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 Read today's Portuguese stories delivered to your email Between 8:30pm and 9:30pm on Saturday, 22 March, the Municipality of Loulé will once again be turning off the lights in a symbolic moment of reflection on climate change Portuguese municipalities have been making history as invaluable partners in this global movement whether by carrying out local actions or by temporarily blacking out some of their main monuments Loulé Council is committed to turning off the lights of several buildings and public spaces in the municipality for 60 minutes on March 22 It is worth remembering that for over 15 years, “Earth Hour” has represented a global movement of millions of people around the world who come together to demonstrate their commitment to the Planet 2.2 million people and more than 2,000 companies turned off their lights for 60 minutes 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 the earth's population was 2.5 billion How can any "sustainability" be achieved in the coming years when more land will have to be cleared for farming An exploding population will not allow for forest and habitat sustenance nor recovery The real villain amidst all this climate alarmism is ignored due to childish political viewpoints Send us your comments or opinion on this article Reaching over 400,000 people a week with news about Portugal Loulé will once again bid farewell to summer with another dazzling edition of White Night Algarve During the event’s official presentation last Friday at the BTL - Better Tourism Lisbon Travel Market 2025 the Municipality of Loulé announced two of the confirmed headliners for this spectacular evening: The Gift and Carolina Deslandes Returning to the event after their unforgettable 2017 performance - one of the most attended concerts in White Night Algarve's history - The Gift will take the stage near the Monumento Engº Duarte Pacheco with a special “Best of” show led by the powerful vocals of Sónia Tavares and the musical brilliance of Nuno Gonçalves remains one of Portugal’s most celebrated musical acts one of the most prominent voices of her generation She has captivated audiences with millions of Youtube views and a meteoric rise in the Portuguese music scene Noite Branca Algarve offers a unique blend of culture and unforgettable experiences while boosting local commerce and reinforcing Loulé’s reputation as a cultural hotspot dress in white and join us in Loulé!” the organisation shares the Loulé Municipality received the “Green Destination” award certificate at BTL in Lisbon The Algarve municipality was "recognised for its commitment to implementing policies and actions that promote balanced based on the principles set out in the SDGs the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as mentioned in a statement by the Loulé City Council “The award of the certificate is based on an audit of a set of criteria in the areas of Destination Management The award will bring Loulé a place “in an international network and access to the good practices of other destinations with the same label.” There will also be access to tools created by “Green Destinations” allowing the evaluation of “various aspects of sustainability performance.” The “millions of tourists” that visit Loulé municipality “every year” will have a “guarantee that they are in a territory that excels in good sustainability practices” “Loulé has been a pioneering municipality in the country when it comes to sustainability.” Being the first municipality in Portugal to ever approve a Municipal Climate Action Plan In late June, I had the pleasure of attending Festival MED, a remarkable annual world music festival that takes place in the city of Loulé in southern Portugal Although World Music Central has been covering Festival MED for three years Festival MED celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024 and presented a superb lineup of Portuguese and international artists whose music Mediterranean cultures such as the Phoenicians and Carthaginians established trading posts in the southern Iberian Peninsula This led to an increase in fishing activities conflict arose with the arrival of the Suevians who also assimilated Roman cultural elements the Muslim Moors invaders established the fortified city of Al-‘Ulya’ (Loulé) the Christian Reconquista reached Loulé when King Afonso III and D Paio Peres Correia conquered the city in 1249 The early 20th century saw significant architectural projects including the construction of the Mercado Municipal de Loulé (city market) Post-1926 developments included the modernization of Avenida José da Costa Mealha and the construction of the Duarte Pacheco monument I started this section with the term durable street art This is versus perishable street art that lasts for a limited time I much prefer art that survives for a longer time The first piece of art I noticed was a metal statue of António Fernandes Aleixo He was a renowned Portuguese poet of the people Despite his humble origins and semi-illiteracy he became known for his sharp social criticism and ironic verses He sold lottery tickets and recited his poetry at fairs earning the nickname “poet-ticket seller.” Aleixo died of tuberculosis on November 16 a disease that also claimed one of his daughters Aleixo’s literary style was characterized by spontaneity He often used common Portuguese verse forms and focused on social injustices and life’s hardships His work was largely undocumented until Joaquim de Magalhães compiled his verses resulting in the publication of