Financial Times says Portugal Porto is one of the best cities for foreign investment.

The research “European Cities and Regions of the Future 2014/15” published in the magazine FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in the British daily Financial Times, places Porto as the third in the list of the 10 most attractive cities of Southern Europe for foreign investment .

In a press release sent to the press, the Porto City Council states that, “for compiling the list, the British newspaper used economic indicators such as the creation of new spaces and infrastructure, better maintenance of the connection of the city, promoting an attractive economic environment and maintaining a high quality of life in the city. “

“It were equally valued incentives for new enterprises, the existence of a highly educated population and the international promotion of the city“, explains the municipality.

The Spanish city of Barcelona came in 1st place in the same ranking and Lisbon 2.º.

In the same study, Porto is referenced in a second ranking. 

The northern city was “in 5th place among medium-sized cities across Europe with better strategy for foreign direct investment.”

This second ranking is lead by the British cities of Edinburgh and Liverpool and the French city Lyon.

The study “European Cities and Regions of the Future 2014/2015” is published two times ayear by the Financial Times.

font: Financial Times

Algarve. Portugal Golden age centre.

Discover the broad sweep of the rich cultural and historical legacy, bestowed upon the region by civilizations such as the Moors and the Romans. Such memories can be traced through the monuments, traditions, architecture and, of course, all the habits and customs of the people of the Algarve, with their well-deserved reputation for warm welcomes and fine hospitality.

The golden age of the Portuguese Discovery Voyages placed the Algarve at the centre of some key events in those great adventures that opened up new worlds to the West. 

Setting sail from Lagos and Sagres were the caravels of Prince Henry the Navigator and explorers such as Gil Eanes, a renowned Algarvian honored for his daring feats.

With its landscape enriched by such history, the Algarve has progressed in modern times, subtly preserving this fine blend of different forms of knowledge and culture.

Influenced by a diverse range of cultures, the Algarve has blended the habits of its people with the customs imported from many far off destinations. Such an approach has resulted in the rich Algarve art and handicraft. The studios and workshops of artists and craftsmen produce the wide variety of articles that you will find on display in craft shops across the region. They feature all the truly impressive regional range of articles made of copper, wrought iron, wood, cork, ceramic, tile and clay, in addition to all the basketwork, delightful examples of bone lace, coverlets, and rag or jute dolls – the famous Martinlongo dolls.

In architecture, the lacework-patterned chimneys, fascias and roof terraces serve as testimony to the heritage of popular artistic styles.

Music and dancing merge in local folklore traditions and express all that is most authentic in Algarve culture. The ‘baile mandado’ with its spoken steps, the twirling ‘baile de roda’ and the contagious pace of the ‘corridinho’ are some of the most popular dances in the Algarve, enjoyed by both local people and visitors alike.

Festivals and religious celebrations are public expressions of the bonds that still bind modern Algarve to its roots. Throughout the region, ancient traditions are still celebrated in recognition of the fruits of both the land and the sea. The Fisherman’s Festival in Albufeira, with its century-old traditional games, is an event held in honor of the men that sail out from these shores. 

The Seafood Festival in Olhão and the Sardine Festival in Portimão are two of the leading gastronomic events that further evoke the ties with the sea and the longstanding fishing traditions of the Algarve people.

The Mãe Soberana (Sovereign Mother) Festival in Loulé and the Hallelujah Festival – including the procession of Flowered Torches – in São Brás de Alportel are two of the largest religious festivals in the Algarve and fill the streets with processions and religious music.

The Nights of the Enchanted Moorish Maiden in Cacela Velha, the Mediaeval Days in Castro Marim and the 16th-century Fair held in Lagos recreate scenes and events from times long gone.

Discover! Enjoy.

 by visitportugal 

Cultural Heritage of Old Europe - discover in Portugal! Barocco style masterpieces.

Portugal developed unprecedented versions of Baroque style in the world of art – in the fields of azulejo tiles and carved gilded wood. Azulejo tiles – an extremely rich iconographic culture that runs alongside the tradition of great canvas painting – focused primarily on religious themes: the history of the lives of the Saints and cy cles dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the Life of Christ. The main profane themes focused on mythology and fables, in particular the fables of La Fontaine, explored in azulejo tiles such as those in the Church of S. Vicente de Fora, and also linked to programmes imposed by commissioners in the domestic space of their gardens and palaces.

