Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors The Easter vacations are the perfect excuse to get to know our country better That's why we've traveled from the north to the south of Portugal to show you what you can visit and enjoy during Holy Week The Easter vacations are synonymous with a few days to travel This is usually the time of year when you really want to get out of town and discover new places and share new experiences with friends and family which starts on the Good Friday holiday on March 29 (two days before Easter Sunday) is therefore the perfect excuse to turn on the GPS and go in search of new things to do exploring activities that you can’t always find in your home area With this itinerary you’ll travel through Portugal from north to south from Invicta to the always sunny city of Faro which starts in the center of the country and Lisbon but can then turn upwards or downwards to the north of the country or the Algarve it’s also a must to try Ti Carolina’s Caldeirada à Nazarena at the Aleluia restaurant or a Mariscada at the Casalinho restaurant always with the best fresh fish and seafood And in Fátima you can’t go wrong: you should visit the Sanctuary where in addition to the famous scene of the Three Little Shepherds and the Miracle of Fátima you’ll find around 120 wax figures that tell the religious history of this region and its historical importance goes back to the defense of the cities of Leiria and Coimbra during the Christian reconquest The Mira de Aire Caves have been open to the public since 1974 and are considered the largest in the country with over 11,500 meters The beauty of these two places alone would be more than enough justification to travel to this part of the country during the Easter vacations And because vacation trips aren’t all about places to visit there are a few spots in the city we’d like you to know about: It’s a magnificent trip that you can take with friends or family and you’re sure to have a wonderful day Among landscapes filled with stunning greenery a place famous for its community granaries Known as the ‘little Tibet’ of Portugal this place is particularly famous for its breathtaking landscape full of terraces which merited a few words from José Saramago For those who enjoy rural ‘paradises’ There are also other attractions such as viewpoints traditional granite houses and hiking trails you can get to know Ponte da Barca and then set off for Ponte de Lima The town surprises with its medieval features but also with the beauty of the Roman bridge A crucial point on the Portuguese Way of St Ponte de Lima is also the perfect place to visit during the Easter vacations due to the quality of its gastronomic offer you can’t leave here without trying the famous Sarrabulho or the Rojões à Moda de Ponte de Lima the landscape is worthy of many photographs Viana do Castelo is a real treat for the eyes we suggest a visit to the Sanctuary of Santa Luzia If you do decide to visit the Minho city during Holy Week there’ s also a special program waiting for you don’t forget,in Minho you eat a lot and well the program of Easter celebrations includes the traditional processions A complete program to welcome the thousands of visitors who flock to Braga during Holy Week the most eagerly awaited triad is as follows: the “burrinha” procession; the Ecce Homo procession and the Burial of the Lord procession If you like history and cities with medieval features then this is the perfect destination for your Easter vacation you’ll find authentic heritage treasures such as: Each one is small in size but big in meaning a great reason to “dive” into the interior of Portugal and get to know its medieval charms the villages with stone and/or schist houses We’ve been to all 12 of Portugal’s Historic Villages and we’d like to highlight the following: but if you’re from outside Porto and you’re thinking of coming here for the Easter vacations This destination is especially suitable for those who want to spend their Easter vacations in the middle of nature The municipality is famous for the Paiva Walkways this is not the only “adventure” or outdoor attraction worth highlighting it’s a traditional sweet and not a dish to fill you up for lunch or dinner) Aveiro is a city that looks good in any photo take the opportunity to explore the surrounding areas where you’ll find the best sponge cake in the country (at least that’s what we think) a monument classified as a National Monument since 1910 which will take you directly to the “old” part of the city where the cobbled streets with an Arab door will take you on a journey through history and because it’s getting hotter and hotter how about a visit to the famous Ilha de Faro as well as taking your first dip of the year (the water is always warmer here) you can enjoy the rich gastronomy of this part of the country Far from the tourist-filled metropolises of the Algarve Olhão is a quieter town with an incredible gastronomy largely due to the fact that it “sources” its food mainly from the marine richness of the famous Ria Formosa from which we highlight the oysters and other bivalves which fully satisfy us with their flavors reminiscent of summer days Touring the Ria Formosa is undoubtedly the plan we recommend the fruit and vegetable market and the fish market are two must-see places in Olhão And on Saturdays there’s also an outdoor market ice cream parlors and bars where you can enjoy one of the best and most incredible sunsets in the country during Easter Week you’ll have the chance to experience Vilamoura in a different but equally magical way Whatever your destination for Easter or Easter Week we believe this guide will be your best friend there is no shortage of suggestions to suit all tastes because there’s nothing better than (re)discovering our beautiful country from side to side The 290km Porto-Lisbon high-speed rail line (LAV) is being developed between Portugal’s two principal metropolitan areas Porto and Lisbon It will feature an electrified double-track design for high-speed trains The Portuguese Government publicly unveiled the project in September 2022 and made the official announcement in March 2023 It forms an integral part of the National Investment Plan 2030 (PNI 2030) the national rail infrastructure management company will oversee the project’s execution which will proceed through a mix of public-private partnership (PPP) contracts and conventional procurement methods IP initiated the tender process for the first concession of the LAV line in January 2024 focusing on the stretch between Porto (Campanha) and Oia starting in 2024 and concluding after 2030 The new Porto-Lisbon high-speed railway line spanning approximately 290km will connect Porto-Campanha and Lisbon-Oriente stations and operate on a 1,668mm Iberian gauge The line will have multiple connections to the conventional railway network which will be adapted for LAV high-speed