Read today's Portuguese stories delivered to your email will install 20 surveillance cameras in seven locations in the city in an investment that should amount to 300 thousand euros The installation of the video surveillance system “should be operational by the end of the year” estimating that the project represents an investment “between 200 and 300 thousand euros” provides for the installation of 20 video surveillance cameras in seven locations in the city such as Praça 5 de Outubro and its accesses and also in Largo Conde Fontalva The locations were chosen "because they have a high flow of people commercial establishments and heritage to preserve" The measure aims to “combat crime and improve the safety of the population in public spaces” Caldas da Rainha thus becomes “the second city in the district [after Leiria]” to implement the system “which is not to monitor anyone a value and an absolutely non-negotiable asset stated the district commander of this police force the images can only be accessed by “certain elements” of the police The protocol signed today in Caldas da Rainha is followed by the sending of information to the Ministry of Internal Administration which is responsible for authorising the installation of the cameras The Mayor of Caldas da Rainha admits that the video surveillance system may be extended to other parts of the city We appreciate that not everyone can afford to pay for our services but if you are able to we ask you to support The Portugal News by making a contribution – no matter how small You can change how much you give or cancel your contributions at any time Send us your comments or opinion on this article Reaching over 400,000 people a week with news about Portugal Latest UpdatesCountries Why Join?IL MagazineFree Daily E-LetterVideoOur ExpertsTestimonialsFAQsTopics Living overseas since 2011 Terry and her husband went on a housesitting assignment to Portugal in 2018 and they knew they’d found a place they wanted to call home There is a magical undercurrent that pervades Portugal Golden beaches with sparkling clean waters line the western and southern coastlines Flower-filled meadows stretch toward sloping hills then rise to mountain bluffs crowned by a 12th-century castle You can picnic amid a ghostly city abandoned by the Romans or explore the old palaces and summer retreats of royalty and hike through forests famed for poets Whether you are looking to live in a vibrant city like Lisbon or Porto or rub elbows with locals in a tiny village Portugal has something for almost everyone And it’s the most affordable country in Western Europe—a couple can live well on less than $30,000 per year Read on to discover seven idyllic spots in Portugal where the cost of living is low and the quality of life is high: Discover why we love a slower pace of life Portugal and info on other European countries in our daily postcard e-letter Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT – Explore the Old World in Laidback Portugal For those who dream of big city living on a small-town budget As part of the greater Lisbon metropolitan area many Portuguese live in Setúbal and work in Lisbon the city of 123,000 is an authentic Portuguese city that has gained popularity with expats from around the world The city's main plaza is Praça do Bocage and white tiled geometric design with a statue of a famed poet in the center The Sado River flows through the town center Portugal's largest and most beautiful East of the city are the hills of the Serra da Arrábida and the beaches of the Portinho da Arrábida the Sado River Estuary is where dolphins can be seen hop aboard a ferry and head to the Troia Peninsula Weather averages throughout the year in Setúbal range between 45 F and 87 F and other expenses for $2,400 or $28,800 a year The first king of Portugal chose the former Roman city of Guimarães as his administrative base in 1128 it is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered Portugal's birthplace The city is one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon and draws tourists from around the world to visit sites like its 10th-century castle the population of this very Portuguese city of 52,000 people goes on about its workaday business creating an interesting blend in the general tone of the city Guimarães is a walkable city although a bit hilly Descending the slopes of the castle area are narrow twisting passageways between stately granite buildings and pleasant squares like Largo da Oliveira named for the majestic olive tree growing in its center Every historic district in Portugal has its share of impressive convents and churches together with grand homes trimmed with wrought iron balconies and treasures like the Alberto Sampaio Museum the average daytime temperatures typically vary from 41 F to 82 F although extremes can make the mercury dip below 32 F or rise above 92 F a couple can live well in Guimarães for $2,300 per month or $27,600 a year Braga’s history was influenced by Roman occupation and the city’s architecture and landscape vividly recall those ancient days The magnificent Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary sits perched on a hill and is accessed by a spectacular staircase or the world’s oldest water-powered funicular about 20 miles east of the wind-surfing destination of Esposende The population of almost 200,000 is primarily Portuguese but there’s a sprinkling of residents from Brazil The University of Minho adds diversity to the populace as well with Erasmus students coming from all over Europe and the Far East with rainfall of about seven inches—similar to nearby Porto’s and live nicely for $2,200 per month or $26,400 a year This coastal gem is a more affordable option in Portugal’s Algarve Originally a fishing village and ship-building center this port city of 40,000 sits where the Arade River meets the Atlantic Ocean dry summers and mild winter temperatures with far less rain than the rest of the country It’s no surprise that grilled sardines are an easy-to-find menu item here and loved by locals and expats a picturesque beach with its ochre cliffs and clear fresh water and adrenaline-filled boat rides for a peek inside Long-term rentals almost everywhere in the Algarve can be a challenge to find but with patience and time Since Portimão is a bit less touristy than Lagos it may be possible to find rentals here a bit easier Depending on lifestyle choices a couple could live nicely in Portimão including rent and more for around $2,500 a month or $30,000 a year Mafra lies just 30 minutes northwest of Lisbon International Airport A population of about 76,000 spread over 112 square miles translates to the feel of a thriving yet pleasantly paced small city including the main boulevard of Avenida da Liberdade the traditional black-and-white Portuguese pavement Mafra is home to Portugal’s National Palace built in 1717 and a royal domicile until 1910 The Palace lends its Baroque and Neo-classical charm to the city center and average annual temperatures range from 46 F to 80 F A couple can live well in Mafra on about $2,500 a month Two hours north of Lisbon lies Portugal’s former capital home to one of the oldest continually operating universities in Europe With a population of 144,000 spread over 123 square miles yet it retains the mellow undertone that Portugal is famous for Fado is the traditional music form of Portugal there’s no place better to hear it than Coimbra and where it plays a big part in university life Between tourism and the youthful student population so being able to speak Portuguese is not a requirement for enjoying all Coimbra has to offer A couple can live comfortably in Coimbra for $2,200 per month One hour north of Lisbon on Portugal’s Silver Coast sits the mid-sized city of Caldas da Rainha Literally translated as “the Queen’s baths,” in Portuguese it was a thermal spring discovered by Queen Leonor in the 15th century that put this city on the map The Queen was passing through the area when she spotted some peasants bathing in foul-smelling water on the side of the road As soon as she learned of the water's medicinal benefit she ordered a hospital to be built around it and that hospital is still in operation today Parque Dom Carlos I is the perfect place to stroll through the gardens or paddle a tiny boat across the duck pond has a handful of museums centered around art The cobbled old town hosts a daily market that sells local fruits A weekly flea market sells a bit of everything including the kitchen sink a skill that is still taught at the local school and products can be bought from nearby shops The medieval walled city of Óbidos is just a short drive from Caldas city center and comes alive with festivals throughout the year Tourist shops offer shots of “ginga,” a cherry-flavored liquor served in edible chocolate cups for around $1.10 A large bus station makes it easy to travel from Caldas da Rainha to Lisbon The coastal area of Foz do Arelho is the perfect spot to cool off on a hot summer day Summers on the Silver Coast are spring-like with temperatures averaging around 70 F Winters can bring long periods of rain and cool temperatures dipping down near freezing Weather averages throughout the year range between 46 F and 78 F Summers are warm and dry while winters are cold It rarely drops below 38 F or goes above 80 F A couple could rent an entire villa in the country or a city center apartment rather inexpensively and nicely for $2,300 or $27,600 a year the cost of living depends on one’s lifestyle Dining out often and owning a car will add to your expenses in Portugal Private health insurance is a requirement for the resident visa and the cost will increase with age and health conditions But all expats find healthcare costs far less than they would in the US By 2022-07-11T11:07:00+01:00 PORTUGAL: Work is set to start on rebuilding and electrifying the central section of the Linha do Oeste corridor between Torres Vedras and Caldas da Rainha following signature of a contract between Infraestruturas de Portugal and the construction consortium on June 28 The Linha do Oeste runs along the country’s west coast between Lisboa and the route modernisation is being delivered in two tranches Work is already underway on the first phase which covers the electrification and renewal of the 85 route-km from Mira Sintra-Meleças to Torres Vedras within a budget of €61·5m telecoms systems replaced and 15 level crossings eliminated Completion of the first phase is due by the end of 2023 and is expected to cut the fastest journey time between Lisboa and Caldas da Rainha from 44 min to 29 min Electrification will enable local services to be increased from 16 trains each way per day to 48 although the maximum running speed will remain at 110 km/h The second package covering the 44 km between Caldas da Rainha and Torres Vedras has been awarded to a consortium of Ramalho Rosa Cobetar This package forms part of the Ferrovia 2020 national investment programme As well as wiring the route and removing various level crossings IP intends to refurbish or renew nine stations or halts along the corridor the largest single intervention will be construction of a 2 km cut-off at Outeiro da Cabeça near Torres Vedras The work is due to be completed in just under two years Trains will be able to run at 120 km/h to 140 km/h between Caldas da Rainha and Torres Vedras but IP envisages that the northern section of the route towards Leiria will be upgraded for 160 km/h Leiria is expected to become an interchange with the proposed Porto – Lisboa high speed line The Linha do Oeste has recently been added to the EU’s TEN-T network at the behest of the Portuguese government The coastal line has been included because of its role as an alternative to the busy north-south main line between the capital and Porto It also provides access to the Monte Real air base one of the main NATO facilities in Portugal PORTUGAL: Tenders have been called for the starter section of the proposed high speed corridor between Lisboa and Porto The first tenders covers Stage 1 between Porto and Oiã near Aveiro Infrastructure manager Infraestruturas de Portugal held a ceremony at its headquarters at Almada on January .. PORTUGAL: Infraestruturas de Portugal and national operator CP have updated local residents policymakers and other stakeholders on progress with the €550m modernisation of the Beira Alta railway between Pampilhosa and Guarda Award of the second main contract for the 25 kV 50 Hz electrification of IP’s east-west Algarve Line should see the wires stretching from one end of the country to the other by the end of 2024 Site powered by Webvision Cloud It’s no secret that Portugal has become one of the most desirable Although relatively small in size compared to its neighbor Spain, Portugal offers a plethora of living options. While some people never look beyond Lisbon, the country’s lively capital, or Porto there are plenty of small-town options just waiting to be called home with temperatures averaging between 65 F and 75 F while winters bring abundant rain and above-freezing temperatures a summer day in the north may only reach 65 F A typical winter day in the north might be wet you’ll find abundant sunshine and temperatures in the 70s This fortified border town, located at the mouth of the Minho River, was once the site of battles between Spain and Portugal. With a population of around 17,000, Caminha (camin-yah) is part of a municipality divided into fourteen subdivisions called "freguesias." showcases the remains of this medieval wonder The 17th-century clock tower stands proudly atop one of the three original city gates that has survived while the nearby church invites all to step inside with additional amenities and an international airport Portuguese explorers set sail from here to find new worlds the town gained fame for cod fishing and trade offering a plethora of seafood restaurants and the historic Gil Eannes At the heart of the old town lies Praça da República an enchanting plaza flanked by historic buildings like the Igreja da Misericórdia and the former city hall A 16th-century Renaissance fountain stands at its center Foreigners love Viana do Castelo’s authentic Portuguese charm a shopping center with an English-friendly cinema and more make the city a livable option for expats The middle of Portugal is a bit warmer than the north with summer temperatures reaching into the 80s but winters still bring plenty of rain and cold The town of Tomar (tu-mar) was founded in 1159 when the king gifted a former castle to the Knights Templar The castle was converted into the Convento de Cristo a colossal stronghold and home base of the Knights Templar for nearly 700 years The massive complex took over five decades to complete and is perched on top of a hill overlooking the town