Ornamentation and compositional formats, introduction of “gallant scenes”, “hunting scenes”, more or less stereotypical landscapes, sometimes exotic, originated autonomous motifs with countless variations such as the so-called “invitation figures” (figures de convite) - life-sized representations of people adopting gestures of etiquette, as they receive visitors, located at room entrances or staircase landings. This deceptive naturalism and apparent ingenuity, established azulejo work as one of the most characteristic Portuguese styles.

The reign of D. João V was marked by implementation of a utopia in the world of art, whose initial seeds had been sown in 17th century politics. This was the only explanation behind major ventures such as the Royal Convent of Mafra, one of the largest palatial and monastic buildings in Europe. The characteristic elements of Portuguese Baroque - carved gilded wood and ornamentation of churches with azulejo tiles – directly descended from this desire to create a “golden age”. It also derived from a very real access to gold, imported from Brazil.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, carved gilded wood transformed church interiors, which often had unique layouts, thus conferring them with luminosity and spatial energy. A classic example is the Library of the University of Coimbra, whose interior was transformed through the use of carved gilded wood. A wide array of altar-pieces were installed in all styles of Portuguese churches throughout the 17th century. Derived from mannerist altars and altar-pieces - stable, firm and of classic taste - the Portuguese style altar-piece ended up by replacing slower, heavier and expensive models, executed in stone by Italian Baroque sculptors.

However, the  Portuguese style should not be viewed as a poorer or imitative version of its predecessors. On the contrary, it included original motifs and was based on unique compositions. The splendour of the gilding, the greater or lesser depths of the hand carved ornamental motifs, constitute the backdrop for the key architectural elements: the arches and door-jambs – thick, repeated, staggered in depth; tribunes constituted by several steps, raising up to great height in a curious play of different scales and monumental display; the throne, upon which the statue of the patron saint was placed; Solomonic columns, decorated with vines and small angels.

In the same manner, the Enlightenment spirit fostered by the Marquis of Pombal during the reign of D. José (1750-1777), formed part of a broader Baroque strategy, especially if one considers his urban-planning proposals. 

The key impulse behind this avant-garde movement was the unprecedented catastrophe, whose impact was felt throughout the world – the brutal 1755 earthquake that devastated Lisbon. Some commentators viewed the Earthquake as a sign of the end of the world. For others, however, it was an opportunity to secularise a society that was atavistically entrenched in profound religiosity.

Discover this great world heritage and see it in real life in Portugal! 

by visitportugal 

Algarve. Great cultural heritage.

Visiting the Algarve is not just an opportunity to enjoy the magnificent beaches and delicious cuisine; it is also a chance to discover a rich cultural heritage handed down over many centuries of history.

Occupied since pre-historic times, the municipality of Aljezur enjoyed a period of great prosperity during the five centuries of Islamic occupation. Indeed, the town of Aljezur was founded by the Arabs in the 10^th century, and they built the imposing castle that can still be visited today.

In 1249, D. Paio Peres Correia won the town back from the Moors. In 1280, King Dinis granted Aljezur its charter and in 1504 it was awarded a new charter by King Manuel I.

After a period of prosperity which coincided with the maritime Discoveries and the town sending its agricultural produce to Lagos, Aljezur faced hard times, later exacerbated by the 1755 earthquake. The earthquake destroyed most of the town and left the main church in complete ruins. The intervention of the then Bishop of the Algarve, D. Francisco Gomes do Avelar, was needed to build this church and set in motion the construction of a new urban centre.

Aljezur Castle

An Arab military building dating from the 10^th century, located on the top of a hill. It has a long stretch of wall with two towers, and on the inside a vaulted cistern of Arab origin, as well as the remains of houses and barracks. Aljezur Castle was taken by the Christians in the 13th century and fulfilled an important defensive role until the 18th century.

Visitors can enjoy a wonderful view from here.

Bordeira Main Church

An 18th century church, it has a longitudinal floor plan with a single nave and a chancel with a carved gilt triumphal arch in front.

The main features are the altarpiece in the chancel and the two side altarpieces in the Baroque style, where some high quality statues can be seen. Examples are the

statues of Nossa Senhora da Encarnação (Our Lady of the Incarnation) and Nossa Senhora do Rosário (Our Lady of the Rosary)(18^th century), of Santo António (St Anthony) and São Francisco (St Francis)(17th century) and of São Sebastião (St Sebastian)(16th century).

There is more than a thousand impressive monuments and historical sites in the region. They will definitely be mentioned in the next series of articles. Explore and enjoy! And happy travelling.

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