services The trains operating on the LAV will also serve the current long-distance routes significantly reducing journey times and improving service quality for a wider range of destinations outside the immediate project area The existing railway stations along the route, including the Porto-Campanha station will undergo modifications to accommodate the high-speed trains and offer new passenger services The new LAV route is set to traverse key cities Construction on the 143km phase one of the project between Porto-Campanha and Soure will commence in 2024 and is expected to be completed by 2028 It includes a new railway crossing over the Douro River between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia along with five 47km single-track connections to the conventional network to ensure accessibility to other cities in northern Portugal comprising the route from Soure to Carregado will start in 2026 and finish by 2030 while the final phase from Carregado to Lisbon-Oriente is scheduled for completion post-2030 The final segment of the route will include a new bridge over the Douro River combining road and high-speed rail in a single structure The phased development of the LAV allows for early realisation of benefits and aligns investment with Portugal’s financial capacity and community funding availability The European Investment Bank (EIB) is investing approximately €3bn ($3.24bn) to fund phase one of the project The project aligns with EU objectives, promoting sustainable transport and contributing to the EIB’s cohesion, climate action, and environmental sustainability goals The EU Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy will be integrated into the LAV aiming to double high-speed rail traffic by 2030 and achieve carbon-neutral public transport trips It will cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels targeting a reduction of three million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2050 The urban studies contract for the Porto-Campanha Station was awarded to BAU-B Arquitectura i Urbanisme a Spanish design practice for urban design and architecture The primary goal of the LAV project is to establish a state-of-the-art, efficient, and high-quality railway link between Porto and Lisbon. The two cities are currently served by the Alfa Pendular high-speed trains The new line will reduce the time taken for a direct trip between Porto and Lisbon from two hours and 49 minutes to one hour and 15 minutes The new line will improve the current Northern Line The improvements will reinforce the capacity and efficiency of the national railway network enhancing the quality and competitiveness of both passenger and goods rail transport The Porto-Lisbon high-speed line will stimulate new urban developments and enhance connectivity between key demographic and economic centres It also represents a significant extension to Spain further integrating Portugal into the expansive European high-speed rail network Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network. Standing before this scenery, the exercise consisted of finding the most natural way to connect ruins and spaces, simultaneously defining future possibilities for links between the interior and the exterior. Where decisions were concerned, we chose to rehabilitate pre-existing volumes and introduce a new connecting element. The answer is given by the almost immediate decision to join together the pre-existing elements. © emontenegro / architectural photographyThis gesture deeply connected to the terrain along the slope of the terrain – connects the two sections facing west forming an exterior courtyard adorned with a centenary olive tree This project builds a space that runs through the ruins uniting them and revealing the obvious functional relationship between the house’s programmatic areas simultaneously differentiating the possibilities for inhabiting the exterior space It expresses its temporality through the antagonism of matter in its relationship with pre-existing elements You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email Receive emails when new obituariesare published to our website Each of our funeral homes offers a complete range of services in tastefully decorated Professionally trained and licensed staff members stand ready to provide sensitive caring service and strive to exceed the expectations of each and every family.Our communities are wonderfully diverse in religious beliefs Our staff truly appreciates these differences and our training includes heartfelt understanding and respect for the special needs of all whom we serve Hartford | Windsor | Poquonock | Granby | Suffield | South Windsor | Rockville | Vernon | Avon© Carmon Community Funeral Homes | Funeral Home Website Design By Frazer Consultants & TA Your browser may not work with certain site. Upgrade now. the ruins conveyed a sense of belonging in its surrounding nature which encouraged the architect to incorporate them into the ‘so house’.  the architect was inspired by his findings in the site – how the light dripped down the stone that defined spaces separated by rows of stacked rock he studied the light and shadows on each wrinkled rock and aimed to bring this element into the design the valley and the mountain – served as a main theme for the project the project attempts to provide the most natural connection between the ruins and habitable spaces simultaneously creating possibilities to expose the interior to the exterior the architect chose to rehabilitate the pre-existing volumes and introduce new connection elements the design therefore connects the two sections facing west the project’s addition includes a space that runs through the ruins uniting them and revealing the functional relationship between the areas wide openings visually connect the spaces to each other and to the outside bringing natural light into the house as well the new recessed corner entrance offers a contemporary twist to the stone the interior’s neutral and warm materials create a welcoming atmosphere with exposed timber ceilings and untouched stone walls from the ruins the residence’s interiors match the surrounding valley and mountain the contrasting material palette brings a rustic finish to the interiors and keep a refreshing raw-ness in the added areas architect: paulo henrique durão project collaborators: inês belmarço designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style MONTREAL – Herman Alves has an ambitious dream: install 25 murals dedicated to legendary fado singer Amália Rodrigues around the globe to celebrate the 100th anniversary of her birth Nurturing a great passion for Portuguese culture and the arts the Portuguese-born entrepreneur/restauranteur and author residing in Montreal wants four of those murals to be painted in the United States including one in New Bedford and one in Fall River the name of Amália continues to be extolled with