Aleixo’s first poetry book “Quando Começo a Cantar,” in 1943 His work gained appreciation from the public and notable figures leading to his posthumous recognition and numerous tributes including schools and streets named after him his legacy remains significant in Portuguese literature The statue of António Fernandes Aleixo is by Café Calcinha This is a fine place to have breakfast (and other meals as well) Aside from enjoying the historical ambience don’t forget to try the delicious folhado de Loulé a mouthwatering puff pastry filled with custard cream a different type of pastry that is popular in Portugal is the pasteis de nata It is a small custard tart that you can find in most pastry shops and other eateries I purchased an exquisite pasteis at the Mercado Municipal Another attention-grabbing sculpture nearby is the bronze statue of a woman dressed in traditional clothing selling fruits and vegetables was designed by Teresa Paulino and Pedro Félix The statue is right next to the popular Mercado Municipal de Loulé market a larger art structure is located not far from the market on the pleasant boulevard Avenida José da Costa Melha It is a bandstand built in the middle of an intersection This artwork is a tribute to municipal brass bands It includes white statues of musicians playing wind instruments You can take a walk around the downtown area and discover charming meandering narrow streets with cobblestone sidewalks and pavement ice cream parlors (we had delectable artisan ice cream at a place near Café Calcinha) gift stores for tourists and regular retail stores of all types Colorful sardine designs are the most popular items you’ll find in many products sold in souvenir shops Other stuff you can buy are ceramics and tiles Loulé is in a region that is near the cork oaks so you will also find plenty of products made with cork so you will need to purchase tickets to enter and enjoy the shows.  Ticket prices are very affordable and one ticket gives you access to all concerts Although I see tourists walking around in flip-flops and sandals I find athletic shoes (or some other type of walking shoes) much more comfortable to navigate the old town area The city of Loulé is part of a consortium that proposed the Geoparque Algarvensis project This initiative aims to promote the region’s identity The project encourages visitors to explore and invest in the area in a manner that respects its natural and cultural values The goal is to create a sustainable and harmonious way of living that can be passed on to future generations Geoparque Algarvensis seeks to enhance social and territorial cohesion in the municipalities of Loulé It follows the UNESCO Geopark concept and aligns with sustainable development goals By highlighting the area’s geological and natural heritage the project aims to rethink the use of local resources for the benefit of the community The closest airport is Faro International Airport which is well-connected to many European countries there are buses that connect to various cities in Portugal and Spain You can drive from Seville to Loulé in about 2 hours (202.8 km) For more information, visit the official festival website:  https://festivalmed.cm-loule.pt/ Related stories: Roberto Fonseca, an unforgettable experience Please enter an answer in digits:5 × one = Loulé's rock salt mine will be converted into an art gallery and will be exhibiting the exposition “Salaris – Ficções a Partir do Sal” with displays from artists like Maura Grimaldi Natália Loyola and Victor Gonçalves.  the exhibition is considered an “artistic intervention” attracting visitors to an artistic exploration of “salt and the human relationship with the natural and technical environment” The rock salt mine stretches for approximately 45km and each artist is assigned a unique chamber within the underground network Natalia Loyola has commented that her art will have visitors “explore the field of sound ecologies” through “installations that transform the tactile into sound experiences” It will examine the “tenuous relationship between artificial and natural by integrating technological elements to create immersive sound environments that invite reflection on the narratives of Capitalocene.” Victor Gonçalves is the author of two installations titled “Evento Sentinela” and “Situação-Salobra” both of which explore the relationship between time and matter The first contain “more than 1,300 paper boats” which were all made from the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) of the Brazilian Senate regarding the environmental crimes that took place in the Maceió rock salt the author combines the sound and tactile senses inviting the visitors to focus on the fragility of the medium and the “tension between the artificial and the natural” as they stand before a block of salt will be displaying an immersion of images in search of the “relationship between the cinema experience and the underground world of mine gallery” Her goal is to provide the “sublime and astonishing” ambiance of the mines being conscious about the immense work and equipment required for the mines whilst simultaneously offering the resources to intervene the landscape in an “irreversible way” The artists stated that they were inspired by the grandeur of the mines how descending 230 metres underground influences all your senses It is a place where “the human actions and geology meet in an aggressive and poetic way” This initiative is being promoted by the Associação Alfaia and the Festival Verão Azul with the support of the Direção-Geral das Artes Anyone