While most people visit Tomar to see the convent many fall in love with its charms and decide to stay Tomar invites visitors to witness a celebration like none other Known locally as the Festa dos Tabuleiros (or tray festival) women process through the streets carrying five-foot trays on top of their heads that weigh around fifty pounds each Each tray is made of bread loaves and flowers The charming city of 20,000 has both public and private hospitals Just a short distance from the city center are the river beaches of Montes Tomar The town of Caldas da Rainha (cal-dash-d-hain-yah) The city of 30,000 was founded in the 15th century by Queen Leonor when she discovered some locals bathing in a thermal spring along the roadside Her majesty took advantage of the thermal water which healed an unknown affliction of hers she ordered a hospital to be built on the site The bustling Praça da Fruta hosts a daily fresh produce market while the nearby fish market offers local catches Caldas also features a flea market every Monday and is renowned for its ceramics culture and a multi-level shopping center with English-language movies Óbidos (awe-bee-do-ssh) is one of Portugal’s best-preserved medieval towns cobbled streets lead to charming shops selling the famous ginja liqueur served in chocolate cups a well-preserved castle now operates as a luxurious hotel Óbidos hosts diverse festivals throughout the year from medieval fairs to a whimsical Christmas village enjoying the proximity to Caldas da Rainha’s amenities The Alentejo is the rural interior of Portugal it may be hard for new expats to make friends and be fully immersed in the Portuguese culture and language One of the few places in the Alentejo that does see its share of tourists is Évora. The historic center is a living museum where the ancient Roman Temple of Diana dominates the skyline Part of the wall that once enclosed the city still remains like the fortified gate and the timeworn Arab Kasbah the Chapel of Bones coaxes visitors in to read the eerie inscription pelos vossos esperamos”—“we bones that are here await yours.” Because of the influx of tourists English-speaking locals are easy to find in Évora Expats can expect to find apartments to rent or buy within the city while freestanding houses can be found in rural The city of 50,000 boasts private and public hospitals The closest airport to Évora is in Badajoz The ancient city of Beja (bay-jah) is surrounded by a seemingly endless landscape of agricultural fields and countryside In the center of the old town is a medieval castle with its imposing tower Meander through the castle’s medieval walls and feel like royalty it was here that Julius Caesar signed a peace treaty with the Lusitanian tribes to gain control over the land is the heartbeat of Beja for visitors and locals alike Grab a chair at any cafe and order a coffee and pastry or return for dinner under the stars and sip wine with friends until the sun comes up Life in this traditional working city is slow-paced and calm foreigners can expect to find property to buy with land apartment living is the norm for those who wish to live near the center The closest international airport is a 90-minute drive in Faro In the south is the Algarve which boasts the best weather in the country and sunshine galore was founded in 1774 by the Marquis of Pombal Destroyed by a tsunami following the great earthquake of 1755 the town was reconstructed in just two years following the grid-like design of downtown Lisbon this fishing village of 20,000 is situated between the Guadiana River the town glows with holiday decorations and the most colossal Christmas village in the country The massive design features more than 5,600 figures filling a 2,500-square-foot space in the cultural center babbling brooks run through miniature villages and sounds of people and animals fill the air The town has a private health clinic for medical and dental services Nearby beaches include both river and ocean options and the Spanish border is easily accessible The city of Faro is less than an hour’s drive away In the western Algarve, Lagos (lah-gush) sits along the banks of the Bensafrim River The venerable 17th-century fort that once protected the port stands as a reminder of days gone by The city of 19,000 is a favorite among expats and visitors The golden sands of Praia da Batata (Potato Beach) lure visitors to dip their toes in the water The beach is sheltered from large Atlantic waves A short jaunt from the town center is Ponta da Piedade a dramatic headland of towering limestone cliffs Expats in Lagos enjoy access to both public and private hospitals and numerous smaller shops and restaurants The town has a large international expat community and Faro International Airport is just an hour away Stroll across the picturesque Roman Bridge that spans the slow-moving River Gilão and cherish the view and the sound of a violinist playing nearby set a romantic scene Expats are drawn to Tavira for its authentic charm with modern conveniences like the Gran Plaza shopping center and easy access to the beaches of Tavira Island The nearby cities of Faro and Loulé provide additional healthcare options including private hospitals and specialized clinics Portugal’s small towns offer an affordable high-quality lifestyle with modern conveniences there’s a perfect Portuguese town waiting for you The policy implications of this election will impact your retirement funds you can live comfortably on a budget from $2,000-$3,800 a month (all-in—housing and extras included) Portugal has earned much-deserved accolades as a top retirement destination for retirees from North America A report from the editors of InternationalLiving.com surveys the country enjoyable retirement...and identifying two more not ideally suited to an easy overseas escape 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- It's easy to see why Portugal has become a desirable retirement destination in Europe It boasts over 300 days of sunshine each year With a long coastline and an interior that harks back centuries in time Portugal in many ways still belongs to an earlier era and people know their neighbors and the local shopkeepers cobbled lanes wind through seaside villages International Living is giving readers the chance to win a month-long stay in Portugal to try a retirement there on for size And although modern infrastructure makes it convenient and easy to live here it's still possible to enjoy a slower-paced combines Old World charm with all the modern conveniences needed to feel at home and some of the best weather in Europe Lisbon has much to offer with its impressive city center sunny yellow cable cars that climb the narrow streets and plenty of expats from around the world to hang out with Folks will never be bored living here with the nearby beaches of Cascais the fairy-tale village of Sintra within easy reach and an international airport that provides easy access to the rest of the world Healthcare in Portugal is some of the best in the world it's easy to find English-speaking doctors A few hours south of Lisbon is the Algarve region with some of the warmest weather in the country The town of Lagos has retained much of its charm with a tiled plaza in the old town and remnants of a fort perched along the waterfront The coastline offers spectacular vistas of grottoes and caves that can be explored by hiring a boat No need to stress about learning Portuguese in Lagos as British vacationers have long visited the region meaning English is spoken by almost everyone Summers here are hot and dry in Lagos while winters are mild with some rain Local shops and restaurants dot the old town while larger grocery stores can be found nearby Excellent healthcare is never far away and with plenty of expats this is the port wine-making region of the country this is another part of Portugal where English is commonly spoken From great shopping along Rua Santa Catarina to local cuisine and a cooler climate this could be the perfect place to call home Porto has one of the country's three international airports making it easy to visit friends and family back home One hour north of Lisbon is the town of Caldas da Rainha has various medical and dental clinics along with a public and private hospital English is widely spoken among the younger generation The lively old town features a daily fruit-and-vegetable market This compact city has plenty of shopping from large grocery stores Dom Carlos Park is where locals and expats go to enjoy the walking trails Caldas has a large expat community along with a public and private hospital plus clinics for all your healthcare needs The nearby beaches of Foz do Arelho and Nadadouro provide a welcome break on a hot summer day The lagoon offers a safe place for those of all ages to enjoy tranquil waters or relax with friends at a waterfront cafe Tavira has retained much of its old town with whitewashed houses decorated with colorful Portuguese tile Life here is as slow as the Gilão river that runs through it Stroll along the old Roman bridge to admire the village or relax on nearby sun-drenched beaches Many expats from North America and Europe have long called Tavira home making it easy to fit in and get by speaking only English here you will find some of the best weather in the country Local shops tend to cater to the British population but Americans need only drive a few hours into Seville Spain to stock up on American goods at a Costco warehouse Here are two places where settling in as an expat may not be so easy and perhaps "Considered by many to be the most Portuguese village in the country this quaint little village is a delight to visit but not a place I would recommend living," says Terry Coles and around giant boulders that look as though they fell from the sky." rustic lanes are wide enough only for a donkey and it's a climb some 400 feet up to the pinnacle of the village where the remains of a castle still stand A few local shops exist inside the cave-like structures—though no English is uttered While locals here are used to seeing tourists it's doubtful expats are living among them Anybody looking for an easy place to fit in is less likely to find it here without a firm grasp of Portuguese with summer highs reaching well over 100 F and winters bringing bone-chilling rains This region makes up a full 30% of Portugal but its rural countryside is sparsely populated Few expats call the Alentejo home so to integrate here would require full immersion into the Portuguese lifestyle with a good understanding of the Portuguese language the Alentejo is the ideal spot to escape the tourist crowds and step back in time to experience the rich Portuguese culture the vastness of this region makes it challenging for expats to meet or access adequate healthcare And the weather could be off-putting for somebody seeking easy year-round living The full report can be found, here: 5 Places to Live in Portugal; 2 To Avoid Editor's Note: Members of the media have permission to republish the article linked above once credit is given to Internationalliving.com as well as interviews with expert authors for radio For information about InternationalLiving.com content republishing, source material or to book an interview with one of our experts, contact PR Managing Editor, Marita Kelly, +001 667 312 3532, [email protected] Internationaliving.com has been the leading authority for anyone looking for global retirement or relocation opportunities Through its monthly magazine and related e-letters InternationalLiving.com provides information and services to help its readers live better and find better business opportunities when they expand their world beyond their own shores InternationalLiving.com has more than 200 correspondents traveling the globe investigating the best opportunities for travel Marita Kelly, www.internationalliving.com, +001 667 312 3532, [email protected] SOURCE www.internationalliving.com http://InternationalLiving.com Do not sell or share my personal information: I live in a very small town that’s mostly made of mud in the winter plucking the slimy detritus of our old food from our driveway weekly lest our neighbors think we’re the dirty people in the neighborhood The ocean breeze blows past fancy people doing fancy things in front of fancy places Cascais is a breath of fresh air from the drudgery of a long Canadian winter Clay Marzo, his partner Leilani, Carlos of Surfetv, and Alex of Hidden Bay Resort were somewhere behind us, while Pedro Boonman was somewhere ahead of us with one of the best surf photographers in the business, Andre Carvalho We finally were made aware of our destination: Peniche my hopes were dashed by my own (lack of) talent and the fact that when we would pull up at dawn the next morning as Pedro Boonman would put it with a slightly awed look on his face “one of the biggest days I’ve ever seen there.” Since it was my first time seeing it it was bigger than I’ve ever seen it Leaving Cascais and heading north up the Portuguese coastline is a trip made for van camping I will return and be a cliché in a rented van chasing waves Portugal truly is a stunning place — all white painted concrete houses splashed in places with colorful tiles and terra cotta-style roofs hanging off a thousand balconies overlooking the Atlantic Immense fields of grapes stretch over the land waiting for the day they begin to bear the fruit that creates some of the finest wine that’s ever passed my lips thirsty Norfolk pines sit along the roadside backed by rows of planted eucalyptus draining the soil of all moisture something occurred to me: everything moves slowly in Portugal except the traffic It’s as though the drivers all realized that they have spent far too much time drinking wine and laughing with friends in beautiful cafés and now they must make up for it by driving as though they have a baby crowning in the backseat and the hospital is still an hour away because it turns out that it’s just as nice — if not nicer — than Cascais Everything was white and bright when we arrived the wispy cirrus clouds drifting to wherever clouds drift to Stunning golf courses roll towards the sea their perfect green fairways butting into the dunes standing guard over miles of empty beaches a Von Froth sweatshirt on his back and a freshly minted third Perfect Chapter title under his belt an exceedingly friendly surfer from São Tomé was there with him the latter of which had a freshly minted Perfect Chapter second-place finish under his belt Surf check with Nic von Rupp, Ace Buchan, and Mikey February. Photo: Andre Carvalho The breeze was unseasonably cold and the surf was rudely shoved from behind by the onshore wind “Looks like California,” he responded they are professional surfers and there were waves so the boards came out and so