the same pride and patriotism with which the Portuguese flag is raised,” said Alves The first mural of this ambitious project was painted in his hometown by Portuguese-Canadian artist Paulo Carreira and inaugurated in late June The second mural is currently being created by Carreira next to Parc du Portugal in Montreal and is expected to be dedicated on July 23 the day that marks the 100th anniversary of Amalia’s birth Portuguese-French artist Nathalie Afonso will paint the mural there a Portuguese-Canadian singer residing in Montreal will perform the accompanying song “Amália Aux Milles Reflets.” “The plan is to create 25 murals with 25 songs and then release two albums it will be interpreted by José Perdigão in Creole Plans call for murals to be painted in locations in North and South America president of the Prince Henry Society of Massachusetts who has been helping him establish contacts in this area iconic location – the ZeiterionBuilding,” Alves told O Jornal “Manuel Louro has put me in contact with Mike Tavares (the president of the Zeiterion’s Board of Directors) and I expect him to present the proposal at the Board’s meeting for approval.” Louro told O Jornal he did not hesitate to give Alves a helping hand because he believes this a “great initiative.” “I am excited to put the ground work in place -- at least to connect him with the right people and start the ball rolling,” Louro said and I think the Zeiterion is the perfect location for it.” Alves has been in touch with Michael Benevides the coordinator of the FABRIC arts festival to explore the possibility of including the mural in the line-up of this year’s event but we are scaling back and there will be less public events,” Benevides told O Jornal on Tuesday I am presenting the proposal to our public art curators Jesse James and Sofia Carolina Botelho.” Benevides said the two curators are busy with the Walk&Talk Arts Festival in the Azores until July 19 but after that they can shift their attention to FABRIC and a decision should be made about the Amalia mural Known in Montreal for his real estate investments large-scale fundraising and diverse collaborations in commercial and cultural projects Alves expect to have murals in places like Goa (India) Macau (China) and East Timor within two years As past president of Montreal’s Share the Warmth foundation that fights hunger and homelessness for a few years and current president of the Rotary Club of Montreal Alves has played a pivotal role in numerous causes over the years He says he is open to sponsor part of the murals’ expenses associated with artist compensation permits and equipment and work with local communities to raise funds for the different murals He would also love for local artists to be involved in the project “I want to share with the world our artistic talents scattered throughout the Diaspora to give them opportunities to show what they are worth especially in this period when so many doors were closed with the arrival of Covid-19,” Alves said He said he is proud to be Portuguese and wants to share his passion for his native culture and increase interest for Portuguese things around the world “This is ambitious and we need to have champions in every city The idea is to plant the seed and that someone in the community also makes this project his own.” This is a market that has remained dynamic even during the pandemic driven by the need for more space and comfort Demand for property for sale on the Portuguese coast has grown in 45 of the 54 municipalities located on the Portuguese coast causing the supply of homes in most areas to fall and house prices to soar And the same scenario can be seen in the rental market for property for rent on the Portuguese coast But where is the cheapest property for sale on the Portuguese coast When it comes to cheap coastal property for sale in Portugal the municipalities on the Portuguese coast where it is cheapest to buy a house near the beach and their average property prices are: 20 properties with negotiable prices in Portugal With the cost of living still high and 2025 well underway buying a home in Portugal might seem like a challenge it’s also the perfect time to start your property search — and there’s still time to secure your dream home before summer Read today's Portuguese stories delivered to your email A snow leopard fossil discovered in Portugal investigated by an international team of scientists The findings about the evolution and adaptations of the snow leopard lineage during the last ice age have significant implications for the conservation of this lineage represented in Portugal by the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the New University of Lisbon The snow leopard is an elusive feline with reserved habits and it was believed to be the only one that lives exclusively at high altitudes But the study of the partial skeleton of the snow leopard discovered in 2000 in Porto de Mós which includes a skull and is known as the 'Algar da Manga Larga Leopard' challenges long-held assumptions about the habitat preferences of this feline The study argues that snow leopards prefer steep without necessarily needing high altitudes While common leopards evolved to hunt fast snow leopards have developed distinct features for taking down robust prey like mountain goats barren terrain also depended on other key adaptations: enhanced binocular vision a large ectotympanic skull structure for better hearing powerful limbs to withstand the impact of jumping between rocks These adaptations developed rapidly during the Quaternary particularly from the middle Pleistocene onwards (82,800 to 355,000 years ago on the geologic time scale) Future research will explore the neuroanatomy and paleoecology of the Manga Larga leopard “It was a real surprise to find a member of this felid lineage in the Pleistocene of Portugal,” said Darío Estraviz-López a PhD student in Geology at NOVA FCT who is part of the research team adding that this discovery was only possible thanks to great contextualization with other materials from China The snow leopard was classified as a “vulnerable” species in 2017 after having been classified as an endangered species since 1972 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 If ever there was an athlete in the right place at the right time it’s world 50km race walk champion Ines Henriques The Portuguese admits she was close to calling it a day after the 2016 Olympics but then she and all women race walkers received the gift of a 50km to be included in major races at the start of 2017 The 37-year-old has slogged thousands of kilometres in training and racing over the past 25 years but owes a fair chunk of her late success to a race walker on the other side of the Atlantic USA’s Erin Taylor-Talcott and Belgian-born Paul DeMeester did a gold medal job on getting the long event into the championship programme The pair successfully