who wants to watch the Loulé parade while dressed up can rent a costume and other accessories at the Loulé Carnival Shop The space has already opened its doors and will be open until March 12 Here you will be able to choose from many costumes which are part of a unique collection that Loulé City Council makes available to revellers whether to wear during the parade or at the many balls and parties that will take place in the municipality these days In addition to raising awareness of this important historical legacy of the municipality this initiative aims to encourage the party spirit of visitors and their participation in the festivities of this time of year Loulé Carnival 2025 takes place on Avenida José da Costa Mealha on the 2nd in the Auditorium of the Cândido Guerreiro Professional School the implementation report of the Digital Program aimed at the economic and social development of the interior of the municipality of Loulé will be presented.  the program foresees 98% mobile network coverage of the territorial area of ​​the parishes in the interior of the municipality of Loulé (Alte It includes the contracting of digital solutions and equipment from the operator NOS in four priority areas: social action and support for the most vulnerable populations One of the initiatives that form part of this investment is the monitoring of 160 beneficiaries in a joint action with the Algarve Local Health Unit 50 elderly people participate in a health indicator monitoring system digitizing natural and cultural routes or creating tourist attractions with augmented reality are other actions underway under the umbrella of this program “This action aims to promote the development of the vast interior of the municipality of Loulé retaining population and improving the quality of life of those who live here and meant a global investment amounting to 2.5 million euros” One of the most anticipated events in the Algarve, the Loulé Chocolate Fair promising an unforgettable experience for all chocolate lovers.  near Loulé City Hall and the Municipal Market will transform into a paradise for the senses featuring a vast selection of artisanal chocolates the fair has become a staple in the Algarve’s traditions drawing thousands of visitors across Portugal and abroad Loulé has proudly claimed the title of the “chocolate capital” Among the main attractions of this edition are 20 exhibitors from different regions of the country showcasing a wide range of unique including face-painting for children – all free of charge reinforcing the municipality’s commitment to cultural accessibility and promoting local tourism More than just an event for chocolate enthusiasts the Loulé Chocolate Fair is also a space for socialising and fun where people of all backgrounds can find reasons to smile This fair continues to emphasise the value of local and national producers supporting sustainable economic development and quality craftsmanship there will also be live musical performances by artists and bands These concerts will occur on the weekends from 4pm to 6.30pm Organised by the municipal company Loulé Concelho Global and open to the public every day from 10am to 8pm Whether you’re a chocolate connoisseur or just looking for a delightful experience Loulé’s Chocolate Fair aims to be a highlight of the season the artist goes up to the stage with the minimum The place breathes intimacy with its few scattered chairs and the tenderness of a simple garden This space has hosted memorable performances, such as Galician duo Caamaño & Ameixeiras last year and Malian musician Ballaké Sissoko at this year’s festival Then, Argentine artist Delfina Cheb arrived with that precedent and context. The night started rolling, seated with her guitar Delfina conveyed the vulnerability and fragility of human emotions while she sang about someone seeking to escape the burden of a broken heart or the struggles of daily life Relaxed chords provided the soothing preamble and she started to feel better at the dawn of a long night The Mexican writer Angeles Mastretta once wrote that our eyes burn when our tongue finally says the things it has been silent about for a long time Delfina closed her eyes to hide the burning sensation and to channel her anguish into singular vocal inflections “Milonga del Trovador,” by Horacio Ferrer and Astor Piazzolla, was another song of the night. The gaucho and Indian pride of coming from South America was a declaration of loyalty and a tribute to the wisdom of the storytellers. Delfina is not even 26 years old and got into tango and milonga genres where the youth does not tend to gravitate but which was the music that she listened to at home and that peculiar phrasing sets her apart from the crowd Another song “Esquinas porteñas,” depicts neighborhoods and nostalgia The lyrics go: “Shady little street is poetry the path to God.” Cheb reinvents this well-known tango bringing a new perspective and freshness to it She fostered direct and clear communication Delfina collaborated with producer Javier Limón and his company, Casa Limón, on her albums Doce milongas de amor y un tango desesperado (2020) and Buenos Aires (2022) brought his distinctive touch to both projects she enrolled in Berklee College of Music in Boston to pursue a double major in jazz composition and vocal performance She then completed a master’s degree in contemporary improvisation at the New England Conservatory She also planned to pursue a doctorate in musicology at the same institution Delfina captivated audiences at Hamman with the calmness and honesty of her singing