did the wetsuits The water here is warm by my Canadian standards average by Mikey’s South African standards and fucking freezing by Clay and Ace’s tropical standards As we stood on a bluff overlooking what was rubbing his hands together the way he does when he’s excited It’s as though he’s trying to start a fire with two sticks “There’s no one on it!” There was no one on it Clay paddled out to this wave that did not not exist picking his way carefully over the dunes towards us with a towel draped over his shoulder “I just see a wave with no one on it,” he told me “and I try and make something out of nothing.” Clay Marzo, making something out of nothing. Photo: Andre Carvalho windblown trash waves into stunning little canvasses painted with the finest of brush strokes The photographers were hidden in the dunes like peeping toms with only the best intentions The waves that day, just a day or two after the Perfect Chapter ran in conditions that were far better than anyone could have hoped for “Rui made the best call ever,” Boonman told me as he was toweling off “That was the best day of the year at Carcavelos There are so many moving parts with a contest like that so making the call with 72 hours notice must put so much pressure on him.” we packed up and headed to our new digs in yet another stunningly pretty town called Caldas da Rainha We ended up at yet another restaurant called Tasca do Joel that served one of the best dishes I’ve had so far in my life Pedro Boonman, Mikey February, Nic von Rupp, and Ace Buchan, happily digesting. Photo: Andre Carvalho Food and drink is life in Portugal — long lunches and longer dinners are the hinges of one’s day-to-day existence here a tuna dish served in some kind of sweet garlic vinegar sauce is something I could happily eat every day for the rest of my life Clay ate immense amounts of freshly baked bread The only thing that makes him as excited as waves do is food One dish for the rest of my life? I’m choosing this. Photo: Andre Carvalho we had another stop to make before our new hotel Óbidos is a mediaeval town that looks as though you’ve walked through a time warp Built before the Romans showed up in the Iberian Peninsula After it became part of the queen’s estate — the Casa das Rainhas — it did very well soaring parapets protect a castle surrounded by a maze of streets lined in small white houses Jéjé couldn’t help himself and lay down on his stomach on an outer wall plucking a handful of oranges to hand out to all of us Manueline porticoes and a strangely high number of churches some with bars over the open window and all still with fresh flowers on altars allow the visitor to feel what it might have been like way back then Ace Buchan, Mikey February, Pedro Boonman, and Nic von Rupp ponder the wonders of ginjinha to warm the stomach. Photo: Andre Carvalho There’s a certain gravity to the place; a solemnity easily spoiled by the stuffed animals and tourist trinkets on offer where a person whose hands laid some of the millions of stones that make Óbidos probably lived “I feel like such a tourist here,” Clay told me from atop one of the outer walls its ancient streets crowded with visitors taking selfies I stood on a wall as the sun dipped and church bells began to echo through the streets It’s hard not to feel overwhelmed by the past in a moment like that Standing on stones put carefully in place hundreds of years ago by someone long dead tends to give me a strangely melancholy feeling in the pit of my stomach It’s slightly sad to compare the beauty of what those old hands made with the asphalt roads crawling with speeding vehicles what we’ve created will be looked at by future people Clay Marzo and Pedro Boonman in Obidos. Photo: Andre Carvalho As evening began to pull the curtains on the day Peugots fighting for parking and eventually finding it wherever the car will fit Andre Carvalho said something that I thought was a joke “You know what the most famous Caldas handicraft thing is?” He asked The streets were dark and empty as I walked out of 19 Tile Peacocks strut through the triangular courtyard there looking as though they would like to come in I looked over her shoulder to see what was funny Caldas is apparently known for making large amounts of ceramic penises When André Apolinario was a child, his parents had an argument over a bird’s nest. The swallows' nest was a fixture on the facade of their house in Gaia, Portugal, had to be removed by workers who were making repairs the birds who had visited annually never returned Apolinario, who runs Taste Porto food tours recalls the spring he realized they weren’t coming back ‘why are there no swallows this year?’ And my mom yelling at my dad “I was so sad because I always knew spring was coming with the arrival of the swallows and their babies.” When the chill sets in and insects begin to run thin While shops tout cork coasters and bottles of port many tourists likely pass by what may be the country’s most sentimental memento: a ceramic swallow Locals gift the pottery birds for weddings (How Portugal lures travelers with storied cities, port, and magic.) Farewells were on my mind when I met Apolinario in February 2020 At the time I was blissfully unaware of the turmoil and lockdowns that were around the corner but well aware of my oldest child’s impending graduation and departure for university in a city far from home There have been camps and sleepovers and school trips but each time I’ve rested easy in the knowledge of his imminent return Those emotions were at their peak as I followed Apolinario into a small shop that specialized in Portuguese mementos I was aimlessly peering up at the shelves filled with vibrant notebooks and retro Alantoine hand creams from a bygone generation when I noticed the abundance of swallows “The swallow is connected to a lot of things that are dear to us,” explains Ricardo Brochado, an archaeologist and the cofounder of bespoke Porto tour operator The City Tailors The birds’ qualities—they mate for life and raise their chicks together—make it a shoo-in as a nostalgic symbol “They don’t leave the nest until all of the babies do,” Brochado says A barn swallow perches on a branch in Guerreiro Nature Picture LibraryThat connection to “the nest”—to a home or a homeland—is so important in Portuguese culture that there is a word for it: saudade Brochado explains the concept is best described as that feeling of melancholic connection you get when you taste your grandmother’s cooking or smell a scent that takes you back to your childhood The swallow is thought to be the embodiment of that feeling you’re basically giving a part of yourself that stays there In 1896, Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro registered the patent for his original version of a ceramic swallow The caricaturist/satirist and with his brother Feliciano were already prominent artists at the time Travelers to Portugal likely have seen their ceramic dishes—still made using original molds in the town of Caldas da Rainha—shaped like the food they were meant to hold and celebrating things like cabbages The items have found new life in recent years among millennials and Instagrammers but the whimsy of these works is different than their solemn swallow ShutterstockBrochado tells me that the Pinheiro swallow marked a pivotal time in the country’s history Portugal was moving away from romanticism in literature and art and into a time when realism was celebrated (How Portugal keeps an iconic 500-year-old art form alive.) The Pinheiro swallows increased in popularity over the years While you can still purchase an original Pinheiro craftspeople across the country now offer their own takes on the iconic shape Travelers will find options that range from well over a hundred euros to as little as 50 cents some believe the symbol functions much like a Jewish mezuzah encased parchment scrolls affixed to doorposts in Jewish homes and temples “There’s a common ground between the Jewish people and the Portuguese diaspora,” says Apolinario “We’ve sailed the world and we’re immigrants and we always feel saudade for our homeland The swallow represents that there is a nest somewhere in Portugal although people are living all over the world.” (Try the coveted wine that made this Portuguese island famous.) Back when Apolinario first told me the history of the bird but being able to gift someone I love a meaningful piece of a place I love was an opportunity I couldn’t resist Because I feared for the life of a ceramic bird in my son’s new dorm life I opted for a tiny magnetic interpretation instead while standing at the door to his college dorm room and holding back tears I handed him the envelope with the carefully wrapped swallow inside and a short note explaining its history Heather Greenwood Davis is a Toronto-based travel writer and National Geographic contributing editor. Follow her on Instagram. Heather Greenwood Davis is a Toronto-based travel writer and National Geographic contributing editor. Follow her on Instagram We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK remember your settings and improve government services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports Continuing with our Consulate in the Community initiative the British Consulate is organising an event in Caldas da Rainha on Thursday with the aim of raising awareness of consular services and clarifying important local procedures relating to living in Portugal The event will be held at the Pequeno Auditório do Centro Cultural e Congressos das Caldas da Rainha commencing at 4.30pm and finishing at 6.30pm The event will be opened by British Consular staff and talks (in English) will be given by: There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the presentations There are approximately 120 places available and entrance is free so please confirm your attendance by sending an email to notarial.portugal@fco.gov.uk please call 808 20 35 37 and ask to speak to a member of the consular team on extension 4118 As a token of our thanks for the use of their facilities we will be donating a basket of food to the Caldas da Rainha municipality for distribution to a local Charity Please help us make this donation a success by bringing an item of non-perishable food to add to the basket Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details Brazil impressed against Portugal on Sunday As Yaras overcame their European opponents with a 19-12 victory in the first of a two test match tour The tour serves As Yaras as vital preparation ahead of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup The tournament will see Brazil debuting on the world stage As Yaras got the job done in Caldas da Rainha Júlia Leni scored from a maul in the opening minutes The remainder of the first-half was an even contest The Portuguese pressured Brazil’s try zone with Mariana Santos scoring for a half-time scoreline Brazil’s forwards worked hard again early in the second-half The former made a break and the latter scored Portugal hit-back with Mariana Santos scoring his second try which Daniela Correia converted Tixa Marins kicked long with Carol Pereira chasing to score and hand Brazil victory The 19-12 win means Brazil will rise three places to 34th in the World Rankings As Yaras travel to Torrevieja in Alicante for the match on March 22 Spain are ranked 13th in the world while Portugal entered the match against Brazil ranked 23rd Tags Mexico hosted and defeated Jamaica on Saturday According to Postal Portugal from North to South has made a list of the cheapest cities to live in our country and there is one in the Algarve that is part of this selection The list was based on medium-sized cities in Portugal with a population of less than 100 thousand inhabitants The values ​​presented are average and “may not accurately reflect your real needs as each family has its own consumption habits” Most of these places are in the interior of Portugal Bragança was voted the cheapest city in Portugal Although Portimão (Algarve) is the 10th cheapest city in the country to live in the rent for a one-bedroom apartment costs 350 euros more than in Bragança Bragança has around 35 thousand inhabitants and is located in the northern region of Portugal more precisely in the district of Bragança Surrounded by beautiful landscapes of the Montesinho Natural Park – Rent (1-bedroom apartment in the center) €500 – Supermarket expenses (couple) €150 – €200 – It is necessary to consider that despite the low costs the salary in the city is also one of the smallest in the country Portimão is the 10th cheapest city in the country the rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Portimão is around 850 euros Spending at the supermarket varies between 150 and 250 euros per person per month the average cost of which is around 24 euros that the average monthly salary is set at 667 free euros In addition to the Algarve city being equipped with all essential services Portimão is located on the estuary of the Arade River and has a vast number of beaches nearby Portimão is one of the cheapest cities in Portugal and is located in the hottest region of the country The city is growing and with increasing demand For those who want to live close to the most beautiful beaches on the Portuguese coast Portimão is a small city that can offer a great quality of life If you only eat rice and pasta then maybe 150-250 a month but if you like a meat or fish dinner only 3 times a week then 400-500 a month that’s what living the expat lifestyle is about Retiring in Europe can be an affordable option for North Americans if they look to sunny Portugal this tiny country on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula is continually rated as one of the safest in the world retirees can expect to spend less money than back home and never having to worry about safety nor gun violence Portugal is one of the fastest-aging countries in Europe where retirees are treated with respect and well cared for by the health system there are 182 older adults for every 100 younger ones Portugal is also ideal for an active retirement For those considering retiring to Portugal the first step is to actually visit the country and connect with expats on social media groups who have already taken the plunge Ask yourself what you need to be happy during your retirement years Looking to live around other expats for socializing or would you prefer to be living alongside native Portuguese Portugal has expat communities throughout the country where it’s easy to fit in and the Algarve all have well-established expat communities You can visit Portugal for up to 90 days out of every six-month period simply as a tourist This may be an option for those who wish to live only part-time in Portugal But for anyone who wishes to remain in Portugal for