argued for gender equality and the IAAF acceded by adding the distance to the programme for the IAAF World Championships London 2017 last August Taylor-Talcott was disqualified barely 10 kilometres into the race following her 4:08:26 world record on home soil earlier that year made it plain from the gun she was going home with $160,000 prize money for rewriting her record to 4:05:56 as well as victory Henriques took a leaf out of Taylor-Talcott’s book and utilised the skills of DeMeester to add a women’s 50km to the European Championships in August The Portuguese faces a minimum 100km of competitive road over four months as she intends to belatedly rake in trophies like a croupier collecting chips The first 50km of her year will also be the first separate race for women at the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships on 5 May and perhaps even another world record and a dip inside the milestone four hours Henriques points to her form over 35km set on the same Porto de Mos course in January where she set her first world mark in 2017 “I cannot predict when it will happen (under four hours) but I'm working towards it,” she said “The test I did at 35km gave me 2:45:51 and that gave me a good idea about what could happen.” the third-placed man at the Portuguese Championships stopped the clock only two minutes and a handful of seconds in front If Henriques can keep going at something like the same pace she will breeze a sub-four-hour clocking by anything up to four minutes Many athletes in the closing stages of a 50km race have entered the land of the living dead after overcooking it But Henriques points to a sparkling CV since arriving on the scene in Sydney at the 1996 IAAF World Junior Championships over 5000m for a humble 25:17.22 and 22nd place “I have a 25-year career of more than 100 20km races completed and who knows how many kilometres in training,” she says “My planning is not very different than when I was only training for 20km at certain times of the season I have to increase the kilometres I have to do more work that does not involve impact to prevent injury.” What has changed significantly is a heady dose of limelight since winning her world title Henriques says she has long got used to the hard yards but not a constant swap from training shoes to more glamorous footwear “What really changed in my life is to be better known It’s something that is still strange for me “I was voted Athlete of the Year by the Portuguese Sports Confederation but I have tried to be the same person I was.” One imagines there are plenty now who wished they had plunged into the uncertain waters of 50km as Henriques did She would be first to admit that individual bronze at the 2010 World Race Walking Cup wasn’t the worst return for her endeavours But a quantum leap from there to world gold needs a bit of foresight Was she pushed or did she jump before making her 50km debut at Porto de Mos in February 2017 “When I learned that the women's 50km became official my coach Jorge Miguel set me the challenge of being first to reach the world record “But I had already mentioned that I wanted to attempt 50km before the end of my career So the opportunity arose and we grabbed it with all our might.” It was a far cry from the tears she shed after being disqualified from the 20km at the European Cup in Podebrady last May or her feelings after a disappointing 12th-place finish at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio because after the Olympics I considered finishing my career,” she says because my body was still responding very well and I love what I do and still could not live without being an athlete I wish this opportunity had come before.” One could argue Henriques would have found the going harder against bigger fields closer to her own abilities China’s Yin Hang notched an Asian record of 4:08:58 for second place at last year’s World Championships Spanish veteran Júlia Takacs notched 4:13:04 with team-mate Ainhoa Pinedo 4:18:56 in the same February race Ecuador’s Magaly Bonilla set a South American record of 4:19:43 and will be on the start line in Taicang and Maria Czakova from Slovakia unsurprisingly set a national record 4:14:25 in Dudince in March But Henriques welcomes the sudden interest in the event from other athletes as she would rather see the women’s 50km event thrive “Now that the women's 50km is a reality at different championships women from all over the world are taking to it very well “My big dream is to be at the next Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020 to compete in a women’s 50km with more than 30 women in competition “I hope that the IOC and the IAAF allow me to realise this dream.” Henriques sets inaugural women’s 50km race wa.. Report: women's 50km race walk – IAAF World C.. if you took a walk on Kearny Avenue near Laurel Avenue chances are — at least before COVID-19 hit — Barbara Condon was inside 684 Kearny Ave preparing funerals for those who had died and being present for generations of survivors after following in her dad’s footsteps after his untimely death in 1979 the Condon Funeral Home is no more — she recently sold the business and home to another funeral director — and she’s permanently retired to the Adirondacks of New York state dad had a mechanical valve replacement and it was defective,” Condon recalls she wasn’t yet finished with mortuary school But she knew she wanted to keep the family business going So despite losing her dad at such a young age Condon took courses at Montclair State and got her funeral director’s license thereafter what other reasons drove her to keep going despite such a tragic loss selling and moving on would have been an easy option her reason for carrying on was easy — she wanted to show the world she was more than capable of running a successful funeral business in New Jersey despite the odds against her being overwhelming Selling the business was not an option for me.” that decision not to sell was a brilliant one left a lasting memory on her heart and will do so in the years to come “I have so many memories of my own,” Condon says “There are generations of families and people I’ve buried “This was very important to me because there were so many times people would call the funeral home — I can’t even tell you how many times this happened — and people would say ‘I’m looking to reach Barbara Condon,’ and when I’d tell them they’d reached Barbara Condon One of those instances involved the burial of a man who Condon says died 35-40 years ago in Indiana The deceased man’s body was flown to Newark and she handled the arrangements here “The family was so happy I was still there — after all that time,” Condon says But it was much more than the generations who trusted her care that sustained Condon She says she’s will miss the day-to-day workings of the funeral home and all that came with it “I will certainly miss visiting with families