we all felt rejuvenated by her performance Her closing message was clear: we always have a chance to start anew Please enter an answer in digits:4 × 5 = The problems relating to water shortages in the Algarve will be the central theme of the upcoming Loulé Carnival Carnival is returning to the streets of Loulé on the 2nd The oldest Carnival in the country The City Hall is once again focusing on the projection of Carnival as a tool to raise public awareness of a topic of interest alerting and promoting responsible and conscious behaviour Current topics such as the upcoming presidential elections António Costa's presence as the strongman of the European Council and Cristiano Ronaldo's multi-million dollar contract will give life to the parade The drought that has affected the Algarve in recent years will be present in several floats that recreate materials such as the long-awaited desalination plant which will be presented for the first time in this parade Tickets cost 2 euros and all proceeds will be distributed to social causes and also to participating groups representing local communities Fifteen floats and 600 extras will liven up the three days of the Loulé Carnival parade this year dedicated to the drought and costing 470 thousand euros Under the motto “Carnival is not a drought…” about the drought and the problems that it can cause for all of us” focuses on environmental issues and has this particularity of turning serious issues into objects of fun stressed the president of that municipality in the district of Faro The problems of water shortages in the Algarve region inspire several floats with emphasis on the one carrying the long-awaited desalination plant and another that deals with the proliferation of avocado trees associated with excessive water consumption The satire extends to political and sporting circles with cars dedicated to the upcoming presidential elections featuring the figures of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and the presence of António Costa as the new strong man of the European Council and his “anti-immigration measures” are the target in the car “in the country of the Trump” while Cristiano Ronaldo returns to the parade dressed in the colours (yellow and blue) of the local club Campinense there are 15 floats and around 600 entertainers the maximum capacity of the closed venue on Avenida José da Costa Mealha with nine parking lots available for spectators This Carnival took more than two months to prepare and we have the legitimate expectation of having here the usual revellers who travel every year from the north and south of the country The budget for the Loulé Carnival will be 470 thousand euros There is also a shop with around 400 costumes and fancy dress costumes available for temporary rental which take place over the three days between 3pm and 6pm The proceeds will be donated to social causes and to groups of extras which was allocated to four randomly selected philanthropic institutions and ten communities Vinyl Boutique Records Loulé in conjunction with the four amazing Food Court Tapas Bars in the Historic Loulé Municipal Market present for Christmas Old School Funk Motown plus Northern Soul all on vintage vinyl 45s for the best possible authentic sound The event will take place on Friday 20 December from 6pm until 10pm at Restauração do Mercado Municipal de Loulé The event is sponsored by Vinyl Boutique Records and the Food Court Loulé Mercado 4 great tapas bars so plenty of delicious food options and craft beer The event will have fantastic music from the UK DJ Brian Rockindad with a special guest DJ For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/vinylboutiquerecords or https://fb.me/e/hWLsBUaat also known as Festival Meditarrâneo or simply Festival Med is a renowned music and cultural event held annually in Loulé This festival was founded in 2004 and continues to get better every year Here’s an overview of the 2024 edition Festival Med has built a reputation as one of Europe’s top world music festivals Its success is attributed to its high-quality programming The event not only promotes cultural exchange but also supports local artists and businesses The Municipality of Loulé had two exhibitions this past May integrated into the Festival Med 24 program a guest country for the 20th anniversary of this event For the most up-to-date information about Festival Med 24, including the full lineup, schedule, and ticket details, it’s best to check the official festival website and social media channels as the event approaches.  https://festivalmed.cm-loule.pt/ Please enter an answer in digits:fifteen − five = Loulé City Council the demolition of 140 illegal wooden houses built in the municipality out of a total of almost 700 identified by the municipality “The appeal that the Chamber makes is that before people acquire these houses they do not do so without informing themselves with the municipal services that are available to provide all the necessary information so that people are not be deceived” contact with municipal services will “avoid unnecessary problems and expenses” 691 illegally located houses have already been identified in the municipality the Council began procedures to demolish 25 houses and there are another 116 in the pipeline to follow the same type of process with 200,000 euros budgeted for the current year to follow up on these cases the city government will move forward to “take administrative possession” of the houses unless people leave the houses voluntarily and have them demolished The mayor estimates that those