longer than three months at a time it will be necessary to apply for a long-stay resident visa The visa process begins at VFS Global for Americans and at your local Portuguese consulate or Canadian embassy Applying for a visa must be done from your home country and cannot be done in Portugal After living in Portugal for five full years you can request permanent residency or citizenship; both require a certain level of proficiency in Portuguese Residents of Portugal have access to both the public and private healthcare systems Private health insurance is affordable and required for everyone who applies for a resident visa Depending on where you currently live in North America Portugal can offer a lower cost of living and a better quality of life Most of your budget in Portugal will be for housing City dwellers will appreciate that the overall cost of living in Lisbon clock in at an average of 65% less than in New York Seniors over 65 can also use all public transport in Lisbon for free For those moving to Portugal on smaller budgets renting or buying property costs far less inland away from the popular coastal havens rural communities inland can be found for €500 but can increase to €1,100 or more in larger cities and popular parts of the Algarve a couple can live in Portugal for €2,500 to €3,000 Dining out in Portugal is not only affordable and enjoying fresh seafood and other delicacies for around €10 to €12 per entrée End your meal with a cup of espresso for less than one euro and add a custard tart recently voted the best dessert in the world Some restaurants even offer patrons a free shot of alcohol before leaving claiming it’s simply a way to help the food digest Portugal grows most of the fruits and vegetables it sells so there are plenty of healthy eating options And since the Atlantic Ocean flanks the country fresh fish and seafood are abundant everywhere Breads are baked fresh at corner bakeries and can become addictive because they’re so good North Americans will find Portugal grocery prices significantly lower than what they used The most significant savings for any American who chooses to live abroad will be the cost of healthcare Early retirement is even a possibility as healthcare costs will be significantly lower in Portugal and the quality of healthcare is just as good Rated number twelve in the world by the World Health Organization Portugal offers some of the best healthcare on the planet Doctors in Portugal aren’t rushing; they take their time getting to know the whole person and their extensive health history before deciding on a plan of action Foreign expats in Portugal will have access to the public and private healthcare system Private health insurance is affordable and offers high- and low-end options Expats must carry private health insurance for the duration of their temporary visa Private health insurance plans start at €50 a month for the average person Some expats choose lower-end insurance plans with coverage of only 50% if they have little to no need for it while others opt for high-end plans that cover 90% with no deductibles Younger retired expats living in Portugal can expect to pay even less Some necessary items like insulin and certain medications can be obtained free of charge from the public system Although the public system is available to expats there can be long wait times to see a specialist or have a procedure done many expats and Portuguese prefer to use the private system hospital websites offer a comprehensive list of providers Appointments can be made through the clinics website or by calling a central phone line where English is an option Doctors’ offices are in the hospital complex Private hospitals throughout Portugal are similar to their U.S and English-speaking doctors of one’s choosing Expats in Portugal can expect to pay €1,500 for an entire week in a private hospital with no insurance or as little as €250 with an insurance plan in place residents are seen in a clinic by whatever doctor is in attendance that day patients are triaged through crowded units and put into wards with many other patients if admitted Early retirees in Portugal often tell of how they left behind monthly health insurance premiums of thousands per month to find themselves paying just a few hundred in Portugal even paying out-of-pocket to see a doctor in Portugal will not break the budget costs begin around €50 for a general practitioner and may go as high as €90 for a specialist in a private hospital and Lisbon offer top-notch hospitals and physicians Some well-known names are Hospital Particular do Algarve Centro Neurological Senior in Torres Vedras specializes in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s care and is said to be some of the best in the world Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world where guns are permitted only for hunting and requires extensive police background checks and paperwork to obtain Owning a gun for protection is not allowed and females or the elderly can walk outside safely Transitioning into expat life in popular destinations with established expat communities can be easy making it easy for expats to settle into their new life and those who thrive best on big-city living Seniors over 65 are offered free use of all public transport in Lisbon is Portugal’s second city with a colorful riverfront area and the famed port wine cellars along the banks of the Douro River which could eliminate the need for a car for those willing to navigate the hilly terrain The Silver Coast has also become popular for its low cost of living The spa town of Caldas da Rainha is a mix of old-world charm and modern comforts A bus station links Lisbon and the rest of the country—the perfect spot for those who prefer spring-like temperatures year-round with cool For some of the best weather in all of Europe dry summers and mild winter temperatures bring little rain and plenty of sunshine Towns like Lagos offer a charming walled old town and picturesque coastline and Tavira sits along a picturesque river and is just a short drive to the Spanish border English-speaking expats from North America and the rest of the world can be found in all of these destinations making it easy to connect and establish friendships Portugal is home to over half a million foreigners from around the world Retirement in Portugal can be an affordable adventure and plenty of friends just waiting to meet you How Much Money Do You Need to Retire in Portugal Portugal offers arguably the lowest cost of living in Western Europe a couple can live comfortably in Portugal’s interior for about $1,700 a month The budget for larger cities such as Lisbon is about $2,100 or $2,200 a month Where is the Best Place to Retire in Portugal Portugal is the winner of the 2023 Annual Global Retirement Index Our on-the-ground experts believe it to world's best place to retire and overall quality of life Portugal is a great place to retire citizens can retire in Portugal with relative ease and Canadian citizens looking to live in Portugal is the Type 1 visa This visa is issued to persons who intend to reside in Portugal permanently for retirement among other reasons Portugal Deep DivesClimate in Portugal and strolling along the Atlantic coastline’s golden beaches But everyone knows that there is no perfect place to live so let’s take a realistic look at Portugal with regards to safety The Global Peace Index rates 163 countries worldwide for safety and Portugal came in at number six in 2022 for an overall peace safety rating State Department rates Portugal as a Level One which means that normal safety precautions should be taken Common practices like not leaving valuables in a parked car and exercising caution in larger metropolitan areas like Lisbon should be observed Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative testing is no longer required to enter Portugal Masks are no longer mandatory in most public spaces apart from medical facilities and pharmacies where they are still needed During the summer tourists from around the world flock to Portugal’s gorgeous coastline and this year was no exception Other tourist hubs like Lisbon and Porto also received plenty of tourists who enjoyed the history and Old World charm of this tiny European gem Portugal is home to over 500,000 foreigners from the U.S. The Portuguese people really do welcome foreigners with open arms And because this is Europe there are people of all skin colors My husband and I have lived in other countries besides Portugal where we did stand out and sometimes were taken advantage of since we were looked at as being rich Portugal is home to many single females and many others who are just passing through Since Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world females can rest assured of their safety while here But just like anywhere else in the world all travelers and avoid leaving valuables in plain sight The highways in Portugal are some of the finest in all of Europe or others work well here for even the most directionally challenged driver or Canadian driver's license and do not need to obtain an International Drivers Permit (IDP) You may wish to obtain an IDP though should you decide to cross the border into Spain For those who fall in love with Portugal and wish to live here full-time or Canadian driver's license for a Portuguese one Unlike many other countries in Europe that require foreigners to take both the written and practical driving tests in the local language You may have read on social media posts about the Portuguese drivers being aggressive or ill-mannered on the roads cobbled streets that can be tricky to navigate It is for this reason that cars in Portugal tend to be small and almost always come with a standard transmission When visiting Portugal if you choose to rent a car which is a great way to explore this beautiful country you may request an automatic transmission in advance if you need one In 2001 Portugal became the first country in the world to decriminalize drugs to focus on treatment rather than punishment this does not mean that drug use is legal here Drugs cannot be legally purchased or used in Portugal except for cannabis for medical use when dispensed by a pharmacy with a prescription from a doctor while drug use in Portugal may not put you in jail you can be fined the act of prostitution or exchanging sex for money is legal in Portugal but it is illegal for a third party to profit from it Portugal is lined by the Atlantic Ocean which offers swimmers cool waters and large waves Caution should be taken for beaches connected to rivers or streams since currents may be strong It is advisable to swim at beaches that are staffed with lifeguards and to know what color flag ensures safe waters Blue flags are an eco-certification awarded to beaches that meet certain safety requirements Green flags indicate that swimming and bathing are safe but swimming is not due to possible strong currents Red flags mean that swimming or bathing is not permitted as it is not safe especially in the Algarve have swimming pools for summer fun Be sure to observe the rules and regulations for safety Keep a close eye on children and the elderly as pool tiles can be slippery when wet When diving or jumping into a pool be sure it is allowed and the depth is safe Pay attention to the lifeguard and always follow his or her rules for safety Municipal public swimming pools can be found in most every town throughout the country as well as in gyms and fitness clubs rules and regulations will be posted nearby for all to follow I have a glass of crystal-clear Portuguese tap water sitting next to me according to me the water is perfectly safe to drink and tastes just fine tap water available everywhere that is safe to drink and tastes great and reports are made accessible to the public to view Portugal has plenty of people who prefer to buy bottled water instead of drinking free tap water from their homes Everywhere we go we see locals and expats alike lugging water home from the store They complain that they do not like the taste of the water due to the high content of chlorine and minerals which can be found in some areas We spent two years on the Silver Coast in a forty-year-old farmhouse where we drank the water and now live in the resort town of Vilamoura in the Algarve where we also drink the water We have traveled from one end of Portugal to the other drinking tap water along the way with no problems Thieves know that tourists have money and will be there to grab some Cell phones are commonly left on tables at outdoor restaurants and cafes and can easily be stolen During the summer season we heard about groups of young men targeting tourists in the Algarve They would approach patrons at outdoor restaurants waving brochures in their faces pretending to sell something and to cause a distraction Other thieves in their pack would then cover unattended cell phones on tables with the brochures and slide both the phone and the paper off the table unnoticed Local police also received calls of passports being slipped out of purses in the same vicinity Just like anywhere else never leave phones Beachgoers tend to leave belongings such as wallets unattended while they cool off in the water thieves could be watching for an easy target and quickly can grab your stuff and take off with it It’s always best to leave personal items tucked away safely in hotel safes and bring as little as possible to the beach Portugal has some of the lowest crime rates in all of Europe and violent crime is rare the Portuguese do not own guns except for those used for hunting which requires police permits to obtain Portugal is not a gun society; guns are difficult to purchase and obtain and in all the years we have lived here we have never heard a shot fired in 2018 Portugal had an average of 0.8 people killed per 100,000 had an average of five people killed per 100,000 With five times less the murder rate than the U.S. Portugal offers residents and travelers peace of mind and safety some of the popular tourist areas should be avoided at night especially in the early hours of the morning These include neighborhoods like Bairro Alto before heading out for a night on the town Clubs open around midnight and partying can go all night while it’s generally safe to go clubbing or bar hopping in Lisbon or other cities in Portugal excessive alcohol consumption can lead to bad decisions or letting your guard down and being taken advantage of or robbed Scam artists target tourists at night in large cities offering to sell them drugs which may be nothing more than ground-up bay leaves Since these “fake drugs” are not really drugs at all criminals are not legally doing anything wrong other than taking advantage of tourists Long-distance buses and trains in Portugal offer