And while Condon is excited to enter full-time retirement in the oft snow-covered hills of the Adirondacks where the town she lives in doesn’t have a blinking light where the mail has to be picked up because there is no delivery route and where the nearest hospital is almost an hour away I was involved in every branch of the Woman’s Club of Arlington is the heartache caused by the COVID-19 pandemic “It was heartbreaking,” Condon recalls of the 2020 outbreak “Funeral directors weren’t even allowed into cemeteries for a while she’s volunteering to drive elderly people around the Adirondacks to doctor appointments and elsewhere That Barbara Condon sense of humor is certainly well in tact — and we’re sure it will be for many Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email Please use this form even if you've subscribed previously using one of our other platforms — like Mailchimp Signing up here will ensure you'll be notified whenever we post something new .. or you may choose a different delivery frequency Looking for an old issue of The Observer? Our online archive goes back to 2013 — and by clicking here please contact the Kearny Public Library at (201) 998-2666 Portugal’s Inês Henriques established the first official women’s world record* for the 50km race walk covering the distance in 4:08:26 at the Portuguese 35km and 50km Race Walking Championships in Porto de Mos on Sunday (15) At the IAAF Council Meeting in Monaco last month the IAAF announced that as of 1 January 2017 any performances equal to or faster than 4:30:00 would be accepted as having fulfilled the conditions for a world record the fastest 50km time by a woman was Monica Svensson’s 4:10:59 set in 2007 who finished 12th in the 20km at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games was on world record pace for most of the way and at one point looked set to finish within 4:06 But her quick early pace and lack of experience at the distance meant that it took her more than 30 minutes to cover the final 5km section she still finished more than two minutes inside the previous fastest time on record Her splits after each 5km segment were: 25:52 (5km) “We achieved the goals we were looking for which were to be the first Portuguese woman to race the distance and to set a world record,” said Jorge Miguel Henriques’ coach and the race director of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge meeting in Rio Maior Italy’s Gregorio Angelini won the men’s 50km event in 4:08:22 Henriques was the fastest woman at the 35km distance who finished fourth in the 20km at the 2013 IAAF World Championships António Manuel Fernandes for the IAAF Women to participate in 50km race walk in Rom.. Taicang to host 2018 World Race Walking Team .. from opulent one-off homes to living spaces that blur the line between architecture and nature upon receiving several thousands of submissions we have gladly shared a huge range of uniquely beautiful houses over the past year.  the relationship with our readers is integral to showcasing architecture from all corners of the world. from a compact timber treehouse in rural france to a luxurious holiday home in são paulo, we highlight our TOP 10 reader submissions of 2019 – private spaces with a unique location on top of a 5-story apartment building, WARchitect has designed the skyscape residence in bangkok, thailand. the rooftop was previously only used to store water tanks decided to build a small house for his own use the house has a concrete courtyard instead of a normal ground floor while trees are replaced with the vertical lines of surrounding buildings located in puerto escondido, oaxaca, mexico, casa altanera by TAC – taller albero calleja is a 380 sqm, single-family residence contained in three separate operating modules. developed in line with the reforestation process of the area the house is designed to interact with the exterior through various terraces and areas in the palapa – an open-sided construction at the edge of the lot topped with a thatched roof of dried palm leaves and finished with an outdoor pool architecture studio phyd arquitectura came across a pair of old ruins and revived them into a cozy residence in the mountains of porto de mos, portugal. the ruins conveyed a sense of belonging in its surrounding nature this vacation house in são paulo, built by studio arthur casas for a family with two adult children displaced from one another. the ground floor contains the entire social area which is fully integrated with the exterior opening to the view of the golf course just ahead while the upper volume accommodates the more sheltered ‘steel grove’ by ar-architects is a family house situated in the dense urban environment of gimhae-si in south korea. due to the context the design seeks to provide privacy for the residents whilst still maintaining a relationship with the neighborhood the proposal also intends to be a modern translation of traditional korean houses by focusing on the creation of exterior spaces that link back to the indoors architecture practice, atelier victoria migliore, has completed the design of a family house located amongst a pine forest in the french region of frehel. surrounded by trees the concept behind the ‘treehouse’ was to create a cozy and intimate yet contemporary and eco-friendly building that complements the natural surroundings.  designers aleksi hautamaki and milla selkimaki have recently completed a series of summer cabins situated on a 5-acre finnish island. titled ‘project ö’, the new structures boast an incredibly scenic position on the edge of finland‘s archipelago national park the duo purchased the island two years ago and have since built the main self-sufficient cabin with a sauna and workshop space chinese-based architecture firm archstudio, folded a courtyard into a small residence located in qianliang hutong, dongcheng district, beijing. with a site of 410 sqm (4413 sqft) the house differs from a typical ‘siheyuan’ sloped roof since the original architecture was made of disconnected flat-topped rooms the rebuilt building will be rented to house multiple spaces: for working t-square design associates’ small residential project is located near frank lloyd wright’s yamamura residence in hyogo prefecture, japan. the site sits between two rivers making the house naturally ventilated as the rivers breeze into it an open area covered with louver sliding doors between the interior space and the exterior perimeter the house maintains a fresh cross-ventilation and connection to the outside.  