveyard of anchors.
Interestingly, the upturned tips of the half-buried anchors strikingly resemble some of the standing sea stacks characteristic of the Algarve coast.
The Cemitério das Âncoras, as it’s known in Portuguese, is an odd and unexpected assemblage of several hundred iron anchors. Gnarled and rusted from years of use and even more years of disuse, the anchors are positioned on their sides with one hook looping into the air and the other driven into the island’s moist, welcoming soil.

Anchor Species

There is no exclusionary fence at the Anchor Graveyard, no sign or signal as to who made it and for what purpose. What little we know, we have learned from the remaining descendants of the people who, for many generations, exploited the formerly abundant bluefin tuna that once plied the wild waves just offshore.
The rough and unpredictable waters where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean called for a unique tuna-fishing technique invented long ago, perhaps by the ancient Phoenicians who first explored and colonized the area before the Romans built an Empire.

The anchors might look like those used to hold small ships steady but they weren’t used for that purpose. Instead, Portugal’s traditional tuna fishermen used them to hold their huge funnel nets (“armações de atum”) in place against both the force of the sea and the exertions of massive, trapped bluefin tuna.

by weburbanist.com

Porto Covo beach - Sines. Fascinating. Captures immediately.

Porto Covo beach - Sines

Porto. Portugal. Perfect break.

by Paul Clements @DT Travel 

Why go?

For an autumn sun break in a relaxed, artful city that, unlike other supposed capitals of cool, prefers not to show off. With its dramatically hilly location on the Atlantic coast, Portugal's second city – best known as the historic home of port wine – and much more in fact! - has plenty it could shout about, not least an amazing old town with characterful winding streets, tiled churches and World Heritage-protected status.

The Ribeira neighbourhood, with its down-at-heel quayside and authentic street-life vibe, acts as the city's main magnet. While there are no major, must-see landmarks, Porto is still a great place to burn shoe leather: the mighty Douro river offers long, peaceful walks to miles of sandy beaches, while its steep banks, dotted with shady parks and panoramic viewing posts, will appeal to the urban rambler.

And with daytime temperatures still in the sunny +25C!

Spend the morning…

Ticking off the sights in the old town, whose buildings ­date from the middle ages, many of which are decorated with azulejos, typical blue and white tiling. To get your bearings, climb the Torre dos Clérigos, an 18th-century bell tower with 225 steps. Take a tour of the austere Sé Cathedral, where long-standing Anglo-Portuguese relations were forged in 1386, when João I of Portugal married Philippa of Lancaster. With a gothic apse and rose window, the hillside church of St Francis (igreja de São Francisco) is also worth
the schlep.

More secular delights include the vibrant Bolhão market, and the São Bento train station, whose vestibule is decorated with 20,000 painted tiles depicting scenes from Portuguese history.

Spend the afternoon…

Messing about on – or along – the river. Traditional barcos rabelosshuttle tourists along the Douro from the Ribeira quayside. Better still, head for the beaches in Foz and Matosinhos on foot along the sun-drenched esplanade, or hitch a ride on the rickety historic tram from outside the Museu do Carro Eléctrico (museu-carro-electrico.stcp.pt),which terminates at the start of the praias.

Art lovers might prefer to explore the Fundação de Serralves (Rua Dom João de Castro 210, www.serralves.pt), an Art Deco complex set in magnificent grounds, which exhibits the works of contemporary Portuguese painters, designers and sculptors.

Spend the evening…

People-watching on the Ribeira quayside, where barflies are attracted to water's-edge café tables by the promise of picturesque sundowners. Sup an ice-cold Super Bock as the billboards of the ancient port lodges across the river flick into life, a nightly event that's more beguiling than perhaps it sounds.

For proper live entertainment, try the Casa de Música (Avenida da Boavista 604-610, 00351 220 120 220, www.casadamusica.com), a wonky concrete Rubik's Cube of a concert hall designed by Dutch "starchitect" Rem Koolhaas. Besides the roster of performances by visiting world orchestras, fado singers and rock stars there's an impressive seventh-floor restaurant and roof terrace.

Enjoy and take the best of it!)