comfortable seats at affordable prices But since luggage is typically stowed underneath buses it’s wise to lock suitcases or look out the window when luggage is being removed making sure that it’s not your luggage being taken by mistake there have been reports of luggage being stolen during brief stops that go from one location to another with no stops in between are an option to consider Packed subway cars or buses are always a target for would-be thieves or pickpockets snatching purses and passports in money belts that are worn underneath clothing is a safer option when using public transport This way if criminals do reach into your pocket there is nothing for them to grab Sexual assaults against women are rare but there have been reports of drinks being spiked in clubs at night in the Bairro Alto area of Lisbon Never take a drink from someone you don’t know and use common sense just like you would anywhere else in the world the attitude toward alternative lifestyles is accepted especially in larger cities like Lisbon and Porto Both cities hold major gay pride marches and offer the best gay scenes and nightlife in the country Forbes rated Portugal as No.4 in the world for LGBTQ+ safety In general, Portugal is a very safe country to visit or live in and passports securely tucked away in a money belt worn under your clothes and if you need to be out late at night be aware of your surroundings and travel in groups if possible Cost of Living in Portugal A Complete Guide on Portugal Why I Moved to Portugal Cordelia and Mike Blake have always wanted to live in Europe and since Portugal offers one of the easier visa options for Americans Cordelia spent a month in Paris working as an aux pair with two children “I fell in love with Europe and learned how to succeed on my own “It was incredibly impactful on my life.” During college she returned to Europe to spend her junior year in Madrid She later married her college sweetheart Mike and the two returned to Europe to explore Russia for a month “I love being part of a community of disrupters,” Cordelia explained “Expats disrupt their lives back in their home countries to start out fresh somewhere else.” Cordelia left the job market about a year before moving to Portugal to have time to downsize their lives sell their house and begin the visa process As a family they started to study Portuguese long before they ever set foot into the country “We chose to settle in Caldas da Rainha because of the school “It’s a private Portuguese school that Max will attend A school of its caliber would probably cost five times as much back in Atlanta,” she added “the queens baths,” it was discovered in the 15th century by Queen Leonor While passing through the area she spotted people bathing in some foul-smelling water along the roadside and asked them why healing powers of the thermal water which the queen had to try out herself the queen ordered a hospital to be built around the spring so that all could partake Still today that hospital exists and is said to be one of the oldest thermal hospitals in the world “we love that Caldas da Rainha is a smaller walkable city that’s safe for our son,” Cordelia said with a smile “We love that the town has few tourists so we are surrounded by mostly locals.” They opted to pay cash for an apartment and car bringing their cost of living down to a manageable level “We sold everything back in the US and have nothing in storage,” she added “But we did ship a three pallets of boxes that contained keepsakes and shoes since we are all tall and hard to fit people.” “We love living here especially since we were able to downsize our whole life which fits nicely into a compact apartment,” Cordelia explained 53 are still young and need to work they packed up their company High Score Strategies and brought it to Portugal with them “I’ve always been somewhat of a serial entrepreneur,” Cordelia said With her background in sales and marketing and Mike’s expertise of economics and finance owning their own business seemed like a no-brainer They currently rent an office space in Caldas da Rainha from which they work “At High Score Strategies we provide our clients with business appraisal services and can assist them in growing and maximizing their business value,” Cordelia said “We can help them make informed decisions for transactions “Our client base is mostly in the US but we are building our international client base too.” Cordelia has some advice for anyone considering a move to Portugal “Some people have this fantasy of what their lives will be like when they move abroad people still get sick and making friends is not easy and does take an effort on your part,” she adds get phone numbers or social media links and later set up lunch dates or other get togethers with potential new friends,” she continues “Friends will not just fall into your lap; it does takes some effort.” Besides owning their own business and raising a child She interviews other expats who migrated here to work “I wanted to build a community for expats to be able to contact each other and establish connections so they don’t feel like they are all alone “We love living here and enjoy getting out to explore Portugal Terry Coles has been writing about living and travelling abroad since she left the US in 2011 She and her husband have lived in Panama and now reside in Portugal.  But where is the best place to live in Portugal Do you long for big city living with plenty of nightlife and culture or does the sound of the ocean call out your name Want to awaken to the chime of the village church bells or the cackle of hens on your neighbors’ farm Let’s have a look at some suggested places that you might like to live in Portugal along with an international airport for easy access to the rest of the world Healthcare in Portugal is some of the best in the world it’s easy to find English-speaking doctors Lisbon’s quaint narrow streets can be hilly and slippery when wet Big-city living comes at a cost anywhere in the world Portugal’s second-largest city, three hours north of Lisbon, is Porto this is another part of Portugal where English is common this could be the perfect place to call home Porto has one of the country's three international airports Come prepared to navigate up and down hilly cobblestone streets in Porto expect the cost of living to be a bit higher One hour north of Lisbon is the town of Caldas da Rainha The lively old town features a daily fruit and vegetable market A few hours south of Lisbon is the Algarve region which has some of the warmest weather in the country The town of Lagos has retained much of its charm with a tiled plaza in the old town and remnants of a fort perched along the waterfront and caves that can be explored by hiring a boat or meandering along the paths There is no need to stress about learning Portuguese in Lagos British holidaymakers have long visited the Algarve Local shops and restaurants permeate the old town while larger grocery stores can be found nearby Another popular Algarve hotspot is Tavira to stock up on American goods at a Cosco warehouse with no areas considered unsafe to live in personal preferences play a significant role in choosing where to settle While some might dislike the hustle and bustle of Lisbon or the summer crowds and heat in the Algarve others may prioritize being near English speakers The two places listed below as "to avoid" are simply my personal preferences I speak from experience—I’ve lived in Portugal for six years and have traveled extensively Considered by many to be the most Portuguese village in the country and around giant boulders that look as though they fell from the sky and climb some 400 feet up to the pinnacle of the village where the remains of a castle still stand A few local shops exist inside the cave-like structures where no English is uttered I doubt that there are any expats living among them Monsanto is just one of the 27 Aldeias do Xisto A visit to these magical spots is to step back in time and enjoy their slower pace of life with vast plains that extend as far as the eye can see with summer highs reaching well over 100 F rural region makes up 30% of Portugal but its rural countryside is sparsely populated a few sleepy villages and cities like Beja and Évora Far fewer expats call the Alentejo home compared to the Algarve To integrate here would require full immersion into the Portuguese lifestyle for those fluent in the Portuguese language Most English-speaking expats underestimate the number of years required to achieve fluency expats find they require support from other expats to learn how to navigate the system with things such as resident visas and finding the essentials to settle into life in Portugal The vastness of the Alentejo would make finding other expats a challenge This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page These are the Portuguese public holidays for 2024 By Bettina Borg you’ll want to know when Portuguese public holidays (feriado public) are Not only are they great for immersing yourself in local culture but you can also use the time off to visit family and friends As a Catholic country, most public holidays in Portugal are religious. Many include festivals and parades honoring a saint or a bible story while others include Christian celebrations Most stores close for the whole day on public holidays public transport and other services reduce their schedules although some are only celebrated in certain regions each holiday is celebrated on the day itself Portugal celebrates these holidays nationwide: These holidays are only observed in certain Portuguese regions: Portuguese municipalities have a local holiday (Feriado Municipal or Dia do Concelho) that they celebrate These frequently relate to patron saints or important historical dates The list below includes many of these local holidays, but not all (Portugal has 308 municipalities). It’s recommended you check with your municipality to find out any concrete dates. you may want to make note of these other prominent dates in Portugal: These holidays are only celebrated in certain Portuguese regions: Both Portuguese and international schools in Portugal have their own vacation schedule Some of these days off overlap with national celebrations If you want to know more about school term times, visit our article on school holidays in Portugal She has experience working as a journalist at The Malta Independent and as an International Officer at the University of Malta Bettina’s topics of interest have a sense of whimsy about them Bruno Nascimento will make his debut at the World Cup of Darts in June after winning the Portuguese Qualifier in Caldas da Rainha Nascimento will now partner PDC Tour Card Holder Jose de Sousa in the annual pairs event in Frankfurt He won three of his four group games in the round-robin stage of the event Darren Bentley and Jose Barbosa in the knockout rounds Nascimento is the first player to win through the global qualifying events for this year's World Cup of Darts which takes place from June 12-15 at the Eissporthalle Powered by Zoocha April 25: A Revolution ornamented with carnations started with music The carnation revolution that took place on April 25 1974 impressed the world because violence was avoided. The Portuguese revolution influenced other revolutions in countries, such as Spain, Venezuela or Brazil, and had the power to end the dictatorship and give Portugal reasons to think about a future in which it could fly. Today the Portuguese live in freedom thanks to the courage of a group of brave soldiers and captains. No. An attempted coup d’État took place on March 16, 1974. On that day, a military column left the Caldas da Rainha regiment bound to Lisbon, accompanied by the Lamego, Mafra and Vendas Novas regiments. But a rebellion in Lamego made the rest unwilling to take any chances and the mission was aborted, while the military arrived in Santarém. After returning to Caldas da Rainha, the military were arrested. A few years before the revolution, Portugal started a colonial war and the Government showed no intention of bringing its troops back, whilst the military did not want to continue to go to Africa to fight a war they did not believe in. Then, the Armed Forces Movement was created, no more than a group of soldiers clandestinely considering a way to end the dictatorship. Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram Публикация от Travel Tomorrow (@traveltomorrow.eu) This memory was reported to Efe Agency by Vasco Lourenço president of the 25 of April Association created to keep alive the spirit of the movement that created the basis for the return to democracy in Portugal He says that “they were returning from one of the first meetings and a tire was flat It was two in the morning and while changing the tire he told Otelo that they weren’t going to solve anything with bureaucracies and they should do a coup and call elections Otelo’s words remained in History: ‘But do you also think so the animator of the radio said: “It is five minutes to 23:00 “Depois do Adeus.” This was the first signal given to the troops that everything was ready to go.The second signal was transmitted by Rádio Renascença the first verse of the song “Grândola Vila Morena” by Zeca Afonso was read the signal was given for the troops to advance to Lisbon but there is one of which there are photographic records The carnations were abundant because they were from that time of year which that day celebrated the anniversary of its inauguration a party where flowers could not be missing Celeste found the door closed and was informed by the boss that he would not open it because a revolution was underway she took the carnations with her to Rossio where the military tanks awaited further orders from Salgueiro Maia A soldier asked Celeste for a cigarette but as she was not a smoker The soldier accepted the carnation and placed it in the barrel of the shotgun a symbolic gesture worth imitation by his comrades-in-arms who followed in his footsteps leading Celeste to distribute all the carnations she carried with her the commander of the frigate Almirante Gago Coutinho was ordered to open fire on the terrace of the palace an order that was not carried out as there were many people there as well as several boats in the vicinity Shots should still have been launched into the air but as the frigate only had army ammunition otherwise it would create chaos in the area Although they refused to comply with a higher order Although it was a profoundly peaceful coup it is untrue that there were no fatalities during the revolution It was at the end of the day when the people of Lisbon demanded the end of the political police (PIDE) resulting in their leaders shooting at the population Although the government surrendered on the 25th it was