see designboom’s TOP 10 stories archive: On 14th March, the dossier of the application of the “Art and Know-how of the Portuguese Pavement” to the Inventory of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was delivered to the National Commission of UNESCO After three years of work, the Portuguese Pavement Association, with more than 50 pavers, the collaboration of 8 municipalities – Braga, Estremoz, Faro, Funchal, Lisbon, Ponta Delgada, Porto de Mós and Setúbal and the support of more than 20 national public and private institutions – concluded the application process to UNESCO with the aim of preserving and promoting this art reads a press release sent to the newsroom the Portuguese pavement has consolidated itself not only as one of the main cultural identity and aesthetic references of the national territory – mainland and islands – but also as a fundamental element of the urban landscape contributing to the identity of Portuguese space The Association undertook the preparation of the application of the Art and Know-how of the Portuguese Pavement to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity know-how and mastery of pavers and other plastic artists who have carried this technique over the years it is spread throughout various parts of the world as a Portuguese cultural brand with a special presence in Brazil and other countries with which Portugal maintains cultural exchanges This candidacy also serves as an appeal to public entities to commit to the preservation and promotion of this art that should be assumed as a strategic asset for the affirmation of Portugal established in 2017 at the instigation of the Lisbon City Council valuing and promoting (nationally and internationally) the Portuguese Pavement as a cultural and identity heritage of Portugal Its members are the Municipality of Lisbon ASSIMAGRA – Portuguese Association of the Mineral Resources Industry UCCLA – Union of Portuguese-Speaking Capital Cities and the Portuguese Group of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property “The goal is to create a virtual community among the Portuguese communities spread around the world so we can virtually communicate said to the entrepreneur and writer Herman Alves Herman Alves launched the project of the placement of 25 murals dedicated to Amália Rodrigues in some cities with great representation of the Portuguese community “We hope to organise at Christmas time a virtual concert next to the murals with each city contribution” The artist Paulo Carreira will start painting the mural of the Fado diva next to the Portugal Park near musical artist Leonard Cohen’s residency The mural will be inaugurated in Amália’s centenary Porto de Mós already has a mural dedicated to the Fado singer The murals will be also placed in Toronto (Canada) Fall River and New Bradford (United Stated of America) Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Praia (Cape Verde) the entrepreneur also highlights another cultural aspect of the initiative performed by artists of local communities in the official language of that country “The plan is to make 25 murals with 25 songs and then release two albums in Cape Verde [the song] will be interpreted by José Perdigão in Creole Each mural will have its song in English and French” by the Portuguese-French artist Nathalie Afonso a work that will be accompanied by the song “Amália Aux Milles Reflets” performed by Mara Raposo the promoter hopes to have murals by Amalia in various corners of the world other former Portuguese colonies and countries with great Portuguese communities This year remarks Amália Rodrigues’ 100th birthday The Fado singer has a special connection with the Portuguese community in Canada: the municipality of Toronto proclaimed 6 October as Amália’s Day curiously the same day when the Fado singer would die in 1999 The Canadian Government estimates that in Canada there are about 480 thousand Portuguese in the Metropolitan Area of Montereal there are about 50 thousand Portuguese as fado should...I was born and raised in Massachusetts where Fall River and New Bedford are located that I would eventually marry a Portuguese woman I wonder if the reason Porto de Mos has the cheapest "properties by the sea" is because its actually over 20km (on a straight line; around 30km via road!) INLAND?! Certainly the Azores is the best value in all of Portugal for water accessible property Almost every home has a direct Atlantic ocean view with rolling lush greens hills everywhere Sistelo is the perfect destination for those who enjoy rural life and nature at its purest Located in the Minho and Trás-os-Montes regions this is an excellent option for those who love being close to nature but you can also visit picturesque villages monasteries and medieval castles worthy of a fairy tale which stands out for its medieval features and the beauty of its Roman bridge As well as its history and being a key point in the pilgrimage to Santiago Ponte de Lima also attracts visitors’ attention thanks to its quality cuisine We suggest a (compulsory) visit to the Santa Luzia Sanctuary where you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view that will look good in any photo With the title of ‘city of archbishops’ Braga is full of churches and celebrates Holy Week like no other it makes perfect sense to visit at this time of year The most anticipated moments of Holy Week in Braga are the following: The ‘Cradle City’ has some absolutely breathtaking monuments and points of interest We’ve already been to the 12 Historical Villages of Portugal and Porto is synonymous with pride and passion But if you’re from outside the city and want to visit during the Easter vacations The municipality of Arouca is famous for the Paiva Walkways the best adventure tourism attraction in the world we recommend other equally amazing points of interest take the opportunity to stop off in Ovar on the way and try the best sponge cake in the country this is not the only attraction of the coastal town with typical dishes such as caldeirada and ria eels standing out you must try Ti Carolina’s Caldeirada à Nazarena at the Aleluia restaurant or a Mariscada at the Casalinho restaurant Porto de Mós Castle is simply beautiful and quite different from the castles we’re used to seeing around the country whose historical importance goes back to the defense of the cities of Leiria and Coimbra during the Christian reconquest But if you’ve opted for a more romantic Easter vacation as a couple our suggestion is clearly this sunset stroll along the Tagus with a Gin Tonic and stops at Praça do Comércio MAAT and back to Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste The idea of visiting its fantastic and beautiful palaces immediately springs to mind,but our guide will take you to many more places you should visit in this typical village it feels good to take a stroll along the waterfront by the Sado as well as explore a little more of the Serra da Arrábida which is why we’ ve put together a series of suggestions and tips in a handy guide that you can bookmark if you’ve chosen to turn downhill on your way out of Lisbon then we’ ve created an itinerary that’s perfect for enjoying the Easter vacations in the south of the country: Whatever your destination for the Easter or Holy Week vacations There’s nothing better than (re)discovering our beautiful country from side to side 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 Discover the underground world of Mira de Aire Caves which were crowned one of Portugal’s seven natural wonders.  