who do not comply with the decision will have one to two months to abandon their illegally built homes there has been a significant increase in illegal construction in the municipality of Loulé especially through the installation of wooden or modular structures on rustic land these constructions are intended for precarious housing that does not meet legal requirements The buildings in question are in many cases located in areas subject to administrative easements or public utility restrictions as stipulated in the Municipal Master Plan (PDM) in force namely in areas classified as National Agricultural Reserve (RAN) and National Ecological Reserve (REN) According to Loulé City Council the recent change to the Urbanization and Building Legal Regime (RJUE) establishes the application of this regime to modular constructions These are defined as “structures that use modular construction systems produced partially or entirely in a factory These constructions are considered urban operations that require a prior favourable opinion from the City Council without prejudice to the need for opinions from other entities as stipulated in the RJUE or in specific legislation Property rights don't seem to matter in Loule With a housing shortage and modern building techniques available for low-cost housing the genius government thinks the answer is to call them "illegal" and knock them down What would help is developing a fast-track to help owners get the permits in order and utilities connected Before buying my place in central Portugal I had a good look around the Algarve I met a couple of guys in a cafe in Sao Bras Alportel who told me they had been waiting three years to get approval for a house build They reported what seemed to be a complete lack of interest and co-ordination in the Loule province planning process It's the biggest province in the Algarve and maybe they have too many applications Tavira is covered in wood classes mobile homes ?? I don’t believe that the answer to the affordable housing challenge in Portugal is to allow anybody to build anything they want Loule council are acting in the interests of all their constituents by removing illegal buildings that do not meet the building standards and are built on land that is not allocated for new buildings Incredible attention to detail at Almancil Loulé's an amazing home for sale in Portugal's exclusive Quinta do Lago resort Few likely predicted what the marshland that’s now Quinta do Lago The original 1,360-acre site contained the ruins of an old farmhouse a stone pine forest and the holiday resort of Vale do Lobo And the country’s politics were still unstable: 1968 marked the end of António de Oliveira Salazar’s rule (he presided over one of the longest-lived authoritarian regimes in modern Europe) but the Portuguese Colonial War was ongoing Not exactly prime building and investment conditions spoke often about how when he looked out across the parcel of largely undeveloped southern Portuguese land for the first time building golf courses and necessary infrastructure and establishing Quinta do Lago as one of Europe’s leading golf and real estate resorts he is billed as ‘the father of Portuguese tourism’ Development of the resort — now under the ownership of Irish billionaire Denis O’Brien — continues to this day including the construction of this seven-bedroom villa which has sea views and is walking distance from some of the area’s best restaurants and the beach (Image credit: John D Wood)(Image credit: John D Wood)(Image credit: John D Wood)(Image credit: John D Wood)(Image credit: John D Wood)(Image credit: John D Wood)Almancil Loulé all clean angles and floor-to-ceiling glass was designed by Jutta Hoehn — the brains behind many of Quinta do Lago’s newer properties Futuristic features of note include a floating gas fireplace an electric front door and electronically-controlled glass walls which open out onto a poolside terrace that’s perfectly set-up for alfresco dining The entire first floor is reserved for the primary bedroom with ensuite bathroom (look out for the micro cement finish) and private terrace (elevated seating firepit) — but you’ll have to divide your time between that and the sprawling rooftop one which has a 20-person jacuzzi and a mini kitchen for late-night entertaining It rains very little in the Algarve — and chiefly between November and March — but the house does come equipped with an additional indoor pool sauna and a massage area — which should keep you busy as and when the sun decides to take a day off right down to a fully-stocked kitchen (induction hob a Delonghi coffee making station) — so you can get on with holidaying in style large garage with car turntable and an infinity swimming pool with an overflow feature that runs down to the lower garden Almancil Loulé is for sale with John D Wood for €23,500,000 (about £20 million). For more information and pictures, click here. Rosie PatersonSocial Links NavigationRosie is Country Life's Digital Content Director & Travel Editor She joined the team in July 2014 — following a brief stint in the art world she edited the magazine's special Queen's Platinum Jubilee issue and coordinated Country Life's own 125 birthday celebrations She has also been invited to judge a travel media award and chaired live discussions on the London property market Rosie studied Art History at university and has written for Mr & Mrs Smith and The Gentleman's Journal The rest of the office likes to joke that she splits her time between Claridge’s Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.