a day later that military forces managed to occupy Forte de Caxias one of the political prisons with the most detainees it was the turn of the Peniche Fort to be released This was where only one escape from prison during the dictatorship had occurred led by several prisoners including the well-known politician Álvaro Cunhal established in 1936 during a reorganization process of the Estado Novo prison system with the objective of imprisoning political and social prisoners also known as the “death camp” There is no evidence that the American agency was related to the revolution. However a book published in 2008, Carlucci vs. Kissinger – The USA and the Portuguese Revolution by Bernardino Gomes and Tiago Moreira de Sá showed that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was attentive to the movements of the Portuguese military and the possibility of a revolution In the same book it is also shown that the Americans knew of the imminence of the revolution the United States Ambassador in Portugal in 1975 Carlucci declared that any action would have been to help the victory of the democratic forces Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website Statistics cookies collect information anonymously This information helps us to understand how our visitors use our website A man has been arrested in Nazaré for renting out empty properties for holidays as if they were his The 30-year-old man is suspected of committing 16 crimes of fraud The suspect “took advantage of houses that were empty because they belonged to foreign owners or people who did not live in them changed the locks and rented them out for holidays” the commander of the Caldas da Rainha Territorial Detachment told Lusa news agency the man “advertised the houses and even made visits to the location with those interested in renting and with whom he then signed contracts “there were homeowners who arrived at homes and found them occupied by people who had rented them out without their knowledge,” he added The crimes took place from the summer of 2023 to March 2024 in the municipalities of Alcobaça, Caldas da Rainha, Óbidos, and Peniche, the GNR said in a statement which culminated with the arrest of the suspect in the municipalities of Porto de Mós and Nazaré These resulted in the seizure of two vehicles; nine cell phones to carry out fraud crimes; an ATM card; a laptop computer and various tools used to carry out the crimes He seems smarter than most of the bureaucrats and government employees in Portugal He might be over-qualified to be a politician I admire your sense of humor and applaud your complete non take on a fraud and praise of a criminal; I guess that is a upper lip english attitude The Cascais railway line is suspended due to the effects of bad weather according to the Greater Lisbon Sub-Regional Command which has registered more than 500 incidents since last night The civil protection source indicated that among the more than 500 occurrences registered in Greater Lisbon are fallen trees roofs and telecommunications and electricity poles torn off by the wind “The Cascais railway line is interrupted between Caxias and Paço de Arcos due to a fallen tree that damaged the overhead line that fell on top of a train causing minor injuries to the driver,” he said “We have a set of municipal and national roads with interruptions We have the Marginal in the Alto da Boa Viagem and Santo Amaro de Oeiras areas The Marginal between Cascais and Carcavelos the National Road (EN) 247 in the Azoia area the EN115 between Loures and Santo Antão do Tojal the 248 in Bom Retiro and the EN10 at the Sobralinho intersection in the district of Vila Franca de Xira” train circulation has resumed on the Douro and Vouga lines after having been suspended due to bad weather adding more railway lines to the list of those affected In a situation update that reports information collected at 08:30 Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) indicates that rail traffic remained suspended on the Cascais Line According to information published by the company on social media also continued with their circulation suspended a four-track area where trains only run on two IP reported that trains resumed running at 06:32 after the tree fall caused by the weather conditions during the night was resolved The effects of the Martinho depression also caused restrictions on rail traffic on the Sado Line which at 07:50 was only running between Praias do Sado and Pinhal Novo but which will now be reestablished as it does not appear in the most recent situation report from Infraestruturas de Portugal The restrictions extended to rail traffic on the Linha do Oeste which was affected by fallen trees and sheets between Caldas da Rainha and Leiria The bad weather also forced the suspension of train circulation on the 25 de Abril Bridge between Coina and Roma-Areeiro stations According to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) more than 4,000 occurrences related to bad weather were recorded in mainland Portugal between 00:00 and 07:00 the majority of which were falling trees and structures Portugal is under the effects of depression Martinho which has forced warnings about strong wind Even though the weather in Portugal can still be chilly at this time of year, the temperatures are bound to rise as the streets fill with the sounds of music, samba dancers, elaborate costumes, and the iconic caricatures like Cabeçudos and Matrafonas. You don’t need to travel to Rio de Janeiro, Venice, or Tenerife to experience one of the world’s most exciting carnivals—Portugal has much to offer. Read on to discover 5 of the best Carnival destinations in Portugal and get ready to join the fun in 2025! Although Carnival is celebrated nationwide, some towns are particularly famous for their extravagant festivities. These are our top picks: visitmadeira.comDates: 26th February - 9th March 2025 Carnaval do Funchal in Madeira is one of Portugal’s most spectacular Carnival celebrations. Every year, the island’s capital bursts into life with dazzling parades, colourful costumes, and infectious rhythms. With warm weather and a lively atmosphere, Funchal is the perfect sun-soaked destination for Carnival. The festival’s highlights include the Grande Cortejo Alegórico (Grand Allegorical Parade), a stunning display of themed floats and samba dancers, and the Cortejo Trapalhão (Clumsy Parade), a playful, satirical procession. While you're there, indulge in local flavours—sip Vinho da Madeira, enjoy a refreshing poncha, and savour espetadas, Madeira’s famous grilled meat skewers. Whether for the parades, the atmosphere, or the flavours, Carnaval do Funchal promises an unforgettable celebration.  In southern Portugal, Carnaval de Loulé stands out as one of the country’s most important and vibrant Carnival celebrations. Located in the Algarve, Loulé enjoys a milder climate, making it an ideal destination for an outdoor party. But rain or shine, nothing stops the festivities—the streets always come alive with music, colour, and joy. Each year, Carnaval de Loulé embraces a unique theme, setting the tone for the parades and performances. These themes range from historical and cultural references to playful and imaginative concepts. Local groups, schools, and organisations showcase their creativity through elaborate floats and costumes, making every edition a visual spectacle. If you're heading to Loulé for Carnival, take the opportunity to explore more of the Algarve. Nearby destinations like Vilamoura, Albufeira, and Portimão offer stunning beaches, great nightlife, and a taste of the region’s laid-back charm. Carnaval de OvarDates: 8th February - 4th March 2025 Carnaval de Ovar, held in the Aveiro District, is one of Portugal’s most traditional and authentic Carnival celebrations. With deep roots in local customs and cultural heritage, it has long been a highlight of the region’s festive calendar. Locally known as "Carnaval Entrudo," the event embraces the spirit of pre-Lenten revelry before the solemn season of Lent. True to its traditions, Ovar’s Carnival is famous for its satirical floats, witty costumes, and socially charged performances, offering a playful yet sharp commentary on current events and societal issues. More than just a celebration, Carnaval de Ovar is a lively fusion of history, creativity, and community spirit, making it a must-experience event in Portugal. Carnaval de Alcobaça is often called the "most Brazilian" Carnival in Portugal, thanks to its electrifying energy and samba-filled celebrations. The heart of the festivities is a massive tent set up in front of the iconic Alcobaça Monastery, where thousands of people gather to dance to the rhythms of live samba bands and top DJs. The vibrant atmosphere, lively music, and non-stop partying make it a major draw for both locals and tourists. If you're heading to Alcobaça for Carnival, take the opportunity to explore some nearby gems. Leiria, Óbidos, and Caldas da Rainha are just a short drive away, offering a mix of medieval charm, cultural heritage, and relaxing thermal baths—perfect for unwinding after the celebrations.  Câmara Municipal de LisboaDates: 28th Febrary - 5th March 2025 Carnaval de Torres Vedras, held just 40 km from Lisbon, is one of Portugal’s most renowned and vibrant Carnival celebrations. Known as the biggest and “most Portuguese” Carnival, it blends deep-rooted traditions with a creative and satirical twist, making it a truly unique experience. The undisputed stars of the festival are the Matrafonas (also called Maria Cachuchas)—men dressed in flamboyant drag, adding humour and extravagance to the party. Another iconic sight is the Cabeçudos, performers wearing oversized, caricatured heads that bring a playful and theatrical touch to the streets. Famous for its sharp political and social satire, Carnaval de Torres Vedras transforms the city into a stage for witty and bold commentary. Elaborate floats, costumes, and performances poke fun at current events, turning the celebration into a mix of revelry and cultural expression. Dating back to the 19th century, the festival fuses centuries-old satirical traditions with Christian customs, creating an unmatched spectacle of creativity, laughter, and community spirit. Carnation Revolution: Portugal's Freedom Day On 25th April Portugal underwent a fundamental transformation known as the Carnation Revolution This pivotal event marked the end of the Estado Novo dictatorship and the start of Portugal's path to democracy The day is celebrated annually as Freedom Day to honour this peaceful transition and the newfound era of freedom and democracy the National Rail Pass has allowed travel on all the country's Regional trains for €49/month It should soon include InterRegional trains serve those traveling to the Lisbon metropolitan area a pass valid for any rail journey on national territory These single-class trains provide a service designed for short and medium distances linking nearby towns with each other and with the main urban centers or stations where the national transport network can be accessed Without omitting the necessary debate on more frequent timetables on-board comfort and amenities or on the journey times of the Regional service both in the amL (Lisbon metropolitan area) and on the rest of the rail network in recent times it has become increasingly urgent to deepen the conquest that was the intermodal social pass in amL the Navigatorto simplify access to rail transport for the whole country this proximity is always measured in a relative way and very sparingly because in reality it doesn't reach the entire territory - with a rail service - due to CP's commercial policy as it is only valid for the Regional service for the time being the trains that complement the regional offer on various lines the Assembly of the Republic voted in favour of including the InterRegionals and some Urbanos and Intercidades in this pass - those that end up providing a more regional service than anything else - in this Pass when this measure foreseen in the State Budget goes ahead the National Rail Pass will become more inclusive and the barriers that prevented the full use of rail transport for regional journeys in the overwhelming majority of rail geography will fall we talk about the National Rail Pass as it stands: only for the Regional service on both the Beira Alta and Beira Baixa lines the "Intercidades" commercial service is part of the regional offer in those territories stopping at the places with the highest demand it is the "Intercidades" and "Alfa Pendular" trains that provide this proximity service under the "segment the fares but not the trains" modality a synergy model in which the same train both offers seats for the long-distance commercial service from Lisbon to Évora/Beja/Algarve and provides seats for proximity traffic on certain routes a monthly subscription is available at a similar price to regional trains and occasional tickets are also priced similarly to regional ones for the same route the Rail Pass is immune to these synergy freebies and takes everything under the same umbrella: regional is what it's called The National Rail Pass is of no advantage to you That's not to say that you should lobby and fight for a special scheme for the area where you live the "Regional" services are grouped into two axes: Let's understand them better in the light of the timetable that came into force in December 2023 and the tariff that came into force at the beginning of this year This is an axis that has long been served by electric triple units with a suburban feel whose timetables are based on a timetabled system with a terminus at Lisbon's Santa Apolónia station to trains on the Beira Baixa and Leste lines all of which are in the "Regional" category where the new national rail pass is also valid but operating in a network with the above-mentioned links there are alternatives that allow you to combine it with other passes The Oeste line is almost 200 kilometers long and serves the entire coast of Portugal between the stations of Cacém and Figueira da Foz Its commercial operating model stabilized at the end of the 1990s based on an offer to the north of Caldas da Rainha and another to the south of Caldas da Rainha which relies on the "Urban" trains of the Sintra line multiple versions of "Intercidades" and "InterRegional" trains have been tested between Lisbon all of which have unfortunately been unsuccessful because they are neither attractive for long distances nor convincing for regional transport due to the small number of stops The primary function of local traffic remains but the trains that carry out this service are divided into three categories: Regional which prevents the advantages of the current National Rail Pass from being widely used on the Western