It was great to speak about this natural wonder with Carlos Alberto the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mira de Aire Caves who knows the caves inside and out Carlos Alberto will mark 52 years of working at the tourist site this year where he told The Portugal News “I have accompanied all the caves phases including its preparation to open to the public I have had many roles at the site before working my way up to administration I feel like the guardian of this fantastic work of nature” According to Turismo do Centro, the Mira de Aire Caves located in the municipality of Porto de Mós in the district of Leiria, was voted as one of Portugal’s seven natural wonders, which the municipality website confirms took place in September 2010 They are widely known as the largest tourist caves in the country which happen to be only an hour from Lisbon “The beauty and ecological importance of these caves make them a place of incontestable tourist attraction and speleological interest.” Credits: Facebook; Author: GrutasdeMiradeAire; The Mira d’Aire Caves were discovered in 1947 with Carlos Alberto explaining that it was discovered by the inhabitants as steam was coming out with him likening it to a boiling pot of water they descended with ropes and they reached a small gallery which was 20 metres deep They gradually explored the first gallery but only two years later they found the continuation of the cave “News of this discovery that was unparalleled to any other in the region came to Lisbon and from there came the first speleologists that were preparing to create a Scientific Society for the study of caves.” The caves were then only opened to the public in August of 1974 and since then up until the end of last year the caves were visited by more than 8 million visitors.” Visitors can now descend 683 steps with the largest staircase of the cave having 105 steps Now 11km of the grotto has been found which reaches 230 metres but is not open to tourists as in the winter Carlos Alberto revealed that “The year we had the most visitors was in 1976 in which we had 310,000 visitors Today that would be impossible and it was not practical to do this the caves now cannot deal with that many people and if it is not taken care of well it ends up dying early over the temperature of the cave and the quality of the air for the cave to stay alive.” Carlos Alberto explained that until the end of March they are open daily including weekends from 9:30am until 5pm with their opening times changing in April meaning it is best to check their website They do not have specific time schedules when it comes to the tours because they are marked as visitors arrive which is headed by their guides with a small presentation video and guided tour which ends at a photography exhibition about the 70 years of cave exploration in Portugal they have available a free downloadable APP that serves as an audio guide with all the information for the cave in English The events side of the caves grabbed my attention with Carlos Alberto explaining that they host private events inside the cave’s galleries I can just imagine it being an extraordinary setting to dine and their most recent Valentine’s event was no different Carlos Alberto explained that “they had two distinct groups in two different rooms to celebrate the day with one having 22 couples and the other 13 couples which was a great success.” He added that “We are going to have other events the congress of Fatima’s doctors will have dinner here as well as 100 people from an insurance company and we also do wine-tasting nights Our limit is 120 people for seated and dining purposes but then we have had fado nights and other musical performances with up to 190 people Some musicians also use the cave as the perfect setting for a music video Moonspell and Pérola have all played there.” Most wonderfully the Mira de Aire complex also has accommodation so you can stay right on site They have 13 bungalows that are next to the exit of the caves which allows for 52 guests Carlos Alberto said “We have 3 T-0’s with a bedroom and a bathroom and bathroom that is for four people and then finally we have T-2’s for five people with two bedrooms We have had guests stay for the weekend and even up to 3 weeks before.” They also have a small farm that is perfect for the youngest members of the family which includes a donkey they have a restaurant with Portuguese traditional cuisine as well as vegetarian and international dishes so the whole family can take a pause from exploring the caves It is important to point out that they also have an onsite water park it will remain closed for the 2023 summer season due to works they have a Fossil Museum which has a collection of fossils “rescued” from the cave's own parking area The fossils are from a quarry nearby that used to be a shallow sea during the Jurassic Period “Here there is an area called Jurassic beach and there are a significant number of marine fossils Carlos Alberto ended the interview by saying that “there is a lot to discover outside of the caves we are here next to the Parque Natural da Serra de Aracena which visitors will find many points of interest then at 18km we have Fátima as well as Nascente do Alviela For more information, please visit https://www.grutasmiradaire.com/ or email geral@grutasmiradaire.com. You can also find them on Facebook by searching ‘Grutas de Mira de Aire’ Following undertaking her university degree in English with American Literature in the UK Cristina da Costa Brookes moved back to Portugal to pursue a career in Journalism where she has worked at The Portugal News for 3 years Cristina’s passion lies with Arts & Culture as well as sharing all important community-related news these caves are so magnificent and gorgeous I loved reading about the history of how it became discovered presented by the Câmara da Calheta to the contest 7 Maravilhas da Cultura de Portugal From Jornal Madeira The TimesPortugal is proof that austerity works Its International Monetary Fund bailout was a success the economy is growing and overseas property buyers have returned encouraged by golden visa and non-habitual residency tax schemes This summer there is a buzz back in the laid-back towns of the Algarve as house prices are moving up again and major developments have been kick-started many home-hunters are heading away from the so-called “Golden Triangle” — between Almancil Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo — of the central Algarve Some buyers will always seek the status of owning a home in these world-class resorts reports that in July there were more searches for properties in