line in a way that could be said to be similar to that of the Northern line there are seven daily "Regional" trains between Caldas da Rainha and Meleças stations two continue on to Lisbon (Santa Apolónia) while the other five trains require an "Urban" train at Meleças which serves all the stations and stops on the Sintra line up to Rossio central station there are three "Regional" trains to Leiria of which one goes to Figueira da Foz and another to Coimbra-B and the southbound train continues north and vice versa Dividing the number of trains in Caldas da Rainha takes care of those technical situations where rolling stock is rotated or refueling is required but not yet available to current National Rail Pass holders from Caldas da Rainha to Coimbra there are three "InterRegional" trains per direction there is one "InterRegional" train per direction the InterRegional offer exists because of the advantage of offering a set of trains in "accelerated running" on the south side it is a recent re-categorization of a "Regional" train the most visible practical effect of which has been to increase the cost of the ticket which has no practical effect on the quality of service is a barrier to fare accessibility for the new pass but also for the occasional ticket: this "InterRegional" train continues to Coimbra-B with the "Regional" category forcing passengers passing through Caldas da Rainha to buy two tickets with the corresponding fare penalty It may be that even before I get there and have to count so many different types of passes and types of trains there will be news about the inclusion of InterRegional trains in the new national rail pass making everything easier and more accessible This northernmost section of the Oeste line is part of Coimbra's urban train system with its own fare system where the new rail pass is not valid As the commercial rail system is as rigid as it is flexible on this stretch of urban trains there is the Regional train from Caldas da Rainha to Coimbra-B (leaving at 7pm and returning at 5am) and the train from Caldas da Rainha to Figueira da Foz (leaving at 2pm and returning at 5pm) are you still with us on this troubled journey along the Western line it's much simpler in practice: unless you've been told and honored as long as the new national rail pass doesn't allow you to travel on the InteRegionais it doesn't give you an advantage on the Oeste line and if you buy the new national rail pass for the Oeste line you'll certainly always be shelling out change for tickets The current kilometer-based subscriptions are more advantageous and if you travel on the amL always combine them with the intermodal social pass Metropolitan Navigator Given the creativity of this operating model an inhabitant of a town served by the Oeste line who wants to use this Pass to get to Lisbon has to aim for the only two "Regional" trains that do: either the one that arrives in Lisbon at 3pm or the one that arrives at 9pm the choice is always made before lunch: either at 5 o'clock or 11 o'clock traveling out of hours has advantages for the price of the ticket: but be careful in order to use the Oeste line on the section within amL the pass must be Metropolitan Navigator allows for more choices you have access to the entire offer (Urban Regional and InterRegional) between Lisbon For a further 49 € you have access to the rest of the Oeste line as far as Figueira da Foz or Coimbra but subject to the timetables of the "Regional" trains there are 518 possible combinations of journeys to make in order to use the National Rail Pass already discounting those that have been excluded because they belong to Urbanos de Coimbra the 71 possibilities below €49 per month are excluded meaning that there are 447 origin/destination pairs whose monthly subscription is higher than that of the National Rail Pass When we take into account the youth discount on monthly subscriptions there are 413 origin/destination pairs where this Pass can give an advantage over monthly subscriptions for young people this figure alone does not guarantee a price reduction InterRegional trains make up half of the offer and above Leiria they make up the majority of the offer the following two cases show the importance of including InterRegional and Urban trains in the National Rail Pass for passengers on the Oeste line who opt for this Pass the difference in cost is paid by the passengers themselves who are forced to buy single journeys to use those trains excluded from the pass despite their function as regional transport the current monthly subscription ends up being more advantageous in terms of price which means that passengers on the Oeste line end up being left out of the dynamic of advantages that the National Rail Pass entails which include using the train outside of everyday needs and enjoying a comfortable means of transport for journeys outside of daily commuting allowing them to discover the region or reunite with family and friends with significant savings for the wallet and the environment The examples focus on the routes between Leiria and Figueira da Foz a summary of which can be found in the table below: In the first exampleThe monthly subscription for the Leiria to Figueira da Foz train costs €124.90 and is valid for the five timetables between the two cities but it only allows you to travel on one train: the 15h11 from Leiria to Figueira and back at 17h17 Each InterRegional trip from Leiria to Figueira costs €5.95 for those who opt for the National Rail Pass on the 22 working days that they leave Leiria for Figueira on the 06:58 InterRegional and return on the 17:17 Regional which is 55 € above the monthly subscription price for the route in question it can be said that above Leiria this pass is of no interest: these additional 55 € don't pay for the possible journeys you might make outside your daily routine "to take advantage of the pass" In the second exampleThere are already six Regional trains between Leiria and Caldas da Rainha: 06h23 12h13 and 18h13 from Leiria to the south and 08h30 14h20 and 19h06 from Caldas da Rainha to Leiria The monthly subscription between the two cities costs €127.20 and the InterRegional trip costs €6.20 the National Rail Pass would only represent a saving if you used the InterRegional up to a maximum of 12 journeys a month as long as you consider that the extra value of the InterRegional journeys you'll have to buy will end up paying for the other Regional train journeys you'll make in your spare time outside your usual route which in this case is between Leiria and Caldas da Rainha add the 12 InterRegional journeys (74.40 €) and that's 123.40 € make sure you don't make more than 12 InterRegional journeys remember that with the National Rail Pass you can always travel to any destination on the Regional train network such as taking a Regional from Caldas da Rainha to the south without paying extra Take the opportunity to visit Torres Vedras getting off at the São Mamede stop and walking a little in a westerly direction You'll certainly find ways to make the most of the pass combining the enjoyment of nature and heritage in your region These calculations no longer make sense and with a single pass you'll be able to travel on all the trains between Meleças and Figueira da Foz if you travel between Leiria and Figueira da Foz every day the €49 National Rail Pass will replace the monthly subscription of €124.90 And if you travel between Leiria and Caldas da Rainha you'll be able to pay for a 49 € pass instead of the current 127.20 € subscription which requires you to buy a ticket every time you want to travel to Bombarral or Torres Vedras A different scenario is between Caldas da Rainha and Meleças where most of the offer is on Regional trains there are 210 possibilities for monthly subscriptions and within amL all subscriptions have a higher value than the one offered by amL There are four exceptions arising from the dual tariffs between monomodal and intermodal: if the monthly commute takes place exclusively between Pedra Furada and one of the three stops in the municipality of Mafra (Mafra Gare Malveira and Jerumelo) or exclusively between Sabugo and Mafra Gare and without the need for any other transportation they have to be written down so that there are no hidden bills and without this meaning that in the next tariff update they will remain as they are today having made the parenthesis for the introduction of this exception for these four very particular routes we can say that the answer within amL is obvious: Navigator There are several routes on this southern part of the Oeste line that you can now take advantage of with the National Rail Pass since only two of the trains are InterRegional - one per direction signatures between Malveira and Torres Vedras - €67.10 - on which there are savings with the Pass if you don't make more than five InterRegional journeys (count them well Also between Dois Portos and Bombarral - €80.30 - you'll save with the Pass if you don't make more than seven InterRegional journeys (at the eighth you'll lose money between Bombarral and Caldas da Rainha - €50.60 - just one InterRegional trip already falls outside the savings allowed by the new pass the youth subscription valid for all trains costs €37.95 but between Bombarral and São Martinho do Porto the youth subscription costs €56.45 the National Rail Pass doesn't pay to go to classes in Caldas but it can pay to go to the beach: leave Bombarral at 7.46am or 1.54pm and then return at 12.56pm or 6.54pm In a nutshellFor all cases south of Caldas da Rainha you just have to avoid the train that leaves Lisbon at 4:53pm and the one that leaves Caldas da Rainha at 6:21am the inclusion of the InterRegional and Urban trains in the new national rail pass makes it possible to equalize the advantages of the rail pass for passengers on the Oeste line with those that passengers on the Norte line already had not for any infrastructural reason but above all because the regulations for the new national rail pass were out of step with CP's policy of offering commercial services the intermodal social pass - Metropolitan Navigator - costs 40 € and is valid for the whole of amL and for all modes of transport passengers can get their pass valid on the CP as far as Azambuja (Azambuja Complex) Bombarral or Torres Vedras who wants to reach some point on the amL and use the train frequently the Metropolitan Navigator plus a subscription between Malveira (note that the InterRegional doesn't stop at the Jerumelo station which forms the boundary of the amL) and its final destination The math is easy: for those who use the InterRegional they need to continue buying the Metropolitan Navigator (40 €) plus the cost of the ticket between Malveira and its destination: For those who use the Regional exclusively it pays to buy the National Rail Pass in addition to the National Rail Pass There are exceptions that allow you to save some money: if your destination is Sapataria subscriptions cost less than 49 € and you don't need the National Rail Pass to use most of the rail services between Caldas da Rainha and Lisbon the cost of the passes drops from €187.80 to €89 valid for all journeys except the InterRegional train departing at 6:21 am from Caldas da Rainha to Lisbon (Santa Apolónia) where it is scheduled to arrive at 08:30 am InterRegional trains are only expected to be included in the first half of 2024 there are no plans to include the Urbanos de Lisboa which means that given CP's strategic option to make Meleças station the terminus of the Oeste line trains buying the pass Navigator to reach Lisbon will always be necessary the €49 monthly National Rail Pass is enough to get to Lisbon on the Western line you'll need a €89 monthly pass choose one of the 8 trains with transfer times in Meleças that are around 30 minutes and also do the math for the last trains of the day: 19h23 from Caldas to Lisbon and 19h30 from Meleças to Caldas the €80 Rodoviária do Oeste pass with Carris and Metro in Lisbon is a more attractive option for most journeys to Lisbon This discrimination against the West trains is in addition to the historical discrimination for the lack of direct services to Lisbon's Rossio station or for the lack of stations and stops where passengers feel welcome and informed about the state of traffic the Oeste line is still a long way from being able to offer quality access to Lisbon And even when it comes to using the trains on the Oeste line the new pass doesn't bring any exciting new features: practically everything remains the same but with a poster advertising the new national rail pass only two InterRegional trains arrive in Lisbon and another two leave Every hour there are Regional trains to Santarém and Entroncamento many of which continue to Tomar and have connections to Coimbra The math to find out which combination is the most advantageous is always too personalized you would combine a monthly subscription to the CP train to Vila Franca de Xira with the Metropolitan NavigatorThis is the cheapest option and gives you access to the Regional and InterRegional trains plus all transportation within the Lisbon metropolitan area you can also opt for the combination of the monthly CP subscription to Azambuja with the Metropolitan Navigator and the Azambuja ComplexThis gives an even greater advantage but only allows the use of trains that stop at Azambuja Prices vary and those who board at the Virtudes Reguengo or Setil stations - the first stops after Azambuja where the Azambuja Complex do Navegante - to Lisbon you spend 75.40 € a price that increases as the distance increases this combination of passes has prices ranging from €75.40 from Virtudes to €144.55 from Santarém which allows you to use any Regional or InterRegional train the Reguengo station is served by an IR in each direction from Monday to Friday except on official holidays; [b] except for Regional trains 5600 and 5416 which do not stop at Azambuja This case is the same as for InterRegional trains: you must buy the combination pass up to Vila Franca de Xira; [c] Compared to the option on the left 5416 and 820 between Santarém and Lisbon and on trains 5601 that monthly cost drops to 49 € if you're coming from Regional to a Lisbon station and don't need any other transportation the choice is quite obvious: you save with the Pass The savings are different if you have to use other transport in Lisbon and/or if your routine involves using InterRegional or Regional trains that don't stop at Azambuja These are small nuances that can cause you inconvenience during your commute and which we'll analyze below You can choose a monthly subscription from your origin and combine it with a Lisbon city pass You have four options: Metropolitan Navigator from Azambuja (€40.50) or Vila Franca de Xira (€40) the