the western Algarve (39 per cent) than the central (35 per cent) or eastern (26 per cent) tranches “Buyer interest is now evenly spaced along the Algarve with people seeking affordability outside the big resorts and greater authenticity in less-developed areas,” says Caroline May operations director of Ideal Homes Portugal “Property-hunters seeking the ‘real Portugal’ — especially those relocating — will look north of the N-125 highway [that runs from east to west] around the towns of Loule Boliqueime and Santa Barbara de Nexe; or to fishing villages such as Fuzeta The eastern Algarve is a bit sleepy for some but French buyers love the charming riverside town of Tavira with its Roman bridge and 14km sandspit of superb beaches an easy ten-minute drive from the Spanish border expect to pay €175,000 (£124,000) for a two-bedroom two-bathroom apartment that has been refurbished,” says John Baker-Malpas “Three years ago a three-bedroom penthouse with a roof terrace overlooking the river sold for €195,000; now it is €295,000 Convento das Bernardas is a stunning conversion of a 15th-century convent on the seafront — next to the famous salt pans of Tavira — where two-bedroom apartments start at £160,000 The quadrangle of variously configured duplex and triplex units For a simple life of clam-fishing or boat trips on the lagoon the nearby beach village of Cabanas de Tavira (part of the O Pomar resort) offers a popular holiday development of apartments set around a piazza and two pools — two-bedroom flats cost from £122,000 “This is an area popular with young families couples close to retirement and Scandinavian snowbirds rather than the party crowd who prefer big resorts such as Vilamoura or Albufeira,” says João Faustino “Plus it’s 30 per cent cheaper here to buy an apartment.” The recent acquisition of the marina and golf resort of Vilamoura by the US private equity firm Lone Star — with plans for the biggest marina in Europe — may well widen that differential While the inland market town of Loule — where TV presenter Phillip Schofield has a home in the hills and the Algarve’s first Ikea is arriving next year — remains popular some of the biggest new projects are in the west West of the riverside fishing village of Alvor — where David and Samantha Cameron enjoyed a drink at the weekend — is Lagos arguably the most interesting town on the coast with its Arab-built castle and old quarter The town has many Scandinavian and British expats and Although the town has expanded rapidly in the past decade there is still scope for new-build schemes “Today there is a big demand for private condo apartments and three-bedroom units sell first,” says Goncalo Rodrigues two-bedroom apartments in two condominiums from £176,000; one in the beachside Porto de Mos the other in central Lagos (through Ideal Homes) “Prices in Lagos fell by 30 per cent in the downturn but have now been going up for 18 months,” he adds expect to pay £318,000 for a townhouse or £460,000 to £495,000 for a villa Alternatively in the “Beverly Hills” area of Lagos known as Funchal Ridge you need about £700,000 for a villa on a large plot — although you’d pay double for a comparable property on the five-star resort of Quinta do Lago the biggest property launch on the Algarve this year comes from the Oceanico Group which has released 450 homes on three holiday resorts it took the decision to focus on rentals rather than sales but now all three resorts are fully operational and buyers are offered new homes with a five-year build guarantee across all budgets the beachfront Belmar Spa & Beach Resort is a popular hotel with an indoor/outdoor Elemis spa and six pools these rooms provide a really good income,” says Peter Statham our resort of Baia da Luz [in Praia da Luz two-bedroomed units from £128,000] is the best option for year-round residents while Amendoeira Golf Resort will offer the best capital return.” As a regular top ranker in lists of the world’s most expensive cities But how do prices in the capital compare to those overseas In advance of the Moving to Portugal Show and Seminars in London on 14th March 2024 the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK has asked three of its exhibitors – The Agency RE Savills and Fine & Country – precisely that the average Zone 1 property price over the past 12 months was £1,474,810 Take that budget over to Portugal and there are plenty of luxurious homes to choose from Located in the elegant Telhal 72 Liberdade building with generous terraces and unobstructed views over the city and the Torel Garden the apartment boasts minimalist design and a meticulous finish There’s also a shared electric car service for residents’ convenience In Portugal’s southern Algarve region that kind of budget is enough to pick up a villa with stunning sea views four-bathroom home comes with beautiful grounds a heated outdoor swimming pool and a delightful sunroom Rightmove shows an average property cost of £996,663 for properties in Zone 2 over the past 12 months That’s enough to buy a stunning modern villa with private pool and rooftop jacuzzi in Marina Albufeira just 300m from Albufeira’s attractive old town the three-bedroom/four-bathroom home features open plan living underfloor heating and a home automation system ideal for transformation into a cinema room the average property price over the past 12 months stood at £851,152 Hop over to the Algarve and that’s enough to buy a four-bedroom/two-bathroom villa with private pool within walking distance of the stunning Galé beach the villa blends traditional local architecture with contemporary comfort with living space flowing seamlessly from inside to out The property includes a three-bedroom main residence and a one-bedroom autonomous annex complete with kitchen providing plenty of possibilities for flexible use Buyers wanting an alternative option in the Algarve can pick up an elegant three-bedroom townhouse with cinema room plunge pool and communal tennis court at The Crest in Vale Formoso for €975,000 Just 10 minutes from the famous golf courses and beaches of Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo the light-filled property provides an open plan living and kitchen area along with impressive sea views from the terrace off the main bedroom The spacious interior and high-end finish make this an ideal investment opportunity or a perfect main residence from which to enjoy Lisbon life Christina Hippisley, General Manager of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK said “Londoners find they can enjoy a wealth of choice when they transfer their property budgets over to Portugal Moving to Portugal also delivers countless lifestyle benefits all just a couple of hours’ plane-ride from the UK With a range of visa options and tax incentives available as well making the move to Portugal can make sound financial sense.” Harrow Online is a company registered in England and Wales.