Navegante Lisboa (€30) or a monthly subscription for 1 zone of CP Lisboa (€29.15) you have access to all the city's transport The sum is easy: for 49 of one pass plus 30 of the other you can reach Lisbon and ride all the city's transport for 79 € a month What are the restrictions The only restrictions are that you can't use the two InterRegionals that run in each direction on weekdays or the one that runs late on Sunday afternoons to get to Lisbon The option of combining the €40.50 of the Metropolitan Navigator with Azambuja ComplexThe price of the monthly subscription to your destination is an advantage whenever the sum is less than the 79 € proposed above In the case of the cheapest combination - passengers from Virtudes costs €75.40 and allows you to travel on all the Urban and Regional trains on that route alone will end up excluding the rest of the country's "Regional" train network The question remains: is this saving worth it or for an extra €3.60 a month wouldn't you like to have a Pass that would allow you to go to Santarém without paying for another ticket do you have practically unlimited possibilities to use the amL public transport network and the Regional trains throughout the country as long as the National Rail Pass isn't valid on the InterRegionals how many IR journeys can I make without destroying my savings if you opt for the National Rail Pass for your journeys from Santarém to Lisbon We're guessing that sometimes you'll need to use the InterRegional offer from Santarém to Lisbon you'll be able to travel eight times without ruining your savings (eight InterRegional journeys cost €63.60) and you'll also get a pass that allows you to travel in your spare time from Santarém to Abrantes Aveiro or any other destination in between because the savings are too great: on weekdays they leave from Santarém for Lisbon at 6:47 and 7:33 on Sundays one leaves at 22:58 and from Lisbon they leave on weekdays at 17:15 and 18:15 you're always saving and you can (re)discover other destinations without paying extra if you come to Lisbon and only use the Regionals you'll always win with the National Rail Pass: with 49 euros a month you'll have your affairs taken care of and hundreds of kilometers to discover in your free time But if your destination is far from Oriente or Santa Apolónia stations and your origin is any station or station above Setil you can save money by combining it with the Navegante Municipal from Lisbon (30 €) for 79 € you can take any Regional to Lisbon and then any transport within the capital Note that the analysis is made more sensitive by the multiple combinations that can be made plus the discounts for young people and students on subscriptions and monthly passes it's worth remembering that you can buy one combination one month and another the next And go back to the previous one whenever you need to because the features of the National Rail Pass that cause these restrictions on daily timetables end up being very useful in leisure time or even on weekend trips to reunite with family: traveling all over the country on Regional trains with the Pass you use to go to school college or work is something you can save money on Let's remember this again: it's especially valid for journeys centered on the Northern line You're a teacher at a school in Lisbon and every weekend you go to your family in Pombal The National Rail Pass will certainly help you get around and save you a lot of money: €42.80 in a month the benefits will be felt above all when the InterRegional Coimbra Urban and Lisbon Urban trains are included in this National Rail Pass reducing those small barriers that - in the end - constitute major difficulties in accessing the rail service and enjoying this mode of transport without significant differences in the quality of the service provided in one region and another it is important to deepen it towards a proximity rail service that is easy and intuitive to use In addition to the differences in the rolling stock used the speed of the services or their frequency the National Rail Pass has made the differences in the service provided more obvious MB Way: 933 140 217 (indicar “LPP”) Ou clica aqui Podes escrever-nos para [email protected] O LPP / Lisbon For People é um jornal local dedicado à cidade e à área metropolitana de Lisboa editado de forma totalmente independente e sem fins lucrativos ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Train circulation on the Western Line (Sintra/Leiria) will resume from January 5th on the stretch between Malveira (Mafra) and Torres Vedras stations, in the district of Lisbon, according to Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) The re-establishment of passenger service was agreed between IP and CP - Comboios de Portugal The company expects that “the replacement work on the signalling cables at the level crossings will be completed by the end of this month allowing the Malveira – Torres Vedras section to be put into service” as part of the modernisation and electrification works of the line IP also estimates that the reopening of trains between Malveira and Meleças (municipality of Sintra) “could occur during the month of February” taking into account the “extent of the damage at Meleças station” Until train circulation is reestablished along the entire line alternative road transport will be made available due to the modernisation work on the West Line railway circulation between Meleças - Torres Vedras was suspended “to allow work to be carried out in the Sapataria tunnel” in the municipality of Sobral de Monte Agraço The suspension was expected to last four months but was extended due to unforeseen situations during the tunnel works The Western Line modernisation project (Sintra/Figueira da Foz) is divided into two projects the first being the electrification and modernisation of the section between Mira Sintra-Meleças and Torres Vedras The second consists of the modernization and electrification of the section between Torres Vedras and Caldas da Rainha the global investment is 160 million euros Faça login para deixar um comentário. Assine a Gazeta das Caldas e aceda todas as notícias premium da região Oeste Estamos a utilizar cookies para lhe proporcionar a melhor experiência no nosso website Pode saber mais sobre os cookies que estamos a utilizar ou desactivá-los em configurar cookies Este website utiliza cookies para que possamos proporcionar ao utilizador a melhor experiência possível As informações dos cookies são armazenadas no seu browser e desempenham funções como reconhecê-lo quando regressa ao nosso website e ajudar a nossa equipa a compreender quais as secções do website que considera mais interessantes e úteis As Cookies Necessárias devem estar sempre ativadas para que possamos guardar as preferências do utilizador relativamente às definições de cookies não poderemos guardar as suas preferências terá de ativar ou desativar novamente os cookies Este website utiliza o Google Analytics e o Echobox para recolher informações anónimas como o número de visitantes do sítio e as páginas mais populares Manter este cookie ativado ajuda-nos a melhorar o nosso sítio Web active primeiro os cookies estritamente necessários para que possamos guardar as suas preferências Este site usa as seguintes cookies para analisar como é que utiliza o site para o podermos melhorar: Mais informação na nossa Política de Privacidade “In life when two beings can get the most of themselves to achieve their best something superb takes place.In this way in Art`itself it is necessary that the artist can be able to give the best of himself “ Being a part of the Horse National Fair Programme its purpose is to promote the achievement of the supreme objective of building an equestrian statue to honour the horseman Master Nuno Oliveira For that purpose the horsemen who followed Nuno Oliveira`s equestrian Art are expected to be there to give their distinguished opinion related to the building of this monument If must be an equestrian statue with no political motivations largely related to the contemporary culture and so it will encourage the knowledge and the pratice of the Master`s horsemanship The building of the new “ Museu dos Coches” in Lisbon according to the project of the remarkable Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha must include an equestrian statue ; it should be the image of the Portuguese homage to the Equestrian Art and no doubt it is internationally known that Master Nuno Oliveira (1925-1989) was a remarkable horseman of the 20th century Nuno Oliveira was a renowned sculptor of Portugal and he took to the world ,in the USA Australia and in Europe a message of the beauty of the Equestrian Art and the contribution of the natural aptitude of the” Lusitano “ horse to this complex aesthetics culture The sculptor and horseman of well-known value in the Visual Art Jean –Louis Sauvat ,a teacher of plastic Art at the “ École Nationale des Beaux-Arts “ had the chance to make acquaintance with Nuno Oliveira and he was even Oliveira´s student of the Art of riding ; Sauvat expressed remarkably Oliveira´s Equestrian Art what is shown in the work “ Propos sur des croquis equestres” printed by Belin The study of these pictures of Sauvat makes us feel the Art of riding as a cultural activity in harmony with the contemporaneous naturalism It is the right place for this work of Art to be made with the contribution of a sculptor whose merit is internationally assumed and he will succeed in producing a monument to complete that work according to the excellent project already presented by the architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha In the room of the new “ Museu dos Coches “must be included several works of Art and so it is completely justified an equestrian statue and the contribution of the sculptor Jean-Louis Sauvat will be very valious and it is a historical chance to get this contribution that can´t be substituted by any other Besides “ Oliveira was associated to the foundation of the Portuguese Equestrian Art School because its founders were students of his or his students `students “ as it is Marion Scali´ s opinion in the book “ Mestre Nuno Oliveira “ So it is largely justified the proximity of the Portuguese Equestrian Art School and the recognition of the teaching that inspired its foundation In order to cut in stone an equestrian statue representing a personality with the competence of Master Nuno Oliveira it is necessary a sculptor horseman that has lived the Equestrian Art of the Master and has felt the harmony between the man and the “Lusitano “ horse ; these are Sauvat ´great qualities and besides that gift Sauvat possesses the international recognition of being one of the most remarkable sculptors devoted to the Equestrian Art The only sculpture representing Master Nuno Oliveira is a Delfim Maya´s work and he is also a sculptor- horseman who knew and and interpreted Oliveira´s Equestrian Art a statue made of plaster ( 40 cm x 48 cm x 48 cm ),that can be seen in José Malhoa Museum in Caldas da Rainha To understand the greatness of Nuno Oliveira´s Equestrian Art it is necessary the emotion that is possible to feel whenever we listen to a Verdi´s opera and speaking of Visual Art to discover on the back of a horse that feeling of pleasure and harmony that Nuno Oliveira taught and that Jean-Louis Sauvat knew how to show and make us feel in the several works of his authorship There are lots of books published about Nuno Oliveira´s Equestrian Art and their reading is the principal means of knowing it today ; however what the writing language teaches us it is surpassed by the Visual Art when it reaches the expression of the beauty between the man and the horse in a communication with which some horsemen are gifted as it was the case of Nuno Oliveira; and he also had the quality of extending his feeling to his students This is the qualified idea that Jean-Louis Sauvat can reach in his pictures and sculptures the electrification of the Western Line is finally going to happen the contract has now been awarded to contract to upgrade 43 km of this line between the Lisbon region and Torres VedrasLater the section between Torres Vedras and Caldas da Rainha will be electrified is budgeted at 61.7 million euros and will be carried out by a consortium made up of the companies Gabriel A and will be the responsibility of Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) There are plans to fully electrify the 43-kilometre stretch and create and improve access to the passenger platforms for people with reduced mobility There are also plans to remove and automate level crossings or double the track in some sections to allow trains to cross without having to stop the West Line will have direct trains to Rossio station in Lisbon via the Sintra Line connecting it to all the other rail infrastructure in the region The Western Line "has been subject to marked degradation in recent years"as Pedro Nuno Santos acknowledges even though it was once an important rail route Intercidades trains ran between Lisbon-Oriente and Leiria; between 1991 and 1998 Intercidades even ran between Lisbon and Figueira da Foz the West Line has potential as an alternative to the North Line It can also be used to bring cities such as Mafra Leiria or Figueira da Foz closer to the capital In OctoberInfraestruturas de Portugal has launched the 40 km between Torres Vedras and Caldas da Rainha at a cost of 40 million euros Podes escrever-nos para [email protected] The new pass works with monthly top-ups and can be used on any Regional train but these connections we have just mentioned will be 49 €/month already from August 1st with the Secretary of State for the Treasury signing an order authorizing CP to implement the new product For 49 euros/month, the National Rail Pass can be used on all CP regional trains, nationwide, and allows unlimited travel, without route or time restrictions. This new monthly pass works just like any other pass: you must purchase a CP Card (which costs 6 euros) and every month load the pass onto that card The purchase of this card and the monthly pass recharging can only be done in person at a CP ticket office you can do it from the 21st day of the previous month If you don't have a CP Card and want to travel right away on August 1 it would be better to get that card done now because it may take a few days the National Rail Pass will essentially allow you three routes: there are more Regional services to discover: a "a bet on sustainable mobility and a more cohesive which advanced the idea in the first place it is "an important step towards making greener mobility a cheaper alternative in times of economic and environmental crisis" You can learn more about the National Rail Pass here, at CP's site. Podes escrever-nos para [email protected]